Nate and Skye Fortis Security 7 5 1st

Edition Maddie Wade

Visit to download the full and correct content document:
https://textbookfull.com/product/nate-and-skye-fortis-security-7-5-1st-edition-maddie-
wade/
More products digital (pdf, epub, mobi) instant
download maybe you interests ...

Arctic Fire Fortis Security 6 1st Edition Maddie Wade

https://textbookfull.com/product/arctic-fire-fortis-
security-6-1st-edition-maddie-wade/

Digital Desire Fortis Security 8 1st Edition Maddie

Wade

https://textbookfull.com/product/digital-desire-fortis-
security-8-1st-edition-maddie-wade/

Mitch Eidolon Black Ops 5 1st Edition Maddie Wade

[Wade

https://textbookfull.com/product/mitch-eidolon-black-ops-5-1st-
edition-maddie-wade-wade/

Hawk s Honor Ryoshi Delta 3 1st Edition Maddie Wade

https://textbookfull.com/product/hawk-s-honor-ryoshi-delta-3-1st-
edition-maddie-wade/
Nate 1st Edition Tijan [Tijan]

https://textbookfull.com/product/nate-1st-edition-tijan-tijan/

Marked By My Mates Black River Pack 2 1st Edition Skye

Alder Alder Skye

https://textbookfull.com/product/marked-by-my-mates-black-river-
pack-2-1st-edition-skye-alder-alder-skye/

Kept By My Mate Black River Pack 3 1st Edition Skye

Alder Alder Skye

https://textbookfull.com/product/kept-by-my-mate-black-river-
pack-3-1st-edition-skye-alder-alder-skye/

Frontiers in Cyber Security First International

Conference FCS 2018 Chengdu China November 5 7 2018
Proceedings Fagen Li

https://textbookfull.com/product/frontiers-in-cyber-security-
first-international-conference-fcs-2018-chengdu-china-
november-5-7-2018-proceedings-fagen-li/

Risks and Security of Internet and Systems 11th

International Conference CRiSIS 2016 Roscoff France
September 5 7 2016 Revised Selected Papers 1st Edition
Frédéric Cuppens
https://textbookfull.com/product/risks-and-security-of-internet-
and-systems-11th-international-conference-crisis-2016-roscoff-
france-september-5-7-2016-revised-selected-papers-1st-edition-
NATE AND SKYE
A FORTIS WEDDING NOVELLA

MADDIE WADE
Nate and Skye: A Fortis Wedding Novella
Maddie Wade

Published by Maddie Wade

Copyright © November 2018 Maddie Wade

Cover: Envy Creative Designs

Editing: Black Opal Editing
Formatting: Black Opal Editing
This is a work of fiction. Names characters places and incidents are a product of
the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as
fact. Any resemblance to actual events organizations or persons—living or dead—
is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the
non-exclusive non-transferable right to access and read the text of this eBook
onscreen. Except for use in reviews promotional posts or similar uses no part of
this text may be reproduced transmitted downloaded decompiled reverse-
engineered or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval
system in any form or by any means whether electronic or mechanical now known
or hereafter invented without the express written permission of the author.

First edition November © 2018 Maddie Wade

 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thank you to Linda and Black Opal Editing. You have become so
much more than my editor. Your friendship and honesty mean so
much and helps me to be able to put out the best book I can.

Huge thanks you to my beta readers, Greta, Deanna, Shelene and

Tracey for helping me give Nate and Skye the happy ever after they
deserve.

To Charlene at Envy Designs, thank you for the gorgeous cover.

To the readers and reviewers and bloggers thank you for your
support. I hope this book is a satisfying conclusion. The reviews you
leave are all welcome and so appreciated, I read every single one
with a smile on my face.

My readers, you are why I do this. Your thirst for what I write keeps
me typing and working to put out the stories you want to read. Your
love for the characters keeps me pushing through when times get
tough.
This book is dedicated to all the romantics that still believe in a
happy ever after.
 CONTENTS

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Sneak Peek: Digital Desire Fortis Book 8

Books by Maddie Wade

Contact Me
From this day forward, you shall not walk alone.
My heart will be your shelter, and my arms will be your
home.
— UNKNOWN
 CHAPTER 1

“W hat do you think ?” Skye asked as she looked up into the face of
the man she loved, her own excitement evident on her face.
He looked at her with a quirk of his lips. “I love it, but honestly if
you love it then that’s all that matters to me,” he responded as he
tucked her into his side.
Skye went up on tiptoe and kissed him lightly knowing that if she
kissed him properly, they would never get as far as buying wedding
rings later. Pulling back, she looked at her son Noah.
Noah was not Nate’s biologically but in every other way that
mattered they were father and son. Nate played ball with him, did
homework with him, taught him what it was to be a man, he even
stayed with him when he got sick. They were the perfect example of
what a father and son should be, and blood and DNA had nothing to
do with it.
“What do you think champ?” she asked as she ruffled his hair.
Noah looked up at them and Skye saw the hint of his biological
father in his eyes. Hugo had not been a good man, far from it, he
had been a bastard from day one, but he’d also paid the ultimate
price for it. She couldn’t hate him, he had left her with the biggest
gift in Noah and selfish as it seemed, his death meant no more
threat for Noah.
“I like it and there’s plenty of room for a bouncy castle.”
Skye looked at her son with a smile “It’s a wedding, Noah, not a
kids party,” she gently reminded him.
 “A small one won’t hurt though will it?” Nate asked.
Skye tried to remain firm as she looked at the two men she loved
more than life. “Hey, this is my wedding day and I’m only having
one, so I want it to be perfect.”
“Damn right it’s the only one you’re getting,” Nate said as he
swooped her back and kissed her soundly.
She pushed him off with a giggle, but she loved how he was
always touching her or kissing her. She never doubted how much he
loved her—ever.
“So, this is it, the venue for our wedding,” she said as she looked
around the beautiful room, filled with round tables with pristine
white tablecloths. She could just imagine it filled with twinkly white
lights, pink and ivory rose centrepieces, and the silver pine cones
she and Lauren had spent ages collecting and spraying silver.
“I can’t believe it’s really happening,” she said as she squeezed
his arm.
“Believe it, baby, because it is happening in four days.”
“How about we grab some lunch before we drop Noah with Dane
and Lauren?”
“Yes.” Noah thrust his arm in the air. “Can we get Beefy Boy’s?”
Skye laughed at her son’s enthusiasm but honestly, she couldn’t
say no. He had been through so much in his short life and he
deserved a treat.
“Of course we can, but maybe I can get something less calorific,
I have a dress to get into.”
Nate slid his hand around her midriff, his thumb brushing the
underside of her breast as he spun her around, causing her to catch
her breath at the slight touch. His touch always had the same effect
on her and she loved it. Even now he only had to walk into a room
and she felt her heart rate pick up.
“You will do no such thing, you’re damn perfect as you are,” he
growled.
Skye rolled her eyes at his response. “You have to say that, you
love me.” She squeaked at the sharp slap on her ass.
“I say it because I mean it and it’s true. I love your curves, not a
second goes by that I don’t want to be touching these curves,” he
said as he palmed her ass, before following the curve of her waist up
to her breasts. She sucked in a breath as she glanced around to see
Noah completely pre-occupied with the piano at the other end of the
room. “Feel what you do to me, Skye,” he said hauling her against
the hard shaft of his cock.
Skye felt her body respond as the languid assault on her senses
continued as he kissed her neck. “Okay a burger it is,” she answered
as she let him kiss her neck.
“Good girl,” he said as he pulled away and looked at her through
eyes almost black with desire.
“How about we get that burger and the rings and then while
Noah’s at Dane and Lauren’s you can show me all the other reasons
you love my curves?” she asked with a cheeky smile.
She heard the growl that rumbled up his chest. “Noah, let’s get
going buddy,” he called. “I have an afternoon of making love to my
fiancée planned,” he whispered just for her ears.
Skye smiled with complete contentment. Life was perfect.

