Restoring Garnet’s
Heart
Heart
Book
3 Elinor’s Stronghold Series
3 Elinor’s Stronghold Series
Tragically widowed,
Garnet is loved by two men. If a noble lady can have two men, why can’t a mere
sewing woman? Garnet decides she’ll marry them both! Then she adopts two
orphaned, starving little girls.
Garnet is loved by two men. If a noble lady can have two men, why can’t a mere
sewing woman? Garnet decides she’ll marry them both! Then she adopts two
orphaned, starving little girls.
Garnet, Byram, and
Carlysle are sent to repair the demesne. Can they achieve this huge task before
the harvest is gathered in? First a high stone wall needs to be built to
protect them from attackers. The buildings must be cleaned and repaired, the
crops sown, weeded, cared for, and hopefully reaped. Is it possible to complete
such a huge undertaking before the next vicious winter arrives? Will the
peasants help them?
Carlysle are sent to repair the demesne. Can they achieve this huge task before
the harvest is gathered in? First a high stone wall needs to be built to
protect them from attackers. The buildings must be cleaned and repaired, the
crops sown, weeded, cared for, and hopefully reaped. Is it possible to complete
such a huge undertaking before the next vicious winter arrives? Will the
peasants help them?
Meanwhile Lady Elinor
gives birth to the heir of the stronghold, and Lord Rhys and Lady Rhyannon,
with Alistair and Lord Devon, go to court to sort out her inheritance.
gives birth to the heir of the stronghold, and Lord Rhys and Lady Rhyannon,
with Alistair and Lord Devon, go to court to sort out her inheritance.
And what about
Garnet’s threesome relationship? Will that be successful?
***
Garnet’s threesome relationship? Will that be successful?
***
To find out more about Berengaria Brown and her books check out her blog.
Other books in the Elinor’s Stronghold Series include:
Other books in the Elinor’s Stronghold Series include:
Book 1:
Pillaging Elinor’s Castle
Pillaging Elinor’s Castle
Book 2:
Defending Rhyannon’s Inheritance
Defending Rhyannon’s Inheritance
Book 4:
Bringing Claire Home
Bringing Claire Home
Excerpt: Restoring Garnet’s Heart
Lady Elinor stared at
the two children in front of her. One, a girl, looked to be about six years old
and dragged a cooking pot with a few possessions inside it. Her arms and legs
were stick-thin, her hair was falling out in clumps, and her belly was swollen.
the two children in front of her. One, a girl, looked to be about six years old
and dragged a cooking pot with a few possessions inside it. Her arms and legs
were stick-thin, her hair was falling out in clumps, and her belly was swollen.
The child had been
eating bark and leaves to try to stem her hunger, and her belly was full of
air, assumed Garnet, who was standing beside Lady Elinor among the other sewing
women of the castle.
eating bark and leaves to try to stem her hunger, and her belly was full of
air, assumed Garnet, who was standing beside Lady Elinor among the other sewing
women of the castle.
The younger child,
which could be either a girl or boy, and was maybe three years old, clutched
the older one’s tunic in one hand, and sucked hard on its other thumb. It, too,
was painfully thin, though less bloated by starvation.
which could be either a girl or boy, and was maybe three years old, clutched
the older one’s tunic in one hand, and sucked hard on its other thumb. It, too,
was painfully thin, though less bloated by starvation.
“You wish to become
my slave?” Lady Elinor’s voice was even and mild, but Garnet knew she was
shocked. Peasant men from the smallest of uncaring Lord Jeffrey’s hamlets had
begged to become slaves of the castle in return for food during this terrible
winter, but few females, and no one as young as this little child.
my slave?” Lady Elinor’s voice was even and mild, but Garnet knew she was
shocked. Peasant men from the smallest of uncaring Lord Jeffrey’s hamlets had
begged to become slaves of the castle in return for food during this terrible
winter, but few females, and no one as young as this little child.
“Yes, Lady Elinor. I
can scare birds from the crops when they’re planted, and clean for you. Ysabel
will stay with me. I’ve always looked after her since Ma died, and she won’t
touch the seedlings. She’s a good girl, and no trouble at all. And I will grow
big, and learn to fight for you and Lord Rhys, and then I’ll kill the men who
murdered our Pa and took all our hamlet’s food,” the child finished fiercely,
almost in a shout.
can scare birds from the crops when they’re planted, and clean for you. Ysabel
will stay with me. I’ve always looked after her since Ma died, and she won’t
touch the seedlings. She’s a good girl, and no trouble at all. And I will grow
big, and learn to fight for you and Lord Rhys, and then I’ll kill the men who
murdered our Pa and took all our hamlet’s food,” the child finished fiercely,
almost in a shout.
