*.✫*¨*.¸¸.✶*¨`* HAVE A COOL YULE AND FABULOUS FIRST *¨`*✶.¸¸.*¨*✫.*
This is the same Medieval Monday that features some of the best romance out there but now it’s with a twist. Each week a different author will be featured here with a “themed excerpt.” This month, all the excerpts will be about a celebration for the holidays. Today’s guest is Barbara Bettis. You’re going to love this excerpt. Enjoy!
Back Cover Copy:
Some call him a ruthless mercenary; she calls him the
knight of her heart.
Memories
Lady
Evelynn’s childhood hero is home—bitter, hard, tempting as sin. And haunted by
secrets. A now-grown Evie offers friendship, but Sir Stephen’s cruel rejection
crushes her, and she resolves to forget him. Yet when an unexpected war throws
them together, she finds love isn’t so easy to dismiss. If only the king hadn’t
betrothed her to another.
knight of her heart.
Memories
Lady
Evelynn’s childhood hero is home—bitter, hard, tempting as sin. And haunted by
secrets. A now-grown Evie offers friendship, but Sir Stephen’s cruel rejection
crushes her, and she resolves to forget him. Yet when an unexpected war throws
them together, she finds love isn’t so easy to dismiss. If only the king hadn’t
betrothed her to another.
Can be cruel
Sir Stephen lives
a double life while he seeks the treacherous outlaws who murdered his friends.
Driven by revenge, he thinks his heart is closed to love. His childhood shadow,
Lady Evie, unexpectedly challenges that belief. He rebuffs her, but he can’t
forget her, although he knows she’s to wed the king’s favorite.
Sir Stephen lives
a double life while he seeks the treacherous outlaws who murdered his friends.
Driven by revenge, he thinks his heart is closed to love. His childhood shadow,
Lady Evie, unexpectedly challenges that belief. He rebuffs her, but he can’t
forget her, although he knows she’s to wed the king’s favorite.
And deadly
When his
drive for vengeance leads to Evie’s kidnapping, Stephen must choose between
retribution and the love he’s denied too long. Surely King John will see
reason. Convict the murderers; convince the king. Simple. Until a
startling revelation threatens everything.
When his
drive for vengeance leads to Evie’s kidnapping, Stephen must choose between
retribution and the love he’s denied too long. Surely King John will see
reason. Convict the murderers; convince the king. Simple. Until a
startling revelation threatens everything.
Buy Links: The Wild Rose Press
Excerpt:
Granville Castle,
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
December 1197
“Go away, little shadow.” Sir Stephen’s words
roared above the December wind that snapped across the castle tower’s roof.
roared above the December wind that snapped across the castle tower’s roof.
Lady Evelynn shielded her eyes against the
stinging bites of snow. She couldn’t make out his location. There. A flash of
light from the huge bonfire in the bailey below illuminated his form, facing
out into the night.
stinging bites of snow. She couldn’t make out his location. There. A flash of
light from the huge bonfire in the bailey below illuminated his form, facing
out into the night.
Arms braced, the tall figure leaned across
the waist-high stone embrasure, as if he welcomed the wild winter gales.
the waist-high stone embrasure, as if he welcomed the wild winter gales.
How did he know who stood behind him? And why
must he use that foolish childhood nickname? Her resolve wavered then flared
once more. Let him ignore her, then. She would pay no heed to his indifference,
just as she had as a child. He needed a friend right now.
must he use that foolish childhood nickname? Her resolve wavered then flared
once more. Let him ignore her, then. She would pay no heed to his indifference,
just as she had as a child. He needed a friend right now.
He just didn’t realize it.
She clenched her hands, caught her bottom lip
between her teeth, and stepped from the dim recesses of the doorway. Light from
a lone torch just inside the landing at the top of the stairs flickered across
the whitened walkway.
between her teeth, and stepped from the dim recesses of the doorway. Light from
a lone torch just inside the landing at the top of the stairs flickered across
the whitened walkway.
“Are
you well?” Evie shivered as she picked a path along the slick surface. She
hadn’t brought a cloak. When he left the celebration with a bleak, dark look on
his face, she followed without thinking.
you well?” Evie shivered as she picked a path along the slick surface. She
hadn’t brought a cloak. When he left the celebration with a bleak, dark look on
his face, she followed without thinking.
He was in pain. She of all people could
recognize the signs, could even understand a need for solitude. Yet the urge to
comfort him drove her.
recognize the signs, could even understand a need for solitude. Yet the urge to
comfort him drove her.
A moment’s uncertainty made her pause,
however. This hard Sir Stephen little resembled the young squire she once knew.
But the memory of their long-ago friendship drove her on.
however. This hard Sir Stephen little resembled the young squire she once knew.
But the memory of their long-ago friendship drove her on.
He did not turn as she eased forward in her
soft slippers. What could he possibly see in the snow-flecked blackness?
Perhaps he regretted releasing Lady Emelin so readily.
soft slippers. What could he possibly see in the snow-flecked blackness?
Perhaps he regretted releasing Lady Emelin so readily.
She raised her voice. “I thought when you
left the hall—” She paused as his head turned slightly.
left the hall—” She paused as his head turned slightly.
“That I could not bear to see my betrothed
wed another man?” His voice mocked. “Did
you feel sorry for me?”
wed another man?” His voice mocked. “Did
you feel sorry for me?”
The sharp words failed to wound. He wouldn’t
drive her away so easily.
drive her away so easily.
“It would be understandable,” she said, at
last reaching his side. Another frigid gust brought sounds of merriment from
the bailey below. Snow would never deter the villagers when they celebrated the
marriage of their new lord. This year’s Christmastide would be doubly rich with
gifts and happiness.
last reaching his side. Another frigid gust brought sounds of merriment from
the bailey below. Snow would never deter the villagers when they celebrated the
marriage of their new lord. This year’s Christmastide would be doubly rich with
gifts and happiness.
“I’m happy to see her wed Sir Giles.” He
turned to stare outward at nothing again. “I have no desire for a wife. Ever.”
turned to stare outward at nothing again. “I have no desire for a wife. Ever.”
Visit Barb at:
Ruth, Thanks for hosting me today!
Such a great story, Barb!
Thank you Ashley!