A s they settled in the booth at Beefy Boys, Nate cast his eye around
the room, evaluating everyone for potential threats. Finding none,
he picked up the menu and looked at it but not really seeing it
though. He was too busy thinking about what he wanted to do to
Skye when they got home later.
They had moved back to his home after Will had upgraded all his
home security. He and Skye had wanted Noah to have a more
normal, stable home and while he loved the Cunningham Estate, it
didn’t offer the privacy they craved. Plus, he wanted to start his
marriage to Skye in their own home.
“Nate, are you listening?” Skye said sharply as if she had said it a
few times already.
“Sorry, what?” He looked up at her as she and Noah looked
amusedly at each other. Damn he shouldn’t be zoning out like that
but, God, she had got him so hot under the collar and other places.
 “I asked if you had picked up the suits yet?”
“Oh uh, no not yet. I have my best man doing that.” He smirked
knowing Dane was going to kick his ass for this.
“What about your sister? What time is she getting in?”
“They get in tomorrow around lunchtime. I’ll collect them and
then go pick up your friend Lacey from the airport.”
“Okay good. My parents get in the day before the wedding thank
goodness. The less we see them the better. My father is already
going to have an apoplexy when he finds out Uncle Reg is giving me
away.”
Nate reached out and grasped her hand in his. “Relax, it will all
be fine,” he said rubbing her wrist with his thumb. “Is the cake
done?” he asked leading her onto a subject she could control. He
saw her smile and visibly relax as she talked about the cake and how
it was her best yet.
God, he loved her so much. Never could he have imagined his life
being so perfect, but Skye and Noah had given him something he
could never have imagined. He loved Noah like his own and even if
they were lucky enough to have biological children one day, he
couldn’t imagine loving them more. Noah was his first son and that
would always be the case. He watched as Skye talked to Noah about
the menu options and felt a completeness fall over him. He could not
wait to make her his wife. He had always believed in true love but
had never quite known the extent until he’d met Skye and fallen
head over heels.
God help anyone that gets in the way of this wedding.
 CHAPTER 2

