I
hope you had a good weekend. It’s been a scorcher here in the Northeast and
great for sitting by the pool or in an air conditioned room reading a good
story. Today I’m hosting Barbara Bettis. She’s given us an excerpt from her
novel, Silverhawk. Continuing with our nature theme, in this excerpt Lady Emelin
has chosen a stormy night to launch an escape from her tempting kidnapper, Sir
Giles.
hope you had a good weekend. It’s been a scorcher here in the Northeast and
great for sitting by the pool or in an air conditioned room reading a good
story. Today I’m hosting Barbara Bettis. She’s given us an excerpt from her
novel, Silverhawk. Continuing with our nature theme, in this excerpt Lady Emelin
has chosen a stormy night to launch an escape from her tempting kidnapper, Sir
Giles.
She
shivered against the increasing cold and hunched forward to search the path
ahead. Why hadn’t she thought to bring one of the blankets? Clouds scudded
across the sky. Still she urged the horse onward. She had come too far to turn
back now.
shivered against the increasing cold and hunched forward to search the path
ahead. Why hadn’t she thought to bring one of the blankets? Clouds scudded
across the sky. Still she urged the horse onward. She had come too far to turn
back now.
Had
Silverhawk regained consciousness? Discovered her absence? Imagine the
surprise, when he awoke alone. She’d shown him she was not helpless.
Satisfaction lightened the oppression she was feeling—from the approaching
storm; that had to explain the growing dread.
Silverhawk regained consciousness? Discovered her absence? Imagine the
surprise, when he awoke alone. She’d shown him she was not helpless.
Satisfaction lightened the oppression she was feeling—from the approaching
storm; that had to explain the growing dread.
Then,
carried on bursts of wind, came voices. At last. She’d found them. She
straightened, the discomfort of the cold and riding bareback forgotten as she
urged the mare forward. Onward down the trail she rode. Once she called out,
“Lord Osbert, Garley, I’m here.” No answer came.
carried on bursts of wind, came voices. At last. She’d found them. She
straightened, the discomfort of the cold and riding bareback forgotten as she
urged the mare forward. Onward down the trail she rode. Once she called out,
“Lord Osbert, Garley, I’m here.” No answer came.
In
the distance, thunder rumbled, and white light knifed across the ominous sky. Please,
not rain. Surely the good Lord wouldn’t be so cruel. Her throat
constricted. She gulped. She would not panic.
the distance, thunder rumbled, and white light knifed across the ominous sky. Please,
not rain. Surely the good Lord wouldn’t be so cruel. Her throat
constricted. She gulped. She would not panic.
Concentrate
on deep breaths. If only her heart would stop clamoring to get out. A cold, fat
drop struck, followed by two more, a dozen. Then the downpour hit.
on deep breaths. If only her heart would stop clamoring to get out. A cold, fat
drop struck, followed by two more, a dozen. Then the downpour hit.
A
jagged streak snapped in front of her. A rolling crash shook the earth. The
mare tossed its head, danced aside. Emelin murmured, petted the animal’s neck
in an attempt to calm it. But at the next sharp crack, it reared, and shot down
the path.
jagged streak snapped in front of her. A rolling crash shook the earth. The
mare tossed its head, danced aside. Emelin murmured, petted the animal’s neck
in an attempt to calm it. But at the next sharp crack, it reared, and shot down
the path.
Fisting
the reins, she clung to its mane as the mount veered through the underbrush,
away from the sharp zigzags of light. Branches struck her face, snatched at her
skirts, nearly dragged her off. How she managed to keep her seat, she didn’t
know. All she could think was, Don’t fall. Don’t fall. Don’t fall.
the reins, she clung to its mane as the mount veered through the underbrush,
away from the sharp zigzags of light. Branches struck her face, snatched at her
skirts, nearly dragged her off. How she managed to keep her seat, she didn’t
know. All she could think was, Don’t fall. Don’t fall. Don’t fall.
