Eric & Bethia
This is the third in a trilogy told about the three murray brothers. Final installment about Eric Murry who is not really a Murray by birth but was fostered and cared for as a bastard of the father for his first 13 years, then kept even after that secrect was found to be wrong for the next 13 years. He was accepted and fostered for his protection and also until he was of an age to claim his rightful place as laird of a neighboring hold. His story starts when he leaves to confront some of his birth kinsmen on his mother's side to try again to claim his hold. Along the way, he meets Bethia running from danger with her nephew after her sister was murdered and attempts were made on her and the child as well. On their travels - they are going the same way as his true family live hear her home and are allies of her families - they run and hide from her enemy. She nurses him when he gets sick. They face some dangers and nearly get caught but make it to her home. There are twists in the story with her guardians (who are not her parents as they care little for her at all except as a minion worker) who force a marriage when the couple are found at an in. They marry and he leaves to meet his mothers kinsmen and is accepted and strengthens his rightful place as laird to his own hold when they agree to help him at court. The gal and the child are still in danger as the man who killed her sister and her husband is still lurking about trying to kill them. There are meetings where he is near successful, but constantly gets away, only to try again. William is his name and he is no longer after her for the hold he stole, but for revenge. He finds many allies who are willing to put Bethia in danger along the travels to court and back to the Murray holding. This book has a full story and is not as good as Nigels, but is as good as Balfor's. Recommended reading all three. The next trilogy series by howell is about the daughters of these three Murray men. I am hoping they are as good as the three in this series. Recommended for at least a first read this book.