“I swear to C hrist , Drew, if you’ve got me a stripper. I’m going to

kick your ass!” Nate exclaimed as they walked into Saxty’s bar.
He hadn’t really wanted a stag do but the others had insisted,
stating that Kanan and Zack had already done them out of one and
they were not doing him out of this one. He had agreed when Skye
had encouraged it and said she was having her hen night the same
night.
He’d had a busy day between collecting Lacey from the airport
and chasing a lead on Chopper that pointed towards the Columbian
jungle and one of the larger drug cartels there. Chopper had gone
silent since September and the helo attack, where Dr Margo had
been killed.
It was still crazy to him that some of the team had these mad
abilities that allowed them to do things that were unimaginable. It
was so good to see Daniel happy again though, the man had
suffered so much since the death of his first wife Claire. Nate had
known her from school and he knew she would be happy he had
found someone he loved as he did Megan.
Unfortunately, Will seemed to have picked up the pissed-off and
angry baton and was running with it. He couldn’t remember seeing
Will in the gym so often and it was really showing. He had bulked up
by a good fifteen pounds of muscle. Nate had a feeling it had
something to do with a certain Detective that had blown him off.
 “I haven’t got you a stripper,” Drew grumbled and then smirked.
“Well not a conventional one.” He waggled his eyebrows as they all
got their drinks and walked to a nearby table. He was so pleased to
see all his friends here. He wished his oldest friend Tiny was still
alive to see this, but he would have a pint for him.
“So, what do you mean not a conventional stripper?” asked Alex
Martinez the Eidolon operator and Ex-Delta Force man.
“Yeah that was my question,” Jace said.
Drew lifted his pint and took a sip of the pale ale he loved. Drew
sat back and grinned at the men. “I can’t say but you will all find
out.”
“I mean it, Drew. I’ll kick your ass.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m used to being threatened by you lot,” said the
youngest Fortis man who was already attracting the attention of the
young women giggling in the corner. Drew had matured a lot in the
last two years. Gone was the uncertain, untrained young man who
did not know where he fitted in and in his place was a trained
operative who was a whiz with computers and martial arts. The only
thing Drew lacked was operational experience and he was picking
that up in droves. Especially after helping Emme and Shane out
earlier this year with the serial killer case.
“Ah, poor baby.” K chuckled as he grabbed Drew in a headlock
and dragged his knuckles over his head good-naturedly.
“Get off,” Drew responded as he punched the older man in the
shoulder.
“So how does it feel to be two days away from the ball and
chain?” asked his friend Stoner, who sat beside Ice. The two had
been in the parachute regiment together and Stoner and Ice now
ran a corporate team building company that put salesmen and
bankers through their paces in an attempt at building the team ethic
and bond that you got in the service.
“It feels amazing. I can’t fucking wait,” he replied with a grin.
“Amen,” Zack and K said together, as the other two married men
of the team. Groans from Stoner and Ice made him laugh.
“Seriously, one woman for the rest of your life?”
 “Not everyone is a man whore,” Nate said with an amused smile
“and how the fuck you two will ever settle down when you only ever
share a woman I don’t know.”
Stoner and Ice had begun sharing women when they were in the
para’s and now it was very rare to see them with a woman each. He
personally didn’t get it, but he was a selfish bastard and the thought
of another man touching Skye made him want to puke.
“Don’t knock it until you try it man,” Ice winked.
“Wait! What? You share women?” Drew asked with a look of
interest on his face.
“Yeah, it’s amazing, you should try it,” Stoner replied with a wink.
“Do not be filling his head with ideas like that. My fiancée will kill
me,” Dane said. He was engaged to Drew’s sister, Lauren.
“He’s a big boy,” Jace said as he slapped Dane on the shoulder.
Drew started talking to Ice and Stoner about their exploits.
Nate turned his attention to Dane and Jace as he finished his
pint. “So, have you guys set a date for your weddings yet?”
Jace groaned and Dane chuckled. “Lucy is like a woman
possessed trying to find the perfect venue. She wants a beach
wedding and I think she has convinced Lauren that she and Dane
should make it a double wedding. Which is fine with me,” he said
holding his hands up.
“So, when is it?” Liam asked as he joined them and placed his
pint on the table.
“This coming summer but not sure exactly yet. We’re leaving it to
the ladies to decide that as it depends on a few things like when
everyone stops popping out babies.”
“Hey, don’t knock it because I have superior sperm,” Daniel
replied with a huge grin.
He and Zack fist bumped smugly, and Nate prayed that one day
he and Skye would have that joy.
“What about you, Jack? Any woman on the horizon?” Jace asked
his cousin and leader of the Eidolon group.
Jack looked up and frowned before shaking his head. “Not me,
I’m happy for all of you but marriage and kids aren’t for me. I had
my lucky escape and I won’t be risking it again. All I need is my job
and a willing woman every now and then and I’m happy.”
“Yeah right, and control of every person in your vicinity,” Will
sniped angrily. It was so unlike Will to be that way that everyone
went silent for a beat before Jack responded.
“Don’t fucking sulk just because you didn’t get your own way. We
aren’t fighting over mum’s last Yorkshire pudding now, Will.”
“No, we’re talking about you using the tech and facilities available
to you to help me, your brother, out,” he snapped back.
“No, you want me to use funds that aren’t mine to find a woman
you fucked or want to fuck just because she won’t answer your
calls.”
Will stood up suddenly and looked at Jack angrily as his older
brother took a sip of his pint. “Just remember I didn’t want it this
way,” he growled before he shoved his way past Alex who was
coming back from the bar with a round of drinks almost making the
man spill the lot.
“What the fuck was that about?” Zack asked as he took the tray
from Alex.
Jack shook his head. “He wants me to use the Eidolon resources
to find this Detective he likes, and I said no. He hasn’t taken it very
well.”
“I personally don’t see the problem with it myself but you’re the
boss,” Alex said as he downed his shot of whisky and passed one to
Nate.
“Come on, mate, things are too buttoned-up in here, this is a
stag not a fucking wake. Get that down you.”
Nate took the whisky and knocked it back. The burn felt good as
it went down and settled warmly in his belly. He liked Alex, the man
was fun, and an excellent operative and a damn fine cook. It was
always good going on missions with Alex as they didn’t have to
survive on cheese toasties and soup for weeks. He wondered why he
had never settled down. There was a story there he was sure, but
he wouldn’t ask, and he doubted Alex would share.
A commotion at the front of the bar had his head turning. He
groaned when he saw the drag queen sashing towards their table as
men and women looked on in interest. A few even whistled as the
sexily dressed man played up to it. Nate turned to Drew who was
laughing as he filmed Nate with his phone.
“Oh, you are so dead!” he announced as the drag queen stopped
at the table with a huge grin.
“Um yum aren’t you just a bunch of delicious of man meat,”
purred the stripper. “My name is Brandy and I’m here to make your
day,” Brandy crooned in a fake Louisiana accent. “Now which one of
you delicious specimens is the lucky groom?”
“This guy right here,” Alex said earning a scowl from Nate.
“Well, aren’t you a real treat for the eyes. When’s the big day
sugar?” Brandy asked as she sat herself down on Nate’s lap and
wrapped her arms around his neck.
I’m definitely killing Drew for this.
“Two days’ time.”
“And who’s the lucky lady?” she asked as she ran a red tipped
finger down his cheek.
“Her name is Skye,” he said shifting uncomfortably as the others
around him hid behind their beers and snickered, even Jack was
smirking behind his pint. Drew was filming it on his iPhone and Nate
shot him the finger.
“Well I am gonna sing you a song, especially for you and Skye.
Hit the lights boys,” Brandy called as she got up and grabbed a
microphone from the bar staff.
As Brandy moved, the red sequins of the long slinky dress she
wore shimmered and the crotch high split showed off everything
going on down there. Nate closed his eyes and tried to resist the
urge to get up and run like a pussy. Instead he planned his revenge
on Drew.
He was so getting revenge on the little fucker. He’d never had a
brother and he knew this was exactly what it would have been like if
he had, which was why he wasn’t really angry, but he wouldn’t let
Drew know that.
Brandy began to sing When a Man Loves a Woman by Lionel
Richie and Nate was surprised to hear Brandy had a really good
voice. He smiled as she sang and danced around him, cringing as
the entire bar watched. When it was over, Brandy kissed his cheek,
thanked him for being a good sport, and everyone applauded loudly.
Brandy left, and Nate stood suddenly causing Drew to brace,
which made him grin.
He leaned in with a serious look that scared meaner men than
Drew would ever be, and he grabbed Drew’s shoulder. “Feeling a
little nervous, mate?” he said before he strode to the bar.
Making his way through the crowd he caught sight of Smithy as
he entered the bar. The man looked unsure, hesitant in a way that
made Nate clench his fists in anger. Every one of them had demons,
survivor guilt, guilt for the lives they had taken, or the people they
had not been able to save. But at least they’d all had a choice.
Something Smithy hadn’t had at the hands of that evil bitch Rhea
Winslow. As he watched the man stop, a look of pure panic on his
face, he felt a renewed anger. He was about to wave at the man to
get his attention when someone jostled into him.
“Sorry,” said a young girl who was far too young to be drinking as
she wobbled into him. He grasped her arm to steady her and turned
back to see Smithy gone. Making a sudden decision, he walked
quickly to the front of the bar and stepped into the cool night air. He
saw Smithy disappear around the end of the road and jogged to
catch up.
“Smithy,” he called making him turn around. Nate thought he
would carry on walking away, but he didn’t—he stopped and let Nate
catch up. “Why didn’t you come in?” Nate said as he caught up.
Smithy looked like a rabbit caught in the crosshairs as he tried to
find an answer. Nate knew the answer immediately, on a cellular
level. No words were needed.
“Forget I asked.” He saw pure blinding relief edge into his friend’s
eyes. “Would you like to get a drink? You missed the drag queen,” he
said, trying to lighten the mood.
“No, I don’t want to spoil your night, I just wanted to wish you
luck and say how pleased I am you found Skye. She seems really
lovely.”
“You would not be spoiling my night. You’re our friend man, we
missed you. Nothing that crazy bitch did will ever change that,” he
said with fire. “And yes, she’s amazing.”
“I know, and I appreciate it, but it’s the crowds… I just can’t,” he
said.
Nate nodded in understanding. “You’re coming to the wedding
though, right?” he asked as snow began to fall in big silent flakes.
“Yes, wouldn’t miss it,” Smithy said as he watched his
surroundings with a guardedness that Nate understood far too well.
He nodded as he watched the other man walk quickly away. His
demons would take more than just spirit and determination to fight
—they would take a miracle.
Nate walked back into the warmth of the pub and saw Alex
walking back to the table with a tray of drinks.
“Where did you go?” Dane asked but Nate just shook his head as
Jace raised a drink to him in silent acknowledgement. He knew Jace
tried to stay out of people’s heads as much as he could, but he also
knew that Jace was aware the pain his teammate was in. Not
wanting the sadness and melancholy that he felt for Smithy to take
hold, he turned to Alex with the sole purpose of giving him shit
about his football team.
 CHAPTER 3

