Happy Holidays! I hope your plans
for the holidays are going smoothly. I’m still shopping and will soon be
cooking. I expect my kids to be coming home soon. We’ll be celebrating. This
week we continue with the theme Celebration. My guest is Ashley York. She has a
great scene from her book, The Saxon Bride. I hope you enjoy it.
for the holidays are going smoothly. I’m still shopping and will soon be
cooking. I expect my kids to be coming home soon. We’ll be celebrating. This
week we continue with the theme Celebration. My guest is Ashley York. She has a
great scene from her book, The Saxon Bride. I hope you enjoy it.
Excerpt
John’s
breath against Rowena’s neck sent a shiver down her spine. Knowing now how
easily she could be distracted, she fought to keep her head. Those who’d been
waiting for the new lord of the manor acknowledged him with some excitement
when he entered, Rowena at his side. John accepted their respectful greetings
as if he’d always been such a high ranking lord yet Joan had said he was only a
knight.
breath against Rowena’s neck sent a shiver down her spine. Knowing now how
easily she could be distracted, she fought to keep her head. Those who’d been
waiting for the new lord of the manor acknowledged him with some excitement
when he entered, Rowena at his side. John accepted their respectful greetings
as if he’d always been such a high ranking lord yet Joan had said he was only a
knight.
“My
lord,” a burly man with a ruddy complexion bowed overly long before them,
causing his face to turn even redder. “Accept the greetings of a distant
friend. I am Mort of Bedgrove near Aylesbury, at your service.”
lord,” a burly man with a ruddy complexion bowed overly long before them,
causing his face to turn even redder. “Accept the greetings of a distant
friend. I am Mort of Bedgrove near Aylesbury, at your service.”
“And
what would that service be?” John paused beside the extravagantly dressed
man. It was not a man Rowena had ever seen before. John’s mouth twitched with
humor as he seemed to take in all the fine silk, silver bells and feather
adornments in one glance.
what would that service be?” John paused beside the extravagantly dressed
man. It was not a man Rowena had ever seen before. John’s mouth twitched with
humor as he seemed to take in all the fine silk, silver bells and feather
adornments in one glance.
The
man bowed again before answering. “My lord…” Stepping closer, the man
was a head shorter than John but he managed to look him directly in the face
when he answered. “Whatever service that you might need.”
man bowed again before answering. “My lord…” Stepping closer, the man
was a head shorter than John but he managed to look him directly in the face
when he answered. “Whatever service that you might need.”
John’s
humor fled. Rowena sensed a sudden tension between the two men. Their eyes were
locked as if sizing each other up. His arm finally relaxed where her fingers
lay lightly atop it. Smiling, he tipped his head in acknowledgment and
continued on.
humor fled. Rowena sensed a sudden tension between the two men. Their eyes were
locked as if sizing each other up. His arm finally relaxed where her fingers
lay lightly atop it. Smiling, he tipped his head in acknowledgment and
continued on.
Finally
reaching the far center wall, John and Rowena took their seats at the long
table. It was covered with a clean cloth and adorned with small bunches of the
last flowers from the garden. The scene was festive and Rowena’s own spirits
seemed to lift as well. It was a time to celebrate. The long awaited lord had
finally returned. There would be time later to find out what that would mean to
her. For her people, it was time for celebration. A time for peace.
reaching the far center wall, John and Rowena took their seats at the long
table. It was covered with a clean cloth and adorned with small bunches of the
last flowers from the garden. The scene was festive and Rowena’s own spirits
seemed to lift as well. It was a time to celebrate. The long awaited lord had
finally returned. There would be time later to find out what that would mean to
her. For her people, it was time for celebration. A time for peace.
The
meal was eaten with the new apple wine Rowena had chosen. The assortment of
breads, meats and pies was plentiful. The mead and cider flowed without
restraint. All seemed relaxed, happy even. At the tables grouped with eight and
ten people each, there was an easy exchange as they talked amongst themselves
and the noise level rose as the amount of drink increased. The Normans,
however, sat off by themselves and spoke more quietly. They were soldiers after
all. Rowena tried to squelch her uneasiness at this realization.
meal was eaten with the new apple wine Rowena had chosen. The assortment of
breads, meats and pies was plentiful. The mead and cider flowed without
restraint. All seemed relaxed, happy even. At the tables grouped with eight and
ten people each, there was an easy exchange as they talked amongst themselves
and the noise level rose as the amount of drink increased. The Normans,
however, sat off by themselves and spoke more quietly. They were soldiers after
all. Rowena tried to squelch her uneasiness at this realization.
Wondering
if John noticed the subdued behavior of his men, she was startled to find his
gaze running over her body. Her own breath quickened. It felt as if he were
actually touching her. The memory of his touch had left a lasting impression.
He wet his lips before taking his goblet to his mouth, opening it right before
the cold metal touched his lips. The movement along his throat as he drank
mesmerized her. She found herself wanting to put her lips there, to taste him.
She looked away. She could never be so bold.
if John noticed the subdued behavior of his men, she was startled to find his
gaze running over her body. Her own breath quickened. It felt as if he were
actually touching her. The memory of his touch had left a lasting impression.
He wet his lips before taking his goblet to his mouth, opening it right before
the cold metal touched his lips. The movement along his throat as he drank
mesmerized her. She found herself wanting to put her lips there, to taste him.
She looked away. She could never be so bold.
Her
response to his looks was quite disconcerting. She cleared her throat.”How
do you find your manor after your long absence, my lord?”
response to his looks was quite disconcerting. She cleared her throat.”How
do you find your manor after your long absence, my lord?”
John
eyebrows shot up. She hadn’t meant to find fault…or maybe she did.
eyebrows shot up. She hadn’t meant to find fault…or maybe she did.
“I
was taken aback to find you do not care for the stores and such. Is there a
reason you refuse to act as is your right as my wife?”
was taken aback to find you do not care for the stores and such. Is there a
reason you refuse to act as is your right as my wife?”
Her
mouth opened slightly at the lie. “My lord, I have been given no such
leave. Your king replaced me as chatelaine on his first visit here.”
mouth opened slightly at the lie. “My lord, I have been given no such
leave. Your king replaced me as chatelaine on his first visit here.”
John
searched her face before correcting her. “Our king.”
searched her face before correcting her. “Our king.”
Back
Cover Copy
Cover Copy
Rowena
Godwinson, a Saxon princess, refuses to go willingly into a forced marriage to
one of King William’s most favored knights but her struggle against enemy
occupation fades away in the pleasurable arms of her Norman husband. Will he
bring her people to their knees in his attempt to please his liege lord? Or can
she win him over to the Saxon’s side even while one of her own plots to
overthrow the bastard king?
Godwinson, a Saxon princess, refuses to go willingly into a forced marriage to
one of King William’s most favored knights but her struggle against enemy
occupation fades away in the pleasurable arms of her Norman husband. Will he
bring her people to their knees in his attempt to please his liege lord? Or can
she win him over to the Saxon’s side even while one of her own plots to
overthrow the bastard king?
John of Normandy is a soldier made for battle, ingrained with chivalry and a
deep sense of loyalty to his mentor and king. Serving his liege is reward
enough. Neither a title nor a child bride will entice him to become an indolent
lord. A chance encounter with an alluring beauty, however, releases all his
pent up desires and unspoken needs. His young bride has become a passionate
woman, tempting him beyond his endurance. Can he win her over before she learns
the truth of her father’s death?
Buy Links
Available
in paperback and ecopy: iTunes Amazon BarnesandNoble KOBO
in paperback and ecopy: iTunes Amazon BarnesandNoble KOBO
0 Comments