Happy Medieval Monday. Today we continue the theme, conflict. Barbara
Bettis is my guest. In this excerpt from Silverhawk,
Emelin must endure Sir Garley’s abuse. Will she ever learn to hold her tongue?
I hope you enjoy the passage.
Bettis is my guest. In this excerpt from Silverhawk,
Emelin must endure Sir Garley’s abuse. Will she ever learn to hold her tongue?
I hope you enjoy the passage.
Here is Lady
Emelin’s first meeting with her brother since he confined her to a convent five
years earlier. Now he’s betrothed her to someone without her knowledge.
Emelin’s first meeting with her brother since he confined her to a convent five
years earlier. Now he’s betrothed her to someone without her knowledge.
Excerpt from
Silverhawk:
Silverhawk:
Ortha
had just finished braiding Emelin’s hair when the door burst open. Sir Garley strode
in, his bulk filling the space. He jerked his head, and Ortha slipped into the
passageway. Emelin shot to her feet, chin raised. The long forgotten fear
nibbled at her heart, but she refused to show it.
had just finished braiding Emelin’s hair when the door burst open. Sir Garley strode
in, his bulk filling the space. He jerked his head, and Ortha slipped into the
passageway. Emelin shot to her feet, chin raised. The long forgotten fear
nibbled at her heart, but she refused to show it.
He
loomed closer, looked over the borrowed gown she wore, and picked up a braid.
Lips curled in a snarl, he gave it a hard yank before he dropped it. “Too bad
we can’t do something about that color.”
loomed closer, looked over the borrowed gown she wore, and picked up a braid.
Lips curled in a snarl, he gave it a hard yank before he dropped it. “Too bad
we can’t do something about that color.”
Blood-shot
eyes narrowed. He grabbed her chin between his forefinger and thumb and forced
up her head. She tried to pull away from the stench of his breath, but he
pinched harder. “Don’t do anything else to spoil this arrangement.” His voice
grated like rusty steel. “I need the payment Langley made for you. I will not
return it.”
eyes narrowed. He grabbed her chin between his forefinger and thumb and forced
up her head. She tried to pull away from the stench of his breath, but he
pinched harder. “Don’t do anything else to spoil this arrangement.” His voice
grated like rusty steel. “I need the payment Langley made for you. I will not
return it.”
Garley
gave her head a final shake. “Do not interfere in my plans,” he
repeated.
gave her head a final shake. “Do not interfere in my plans,” he
repeated.
Emelin
jerked back. Rebellion overpowered the hurt, and she spoke without
thought. Again. “Or what? You’ll
immure me in a convent? I believe we’ve done that already.”
jerked back. Rebellion overpowered the hurt, and she spoke without
thought. Again. “Or what? You’ll
immure me in a convent? I believe we’ve done that already.”
Garley’s
slap caught the side of the face, sent her staggering onto the bed. “Keep your
mouth shut.” His voice held no trace of emotion as he strode to the door. “At
least until after the wedding. Then you’re his problem. Just remember, there’ll
never be a place for you at Compton. Give the old man a son, and you’ll want
for nothing. Fight him and you may find yourself back at the convent—if you’re
lucky.”
slap caught the side of the face, sent her staggering onto the bed. “Keep your
mouth shut.” His voice held no trace of emotion as he strode to the door. “At
least until after the wedding. Then you’re his problem. Just remember, there’ll
never be a place for you at Compton. Give the old man a son, and you’ll want
for nothing. Fight him and you may find yourself back at the convent—if you’re
lucky.”
Back Cover Copy for Silverhawk:
He’s everything a proper lady should never want; she’s
everything a bastard mercenary can never have.
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
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.
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.
Amazon has surprised me by running a 99 cent sale for
Silverhawk.
Silverhawk.
Hi Ruth. Thanks so much for hosting me today. Garley is such a jerk, isn't he? I really enjoyed writing his character. 😉 I must tell your readers, though, that the 99 cent promo has ended at Amazon. Sorry I didn't realize in time to let you know earlier.
He is a jerk indeed–but worth more than 99 cents!
Thanks, Beppie! 🙂