“T ell me where we ’ re going ?” demanded a blindfolded Skye. Having

spent the day with all her friends at the Spires Spa, where they had
been massaged, had lavish manicures and pedicures—topped off
with a Champagne lunch—followed by two hours lounging around in
the hot tub and pool, she was feeling relaxed. Lucy had told her to
pack her sexiest dress and shoes to bring with her when they spoke
last night on the phone. They had all gotten ready at the Spa and
were now in a stretch limousine. Headed God only knew where.
“Hush, stop fishing,” giggled Lauren who sat beside her. Skye felt
the car come to a stop on the gravel and then the door swung open.
“Okay, you can take off the blindfold now,” Ava said as she
stepped out.
Pushing it back from her eyes she blinked to get her bearings
and then saw the name of the Michelin starred restaurant The
Monarch Grove. It was set in a 15 th Century Manor house with
cream stone walls and large double fronted bay windows top and
bottom. Ivy grew up against the front of the house, and as she
turned, the view from the drive down into the city below was breath-
taking.
“How did you get reservations here?” she asked nobody in
particular.
“You know what they say, it’s not what you know but who you
know,” Lizzie said with a wink and a smile that shone, showing a
glimpse of the woman she had been before the horrific kidnapping,
and the beautiful, strong woman she had merged into. Skye took her
arm and threaded it through hers with a warm grin. Lizzie was still
limping, and it would take a long time for her to heal but she would
heal, of that Skye had no doubt.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet. Wait until you see what Lucy has lined up,”
she said as Megan and Ava walked ahead. The two women were the
picture of elegance and maternal beauty in their different stages of
pregnancy.
Lacey threaded her arm through hers and Skye smiled at her
oldest friend. “I’m so happy you could be here.”
“Me too,” Lacey replied.
She said the right words, but Skye could feel an edge of tension
coming from her friend. Lacey Cannon and Skye had been friends
since high school. Lacey was the complete opposite to her in looks.
Tall, slim, with long blonde hair she was a knockout. She looked like
the cool icy blonde model that she had been. But Lacey was far from
cold. Her energy and infectious zest for life had drawn Skye like a
moth to a flame. Lacey had a wonderful sense of humour and never
took herself seriously.
Skye had missed her tremendously, it would be so good to have
her back in the UK. She wasn’t sure if it was work and stress that
had put the shadows in her friend’s eyes or if it was something else,
but something was off, and she was going to find out what.
Following Lauren and Lucy into a room that was decorated with
balloons, fairy lights and a photobooth Skye gasped in excitement.
“Wow, this looks amazing! I can’t believe you guys did all this.”
Lauren grinned at her. “This is just the beginning and why
wouldn’t we? We love you and we want you to have the best time.”
To the left of the door was a large marble island big enough to fit
them all. Individual cocktail making stations were set up for them,
the walls lined with every Gin, Vodka, and Rum bottle anyone could
think of, as well as a multitude of other spirits and mixers.
“Let’s get some pictures.” Emme dragged Skye, Lucy, and Celeste
into the photo booth, where they proceeded to don hats and masks
and pull ridiculous faces.
 As she stepped out, Lacey thrust a drink in her hand. “Come on,
keep up.” Lacey slugged back the shot as Skye did the same. The
marmalade vodka set up a warm burn in her belly.
The door behind her opened, and a tall man with dark hair and
scruff on his face walked in. He was wearing a black shirt rolled to
his elbows, black jeans, and had a chain hanging from the belt loop
to his pocket. The large silver cross around his neck and leather
thongs at his wrists gave him a slightly free-spirited air. He was nice
looking if you liked the arty, free spirit type.
As she always did, she instantly compared him to Nate. She
shouldn’t but he was her benchmark for all other men, and in her
eyes, they all came up wanting. Excitement bubbled in her belly as
she thought that in two days, she would marry the man of her
dreams.
Two years ago, she would never have dreamed the direction her
life would take and even though she and Noah had been through
some awful trials she would never regret it because it brought them
Nate. Her saviour and the only father Noah had ever known.
“Ladies, I take it you’re all here for the cocktail making?” the man
said as he looked around the room. All of them had black sashes
that read ‘bride tribe’ while hers read ‘Bride’.
“Bring on the cocktails,” Roz called out with a grin at Lucy.
Roz had terrified Skye at first, but now she was an integral part
of the group. Once a person got past the icy exterior she showed
most people, they realised that what she hid was a heart of pure
gold.
“My name is Chase Verzon, and I’m going to show you how to
make three cocktails,” he purred in what she recognised as a fake
Italian accent.
“Come on, Chase, give it to us,” giggled Celeste making Roz bark
out a throaty laugh.
“Don’t let my brother hear you say that, or poor Chase will end
up in a shallow grave,” Roz said with a smirk.
Skye saw Chase look between the two women as he tried to
figure out if they were joking.
 “Pfft, he’s a pussycat,” Celeste said with a wave of her hand.
Loud laughter at that comment from Lucy and Emme had Skye
joining in.
“Oh my God, only you would call the Viper a pussycat,” Lucy
doubled over as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
“Okay enough scaring poor Chase,” Ava declared with a smirk.
“Please, carry on, Chase,” Megan said with a barely suppressed
smile at the pale man.
“Okay.” He nodded and lifted the measuring cup, showing the
measurements on the inside. He then proceeded to show them the
other tools, including a macerator, a lime squeezer, and a shaker.
“We’re first going to make an English Cosmo. My pregnant ladies,
you will make virgin mocktails,” he said with a nod to the protruding
tummies of Ava and Megan.
“You will need seventy-five mills of Gin.” He handed the Gin
around, so they could all measure it out.
“Now you will need twenty-five mills of marmalade vodka. Then
fifteen mills of elderflower liqueur along with the juice of a whole
lime.”
Skye measured hers out as Chase then passed out Limoncello
shots for them all to try while they made their cocktails.
“Now, I’ll come around with the ice bucket, and I need you to fill
it to the top with ice.”
Skye concentrated on doing as instructed.
“Now, my ladies, put the top on like this,” he demonstrated, “and
give it a smack.”
“Hey, hey, Chase, no getting kinky.” Lucy teased, then doubled
over at her own joke.
“Now, you have to shake it, like so,” he said, again demonstrating
with a shake of the cocktail shaker, adding some slick moves to
impress them.
It was like a scene out of the movie Cocktail with Tom Cruise.
Lifting their shakers, the girls all began to shimmy and dance around
moving the shakers—and their butts—as music and chatter filled the
room. Even Lacey who had seemed subdued earlier was now
giggling without a care.
 These women were her family in more ways than her real family
ever had been. Except for Uncle Reg. He had stood by her through
everything, her estrangement from her parents, her pregnancy,
Noah’s illness and subsequent kidnap at the hands of his father. He
and Noah were the only members of her blood family she considered
true family. Although her parents were coming to the wedding, it
was as guests only. Reg was giving her away, having earned the
right more than her father ever had.
Now she had all these women and their partners, not forgetting
her soon to be in-laws whom she adored. Mimi and David were the
best grandparents to Noah, and they had formed a strong bond. Reg
and David were working together in the now converted section of
the Fortis Estate as carpenters.
She was blessed, and she knew it. The only blot was the sadness
in Lacey’s eyes, which she would get to soon.
“So, Lacey, are you staying in the UK permanently?” Megan
asked as there was a lull in the festivities while they sipped their
cocktails and Chase got everything ready for the second one.
Lacey looked up, and there was a flicker of uncertainty before
she seemed to steel herself and answer. “Yes, that’s the plan. I have
some small commitments to finish up in Canada, and then I’m
relocating back to London.”
“What is it you do?” Roz inquired with an innocent smile. But if
there was one thing Skye knew about the Fortis crew, there was no
such thing as an innocent question.
“I was a model, but now I run a clothing line for teenagers and
young women.”
Skye saw the enthusiasm for her work begin to evaporate the
darkness Lacey was trying to hide.
Roz inclined her head. “Oh yeah, what’s it called?”
“Flair Couture,” Lacey replied with a tilt of her own head.
“Wow, that is so cool. My girls love that range,” Roz said as she
moved to stand beside Lacey.
Skye smiled at the simple way Lacey had won over one of the
scariest women on the planet. She had no doubt that Roz would run
a background check on her, but after years of watching her back,
asking her not to now was akin to asking a fish to walk.
Skye sipped her drink as she looked at Emme. “How’s Shane,
Emme?” Skye asked of the young woman’s boyfriend. Skye watched
her face light up at his name and wondered how long it would be
before she was taking a trip down the aisle herself.
“He’s great. He’s finished the set up in Miami and is flying in
tomorrow.”
“So, he’ll make the wedding. That’s wonderful, I want more time
to grill him about his intentions towards you.” She said with a sly
grin. Emme had come to mean a great deal to them all in the short
time she had known her, having been their main guard a lot of times
at the Cunningham Estate.
“Hopefully his intentions are very, very bad.” Emme replied as
she wiggled her eyebrows.
“When do you leave for Miami?”
“First week in January. Poor Shane has to suffer through meeting
my family first and then we have a week planned in the Cotswolds
for New Year.”
“That sounds so romantic,” Skye said, happy that Emme had
found a man who accepted her for who she was and seemed to
adore her, although Lucy was still holding a grudge about some
slight. But that was Lucy, she was a mamma bear of the first order,
and if she decided you were hers, she would protect you with her
life. Emme had been her protégé, and she had taken her under her
wing and taught her everything she knew in a very short space of
time. Now Emme was off to new pastures to start her own security
company The Alliance Agency in Miami with her boyfriend and ex-
seal, Shane Rhodes.
“Yeah I can’t wait,” the girl replied.
“So, tell us about the honeymoon. Do you know where it is yet?”
Megan asked.
Skye shook her head. “No idea. All I know is that it will be hot,
and I have to bring lots of bikini’s and according to Nate, little else.”
She snorted at the last.
 “Um, maybe a desert island somewhere. You can have long
sweaty nights of monkey sex,” Lucy said as she sipped her drink.
Skye blushed at the woman’s words, but her eyes were twinkling
when she looked up. “Who says we don’t have that now?
“That’s my girl,” Lizzie called with a grin.
The conversation flowed along with the drinks until Chase
clapped his hands to get them under control. “Ladies, ladies, please.
It’s time for more cocktails. Now we’re going to make the Bahama
Mama. A beautiful, fruity cocktail guaranteed to make you feel like
you’re on a tropical beach.”
“Let do this, Chase, and make mine a virgin,” Ava deadpanned.
Before Skye knew it, the cocktail making was done, and they
were being ushered to a table for a luxurious three-course meal of
lobster ravioli, beef wellington, and soaked savarin with fresh
raspberries.
As they sat around waiting for the first course, the waiter poured
them all a glass of Champagne and Lacey stood from her seat
beside her. “I would like to make a toast. To Skye, the strongest,
most loyal woman I know. I am proud to call you my friend and I’m
overjoyed that you’ve found a man who loves you as you deserve to
be loved. May your days be long and happy and your nights hot and
sweaty.” She raised her glass as did the others in a toast to her and
Sky fought the emotional tears that threatened.
She leaned in to hug her friend as she sat. “Thank you. I am so
glad you’re back. I’ve missed you so much.”
“I’ve missed you too, Skye.”
“You know you can tell me anything, right?”
Lacey hesitated for a second, her eyes a brief glimpse into the
pain she hid. “Yes, and I will, but not tonight.” Her face was resolute,
and Skye knew she would not be getting anything more out of her.
“So where are the boys tonight?”
“You won’t believe what Drew has done.” Lauren said with a
laugh.
Skye looked around at everyone and felt a rightness in her
bones.
Fairy tales do come true.
 CHAPTER 4