Garnet felt her
eyebrows rise and forced her face not to break into a grin. It was plain this
tiny, starved child had the heart of a warrior indeed.
eyebrows rise and forced her face not to break into a grin. It was plain this
tiny, starved child had the heart of a warrior indeed.
Lady Elinor rested
her hand on her huge belly. It was almost time for the heir to the stronghold
to be born.
her hand on her huge belly. It was almost time for the heir to the stronghold
to be born.
“Well then, Nerida is
already learning warrior skills, and if the heir to the stronghold is a girl,
she will be a warrior, too. I see no reason why you can’t also be a warrior, if
that is your desire. What is your name, and where are the other people from
your hamlet?”
already learning warrior skills, and if the heir to the stronghold is a girl,
she will be a warrior, too. I see no reason why you can’t also be a warrior, if
that is your desire. What is your name, and where are the other people from
your hamlet?”
“I’m Ava, lady, and I
promise to serve you forever. Most of the people left after the soldiers came
raiding. Some have tried to help Ysabel and me, but I’d rather work for my
food.”
promise to serve you forever. Most of the people left after the soldiers came
raiding. Some have tried to help Ysabel and me, but I’d rather work for my
food.”
Garnet watched Ava’s
thin, little shoulders straighten as she spoke. At her age, Garnet would never
have dared to approach the Lady of the Castle, and Garnet had never been a shy
child. But this girl was truly a warrior born. She was that rare being who
combined the ability to think of a solution to a problem with the courage to
step outside any rules of society and do it, no matter what the consequences
may turn out to be.
thin, little shoulders straighten as she spoke. At her age, Garnet would never
have dared to approach the Lady of the Castle, and Garnet had never been a shy
child. But this girl was truly a warrior born. She was that rare being who
combined the ability to think of a solution to a problem with the courage to
step outside any rules of society and do it, no matter what the consequences
may turn out to be.
Without stopping to
think, Garnet moved to stand where Lady Elinor could see her. “The two girls
may share my room, lady, and I will supervise their activities.”
think, Garnet moved to stand where Lady Elinor could see her. “The two girls
may share my room, lady, and I will supervise their activities.”
“It is decided then,
Ava. You and Ysabel may join the stronghold. We will feed you, and you will
work. You will obey Garnet in all things. Do you understand?”
Ava. You and Ysabel may join the stronghold. We will feed you, and you will
work. You will obey Garnet in all things. Do you understand?”
“Yes, lady, thank
you.”
you.”
Ava dropped to her
knees and pressed her face to Lady Elinor’s feet. Ysabel copied her.
knees and pressed her face to Lady Elinor’s feet. Ysabel copied her.
Garnet’s eyes flooded
with tears. Peasants always died when there was trouble in the land, especially
the very old and the very young. They weren’t strong enough to fight back or
fast enough to run away. But this child deserved to live.
with tears. Peasants always died when there was trouble in the land, especially
the very old and the very young. They weren’t strong enough to fight back or
fast enough to run away. But this child deserved to live.
Garnet’s husband,
Roldan, had been one of Lord Rhys’s soldiers, and was killed in the battle that
took the lives of Lady Elinor’s father and brothers and caused Lord Rhys to
lose his demesne to Lord Jeffrey. They had been married only six months, not
long enough for her to worry about not getting pregnant, but now he was dead,
the parents of these children were dead, and Ava was a daughter any woman would
be proud to call her own.
Roldan, had been one of Lord Rhys’s soldiers, and was killed in the battle that
took the lives of Lady Elinor’s father and brothers and caused Lord Rhys to
lose his demesne to Lord Jeffrey. They had been married only six months, not
long enough for her to worry about not getting pregnant, but now he was dead,
the parents of these children were dead, and Ava was a daughter any woman would
be proud to call her own.
***
I hope you enjoyed
the excerpt. Next Medieval Monday my featured author is Lauren Linwood with her
latest release.
the excerpt. Next Medieval Monday my featured author is Lauren Linwood with her
latest release.
Thank you for hosting me today, Ruth.
Berengaria
My pleasure!