At
last the mare slowed. Emelin squinted through wet eyes, reached out to knock
aside a soggy branch, dripping leaves. Finally, the animal stopped, blowing
hard, trembling. Emelin shook.
last the mare slowed. Emelin squinted through wet eyes, reached out to knock
aside a soggy branch, dripping leaves. Finally, the animal stopped, blowing
hard, trembling. Emelin shook.
Breath
came in gasps. Her mind could not form a coherent thought as cold wetness
dripped from her hair to ooze down her back. The frightened flight of the horse
had carried her far from the path. She was hopelessly lost.
came in gasps. Her mind could not form a coherent thought as cold wetness
dripped from her hair to ooze down her back. The frightened flight of the horse
had carried her far from the path. She was hopelessly lost.
All
around, wind-whipped shadows dipped, lunged forward, then back. Another spear
of lightning wrenched into a nearby tree. Her shout of surprise was swallowed
in the earth-shaking
around, wind-whipped shadows dipped, lunged forward, then back. Another spear
of lightning wrenched into a nearby tree. Her shout of surprise was swallowed
in the earth-shaking
roar
that followed. The winded mare only shook harder.
that followed. The winded mare only shook harder.
Could
they survive this nightmare?
they survive this nightmare?
Then
through the rain-drenched night a huge black object hurtled up, rearing as it
just missed her. Emelin screamed.
through the rain-drenched night a huge black object hurtled up, rearing as it
just missed her. Emelin screamed.
The
monster swung around. Wet black tentacles wrapped around her, dragged her off
the exhausted mare. She tried to struggle, but the iron hold wouldn’t allow it.
monster swung around. Wet black tentacles wrapped around her, dragged her off
the exhausted mare. She tried to struggle, but the iron hold wouldn’t allow it.
At
last her feet touched ground, and the tentacles embraced her until she couldn’t
breathe. It took a moment for the roar to dissolve into understandable words.
“Are you hurt? Are you hurt? Tell me if you’re hurt.”
last her feet touched ground, and the tentacles embraced her until she couldn’t
breathe. It took a moment for the roar to dissolve into understandable words.
“Are you hurt? Are you hurt? Tell me if you’re hurt.”
Silverhawk.
Her
arms flew around his waist and she nodded against his soaked tunic. Thank
God, thank God. She
was safe.
arms flew around his waist and she nodded against his soaked tunic. Thank
God, thank God. She
was safe.
Back Cover Copy:
He’s everything a
proper lady should never want; she’s everything a bastard mercenary can never
have.
proper lady should never want; she’s everything a bastard mercenary can never
have.
Sir Giles has come to England
to kill his father, who seduced and betrayed his mother. First, however, he’ll
seek sweet revenge—kidnap the old lord’s new
betrothed. But when Giles uncovers a plot against King Richard, he faces a
dilemma: take the lady or track the traitors. What’s a good mercenary to do?
Both, of course.
to kill his father, who seduced and betrayed his mother. First, however, he’ll
seek sweet revenge—kidnap the old lord’s new
betrothed. But when Giles uncovers a plot against King Richard, he faces a
dilemma: take the lady or track the traitors. What’s a good mercenary to do?
Both, of course.
Lady
Emelin has had enough. Abandoned in a convent by her brother, she finally has a
chance for home and family. Yet now she’s been abducted. Her kidnapper may be
the image of her dream knight, but she won’t allow him to spoil this betrothal.
Her only solution: escape
Emelin has had enough. Abandoned in a convent by her brother, she finally has a
chance for home and family. Yet now she’s been abducted. Her kidnapper may be
the image of her dream knight, but she won’t allow him to spoil this betrothal.
Her only solution: escape
Rescuing
the intrepid lady—while hunting traitors—is a challenge Giles couldn’t
anticipate. But the greatest challenge
to Giles and Emelin is the fire blazing between them. For he’s everything a
proper lady should never want, and she’s everything a bastard mercenary can
never have.
the intrepid lady—while hunting traitors—is a challenge Giles couldn’t
anticipate. But the greatest challenge
to Giles and Emelin is the fire blazing between them. For he’s everything a
proper lady should never want, and she’s everything a bastard mercenary can
never have.
Tempting read. I do love historical romance. Thanks for sharing it. I wouldn't mind spending time with Sir Giles.