S omeone had set up a funfair in her body. That was the only
explanation for the marching band in her head and swirling and
churning in her tummy. As she burrowed down lower into the
comfort of the quilt, Skye decided she was never drinking again, and
especially not with Lucy and Roz.
Those two were like fish, each cocktail going down as if it was
water and while she had gotten drunker, they hadn’t seemed
affected in the slightest. Maybe it was some badass assassin thing.
A smile tilted her lips when she heard noises from downstairs,
they were muted, but she knew it was Noah and Nate. She had felt
the kiss on her shoulder as he’d gotten out of bed earlier to sort out
Noah’s breakfast.
Her body shivered as she remembered last night and how she
had climbed all over Nate, who hadn’t seemed too drunk. The
delicious things he had done to her body made her squirm and rub
her legs together in memory. He had kissed every part of her in a
frenzy of need that’d had her seeing stars.
He’d had to put his mouth on hers to stop the scream that
erupted when he’d made her come for the third time. Thank God he
had, or she would not be able to face her own son this morning as
she would have had some serious explaining to do.
The sound came closer and as much as she loved her boys, she
wanted to go back to sleep until this feeling of wanting to die from a
hangover let up a bit. The door opened, and the smell of Nate’s
aftershave and shower gel hit her nose. That and coffee, which
made her tummy roll. She groaned as he sat on the bed beside her
and gently pulled the cover away from her face.
“Are you alive, mi cielo?”
“No, I died. Now go away and leave me to sleep,” she said
grumpily even though she knew it was her own fault. Actually, it was
Lacey and Lucy’s fault. They’d kept plying her with drinks. She was
seriously re-thinking their roles as her bridesmaids. The deep soft
chuckle of her husband-to-be had her opening an eye.
His hair was wet from the shower which she couldn’t remember
hearing him take and he was dressed in jeans and a deep green
Under Armour top that hugged every muscular curve of his body. He
looked good enough to eat—again.
“I brought you some water and some paracetamol for your head.
When you’ve showered and dressed, I’ll make you some breakfast,”
he said as he rubbed a spot on her shoulder, with his thumb. He
looked so fresh and alive, and she knew he had drunk quite a bit last
night.
“Why are you all spritely and I want to die?” she asked him with
a pout.
“Because, my love, I’m a hard-ass and you’re a lightweight.”
“I hate you right now,” she said as she tried to make her aching
head and face make a glare.
“You didn’t hate me last night,” he said with a grin, “in fact you
said…”
Her hand snapped out, and she covered his mouth to stop the
words. Saying them in the heat of the moment was one thing but
repeating them in the cold hard light of day when she probably
looked like a scarecrow was another thing entirely.
“Don’t you dare say it,” she warned as he pulled away and kissed
the inside of her wrist, making her shiver.
“Fine, but you do need to get your ass out of bed. We have to
meet your parents in two hours.”
Skye buried her head in her hands at his words. Her parents
were a nightmare at the best of times but facing them like this was
going to be torture.
 Nate leaned in and wrapped an arm around her as he kissed her
head.
“It’ll be fine, stop worrying.”
She peeked through her fingers. “You have no idea what a snob
my father is, and my mum is the little wife that never opposes him.”
“I don’t care about them, I’m marrying you and Noah. That’s all I
give a shit about.”
“Talking of Noah, where is he?” she asked as she took the water
and painkillers and swallowed them down.
“My parents took him back to the Estate, so Noah could help her
and Lizzie make those favour things.”
Her head fell sideways onto his broad shoulder, and she sighed.
“I love your mum so much.”
“She loves you too. I think if you ever left me, she would want to
keep you and ditch me,” he said then kissed her shoulder.
“Hardly, you’re her baby boy, but it doesn’t matter because after
tomorrow you can’t get rid of me. Ever,” she said as the realisation
that tomorrow was their wedding day.
“Good, because I wouldn’t let you leave me. I’d stalk you like a
deranged man until you felt sorry for me and took me back.”
She smiled, but a touch of seriousness hit her as the momentous
day approached. “Can you believe it’s really happening? Eighteen
months ago, my life was lonely, and the future was terrifying, and
now it feels so good that I want to pinch myself every day to see if
its real,” she said as she looked up at him.
“I can believe it, but if you had asked me two years ago if I’d
ever find this kind of happiness or feel this kind of love for someone,
I would have said no. I can’t even put into words how much I love
you, how you’re my whole world,” he said as he brushed her hair
from her face and kissed her eyelids.
“I think you just did, and it’s exactly how I feel.”
“I just wish I could give you the baby you want and deserve,” he
said softly, guilt edging his voice.
“All I need is you and Noah. If that’s all I have, I’ll consider
myself blessed beyond my wildest dreams. To carry our child would
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
 [To Acte.] Who has deceived me? [To Procula.] Has he been
condemned?
Procula
Not yet, not yet.
Simon
Your husband holds him.
Procula
I have no power in this.
Simon
You sent for me.
Procula
Save this one man. I know your power.
Acte
Remember Cyrene, Egypt and our world, Battus and Africa.
Simon
Their roots are in my heart.
Acte
Then come away with me.
Simon
My breast can nourish both this Judean and our kingdom.
Acte
No, for this man’s spirit threatens to overcome you; they have
called him king; there cannot be two kings, and you the lesser, in the
world we plan.
Simon
 Not that he is a king but that he is a captive my heart flows most to
him.
Acte
Legions of captives in the empire wait for you to set them free.
Shall you yourself be captive?
Procula
He was betrayed.
Acte
[To Simon.] Look to it that you are not yourself betrayed by him.
Procula
Herod mocked him.
Acte
[To Simon.] If you are now led astray you mock our Africa and the
new world we plan there.
Simon
Plan no more worlds if this man is destroyed. But he shall conquer
Pilate.
Procula
Save him. Waken the mob. Breed riot. Take him from the soldiers.

[She suddenly looks upward off left back and gives a

cry.]

Pilate ascends to the outer judgment seat.

[She rushes to Simon.]

Burn the city if he is condemned.

 [Simon stands brooding motionless. Procula runs
toward her doorway.]

I’ll send to Pilate even on the judgment seat.

[She rushes into her house. Simon moves after her as

though he would follow.]

Acte
[Recalling him by a touch so that he turns.] The time is not yet
ripe. A new sedition now suddenly bursting would dash down all our
dreams.
Simon
Pilate at last will listen. With such a pleader the Sufferer is safe.
Acte
You are taken in this soothsayer’s mesh.
Simon
He has not spoken to me.
Acte
Has he not led you?
Simon
He leads me most who suffers most injustice.
Acte
And on that night when you were first led captive
The lonely lions and the Libyan moon
Watched over Africa, faithful to her,
When you grew faithless.
Simon
Africa shall triumph. This man, not I, not Battus, shall restore her.
 Acte
If Pilate pleases.
Simon
He shall conquer Pilate.
Acte
Shall he indeed?
Simon
What’s there?

[A loud murmur of many voices has been heard at

intervals in the Praetorium at left back during the
past scene. This murmur has now increased into a
roar out of which the cry “Crucify him! Crucify
him!” rises. The cries and the roar suddenly
become triumphant as Simon listens. Then from
the entrance at right there appears a fantastic
impish figure bearing a great scourge. He is
followed by another bearing a gorgeous scarlet
robe and by a third bearing upon a cushion a
crown of thorns.]

Simon
What are these?
The Mocker with the Scourge
A scourge for a prophet.
The Mocker with the Crown of Thorns
A crown of thorns for a king.
The Mocker with the Scarlet Robe
A scarlet robe for a saviour.
 [The mockers cross the garden and disappear at left
back. Simon watches them motionless and
transfixed by their sinister meaning as it begins to
dawn upon him. Pilate appears in the upper
portico at back left. He enters walking slowly
backward and looking off left with evident horror. A
wailing is heard off left, it grows and Procula
enters from her doorway.]

Procula
Woe, woe, the air is bleeding, the doom has fallen.
O Pilate, you have judged a world and doomed it.
Your hands are bloody; wash them again, wash them.

[Pilate glances at her and then motions, looking off to

the left. A slave appears with him on the portico
bearing a basin of water. Pilate washes his hands
and then goes off left.]

Procula
[Going to Simon who stands motionless.] What will you do now,
now that he is condemned?

[A man enters slowly from the right. He halts just within

the garden seeing Simon. The newcomer is gaunt
and haggard.]

Simon
[Suddenly seeing him.] Barabbas! [Running to Acte.] Look to the
lad, lead him to safety. We’ll fire the city. Hide with him till I join you.
The temple shall be in flames before they lead the Nazarene past it.
[Acte leading Battus and her people hurries out left. Simon rushes
to Barabbas, speaking swiftly.] Go where the arms are stored. Give
the slaves weapons and torches. Rouse all, arm all, stand by me to
free the Nazarene. I’ll lead his friends. Bring the slaves quickly.
Strike, give all the signal. [Barabbas stands motionless.] Go.
Barabbas
[In a dull monotonous voice.] All’s done, all’s one, whether men
live or die.
Who can withstand Rome? They tortured me.
My spirit is broken. I have been all night
Watching this one that would have saved the world
Scourged with me in the prison.
He is a god but men have conquered him.
They freed me in his place, the dead for the living.
There are no more gods left now in the sky
And on the earth nothing but dead men crawling.
Simon
You stay? You hang back?
Barabbas
My spirit is poisoned. I die soon.
Simon
Then die for the living.
Barabbas
There are none left alive.

[As he speaks the tops of three crosses and three

Roman standards are seen against the sky at
back, beyond the portico, as they are borne slowly
in procession from left to right. As they pass, the
wailing of women’s voices is heard interspersed
with the angry murmur of a crowd and cries of
“Crucify him!”]

Barabbas
 [Pointing to the crosses.] There goes the cross now for the god
to hang on,
That’s the dead tree to bear the dead world’s fruit.
Simon
So we must stand alone. They yell for blood.
Now they shall drown in a red sea of it.
He shall pass over safely, walking on dead men.
[He draws his sword and rushes off right. Barabbas
stands unmoved. Procula runs to right entrance
staring off after Simon.]

Procula
The gods fight with you now, invisible shapes
Rush forward with you. See how cloud-like armies
Redden the air. Lead them and seize him.
[There is a pause, then she retreats slowly from the
entrance, and Simon re-enters stepping slowly
backward as though dazzled by a vision. As he
reaches the middle of the garden a wonderful
voice is heard proceeding from the direction in
which he looks.]

The Voice
Put up the sword. For they that take the sword shall perish with the
sword. [The sword falls from Simon’s hand.]
The Voice
Do not resist evil.

[There is a moment’s pause and then a Centurion

enters from the right and goes menacingly up to
Simon.]

The Centurion
 Who are you that you rush against legionaries? Have you an army
that you come against us? Are you a madman? Are you also one of
his followers?
Simon
[Slowly.] I am his follower. [Procula, wailing, rushes into her
house.]
The Centurion
[Turning and calling to someone off right.] Ho, Longinus, come;
here is another. [To Simon.] What is your name and place?
Simon
Simon, a man of Cyrene.

[Longinus enters from the right accompanied by

several other legionaries.]

Longinus
[To the Centurion.] The Nazarene has fallen. The cross crushes
him. He can go no further.
The Centurion
Here’s one to bear it, bring it in the garden.

[Longinus goes out right. The Centurion and

legionaries surround Simon and strip him of his
outer garments. When they have done so the
Mocker with the Scourge enters from the right
waving the scourge threateningly, looking off as he
enters. He turns and dances about Simon.]

The Mocker with the Scourge

Prophesy, prophesy. Who is it now that strikes you? Turn the other
cheek.
 [The mocker strikes Simon. With a powerful movement
Simon seizes the mocker, hurls him to the ground
and snatching his sword which the soldiers have
placed upon a bench he clears a space about him
and starts again toward the right entrance.]

The Voice
Overcome evil with good. Forgive your enemy.

[Simon bows his head, then extends the hilt of his

sword to a soldier who takes it and strikes him
with the flat of the blade. Simon submits, dumbly,
with bowed head, to this and to the Mocker with
the Scourge who rises painfully from the ground
and again strikes him viciously.]

The Mocker with the Scourge

Turn the other cheek.

[He takes a rope from his girdle and making a noose in

it puts the noose over Simon’s head and dances
about him holding the rope’s end. The Mocker
with the Robe enters from the right.]

The Mocker with the Robe

Here is the scarlet robe, it fell from the King’s shoulders, Jesus of
Nazareth, the King of the Jews. Of such are the Kingdom of Heaven.
[He places the robe on Simon.]
Hail to the new king, Simon of Cyrene,
King of the Africans, with his Master’s robe.
[The wailing of women outside has risen in a strain of
wild and profound melancholy. It is broken by a
woman’s scream.]
 The Voice
Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves
and for your children. For if they do these things in a green tree what
shall be done in the dry?

[The Mocker with the Crown of Thorns enters

from right.]

The Mocker with the Crown of Thorns

Ho, another king, another saviour. Solomon in all his glory was not
arrayed like one of these. Let him be crowned. Blessed are the
meek.

[He snatches off Simon’s head-dress, throwing it on

the ground. He pretends to place the thorn crown
on Simon’s head, and then throws it
contemptuously at his feet. The legionaries enter
with the cross.]

The Voice
If any man will come after me let him take up the cross and follow
me.

[The legionaries place the cross upon Simon. He

bends beneath it and picking up the crown of
thorns places it upon his head.]

Simon
I will wear this, I will bear this till he comes into his own.

CURTAIN

Printed in the United States of America.

 The following pages contain
advertisements of other Macmillan
plays.
THE PLAYS OF SIR RABINDRANATH TAGORE
The Cycle of Spring: A Play

Cloth, 12mo, $1.25; leather, $1.75

“All the joy, the buoyancy, the resilience, the indomitable and
irrepressible hopefulness of Youth are compacted in the lines of the
play. The keynote is sounded, with subtle symbolism, in the Prelude,
in which the King ranks above all matters of State or of Humanity the
circumstances that two gray hairs had made their appearance
behind the ear that morning.... Dramatic power, philosophy, and lyric
charm are brilliantly blended in a work of art that has the freshness
and the promise of its theme.”—New York Tribune.

Chitra: A Play in One Act

Cloth, $1.00; leather, $1.75

“He has given us the soul of the East disembodied of its
sensuality, and within it shines the most perfect tribute to true
womanhood and its claims.”—Pall Mall Gazette.
“The play is told with the simplicity and wonder of imagery always
characteristic of Rabindranath Tagore.”—Cleveland Plain Dealer.

The King of the Dark Chamber

 Cloth, $1.25; leather, $1.75
“The most careless reader can hardly proceed far into these
inspired pages without realizing that he is in the presence of holy
things—of an allegory of the soul as has not before been told in the
English tongue.”—Chicago Evening Post.

The Post Office

Cloth, $1.00; limp leather, $1.75

“Once more Tagore demonstrates the universality of his genius;
once more he shows how art and true feeling know no racial and
religious lines.”—Kentucky Post.

DRAMAS BY LEWIS V. LEDOUX

Yzdra: A Tragedy in Three Acts

$1.25
“The reader is struck by the fascinating possibilities of Yzdra as
acting drama. It would make a striking and beautiful play for the
stage, and we can well imagine that even the greatest actress would
be glad to assume the rôle of the ill-fated Princess. The dialogue is,
from the point of view of the stage, certain in its effective quality.”—
New York Times.
“There are both grace and strength in this drama and it also
possesses the movement and spirit for presentation upon the stage.
Some of the figures used are striking and beautiful, quite free from
excess, and sometimes almost austere in their restraint. The
characters are clearly individualized and a just balance is preserved
in the action.”—Outlook.

The Story of Eleusis

$1.25
 “The most thoroughly imbued with the classic mood of the younger
American poets is Louis V. Ledoux. In him rings a genuine passion;
no false simulation; no reflection of a glamour that is remote by
association, or is the thin echo of other imaginative voices.... Beside
the beauty of the verse, stately and rich in its calm melodic simplicity,
there is envisaged a feeling for the deeper springs of life.”—Boston
Transcript.
“This lyrical drama comes from the pen of one of the finest of our
young modern poets.... With a strength and simplicity that puts to
shame the diffuseness and depravity of the new writers of vers libre
... this author writes a play less sensational than his previous ‘Yzdra’
but more sustained.... ‘Eleusis’ is Hellenic in the subject and in the
beauty of its proportion and harmony ... and several of its lyrics are
marvelous songs in rhythmic phrase and in underlying thought.”—
The Bellman (Minneapolis).
“There must be thousands of readers who would give this new
poem a warm and grateful welcome if only the rare quality of it could
be brought properly to their attention.... This does not signify
necessarily that the poem is an unqualified masterpiece, but it
indicates the presence of a quality that has always been present in
the grand style when the grand style has compelled itself to
endure.”—The New York Evening Sun.

The Canterbury Pilgrims: A Comedy

By PERCY MACKAYE
Decorated cloth, gilt top, 210 pages, 12mo, $1.25; boards, $1.00
The principal characters are Geoffrey Chaucer; Alisoun, the wife of
Bath; Madame Eglantine, the prioress, and Johanna, Marchioness of
Kent. The time of the action is in April, 1387, and the scenes are the
Tabard Inn, Southwark, another tavern on the road, and the exterior
of Canterbury Cathedral. The story, which is entertaining from first to
last, has to do with Chaucer’s adventure with the wife of Bath and
his love for the prioress.
 “Every line of The Canterbury Pilgrims seems to have been
wrought with infinite pains. The play possesses splendid literary
qualities—and it is actable.”—Dramatic Mirror.
“For a twentieth century author to take the characters of Chaucer’s
famous stories and give them parts in a new comedy in verse, is a
bold, nay, a perilous undertaking. But Mr. Percy MacKaye has
carried it through with a large measure of success. He has drunk
deep of the great Father of English poetry’s well, so that the
comedy’s delightfully quaint language has the real Chaucerian ring.
With much skill he portrays the pilgrims, picturing their respective
failings and virtues so deftly that they appeal as strongly to modern
taste as they did to our ancestors, yet preserving generally the
mediæval tone.... Specially amusing is Friar Hubert, a jovial,
mischievous rogue, whose drollery is irresistible.”—Oxford Chronicle.
“Throughout the play the characters of these two most innocent
lovers [Chaucer and the prioress] are maintained with exquisite
humor and feeling for life. Outside of the covers of Shakespeare it
would be hard to find anything of the kind at once more original and
more nearly on Shakespeare’s level.”—New York Times.

Three Short Plays

By MARY S. WATTS
12ᵒ, $1.25
The brilliant dialogue in the novels of Mary S. Watts has always
evoked the heartiest of praise from the critics. In fact it is not
infrequently maintained that of all American writers Mrs. Watts is the
most adept in the handling of book conversations. Her appearance,
therefore, as a dramatist, is not at all unexpected to those who have
been following her literary career. Her book, Three Short Plays,
justifies the expectations of those who have looked for worthwhile
work from her in this field.

Van Zorn: A Comedy in Three Acts

 By EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON
$1.25
Edwin Arlington Robinson is known as one of the most
accomplished of the younger generation of American poets. In this
delightful play Mr. Robinson tells with a biting humor the story of the
salvation of a soul.
“Attraction of the play is the manner in which from scene to scene
the interest is piqued, until at last there is a denouement almost
Shavian in its impudence, that is, the impudence of the main
characters.
“One imagines the play would be highly entertaining on the stage.
Incidentally it affords good reading.”—Kentucky Post.

The Porcupine: A Drama in Three Acts

By EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON
$1.25
Edwin Arlington Robinson’s comedy “Van Zorn” proved him to be
one of the most accomplished of the younger generation of American
dramatists. Of this play the Boston Transcript said, “It is an effective
presentation of modern life in New York City, in which a poet shows
his skill of playwriting ... he brings to the American drama to-day a
thing it sadly lacks, and that is character.”

THE MACMILLAN COMPANY

Publishers 64-66 Fifth Avenue New York
 *** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GRANNY
MAUMEE; THE RIDER OF DREAMS; SIMON THE CYRENIAN ***

Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions

will be renamed.

Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S.

copyright law means that no one owns a United States copyright
in these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and
distribute it in the United States without permission and without
paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General
Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and
distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the
PROJECT GUTENBERG™ concept and trademark. Project
Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if
you charge for an eBook, except by following the terms of the
trademark license, including paying royalties for use of the
Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for
copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is
very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such
as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
research. Project Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and
printed and given away—you may do practically ANYTHING in
the United States with eBooks not protected by U.S. copyright
law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially
commercial redistribution.

START: FULL LICENSE

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
 PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK

To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the

free distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this
work (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase
“Project Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of
the Full Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or
online at www.gutenberg.org/license.

Section 1. General Terms of Use and

Redistributing Project Gutenberg™
electronic works
1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™
electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand,
agree to and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual
property (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to
abide by all the terms of this agreement, you must cease using
and return or destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™
electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee for
obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg™
electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the terms
of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.

1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only

be used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by
people who agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.
There are a few things that you can do with most Project
Gutenberg™ electronic works even without complying with the
full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There
are a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg™
electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement and
help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™
electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.
1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the
Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the
collection of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the
individual works in the collection are in the public domain in the
United States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright
law in the United States and you are located in the United
States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying,
distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works
based on the work as long as all references to Project
Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will
support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting free
access to electronic works by freely sharing Project
Gutenberg™ works in compliance with the terms of this
agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg™ name
associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms
of this agreement by keeping this work in the same format with
its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when you share it
without charge with others.

1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also
govern what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most
countries are in a constant state of change. If you are outside
the United States, check the laws of your country in addition to
the terms of this agreement before downloading, copying,
displaying, performing, distributing or creating derivative works
based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg™ work. The
Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright
status of any work in any country other than the United States.

1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project

Gutenberg:

1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other

immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must
appear prominently whenever any copy of a Project
Gutenberg™ work (any work on which the phrase “Project
Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project
Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed,
viewed, copied or distributed:

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United

States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it
away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg
License included with this eBook or online at
www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United
States, you will have to check the laws of the country where
you are located before using this eBook.

1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is

derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not
contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the
copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to
anyone in the United States without paying any fees or charges.
If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the
phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the
work, you must comply either with the requirements of
paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use
of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ trademark as set forth
in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is

posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and
distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through
1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder.
Additional terms will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™
License for all works posted with the permission of the copyright
holder found at the beginning of this work.

1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project

Gutenberg™ License terms from this work, or any files
containing a part of this work or any other work associated with
Project Gutenberg™.