Happy Medieval
Monday! Today I’m hosting Jenna Jaxon. Lady Alyse is in love… with her husband
and his best friend. What will happen when her husband finds out? Here is
an excerpt from Time Enough to Love.
Monday! Today I’m hosting Jenna Jaxon. Lady Alyse is in love… with her husband
and his best friend. What will happen when her husband finds out? Here is
an excerpt from Time Enough to Love.
Excerpt from Time Enough to Love:
Abruptly, he
gripped her face, pulling it up until she peered into the dangerous dark eyes
of her husband. Terror surged through her at the sight of his snarling
countenance.
gripped her face, pulling it up until she peered into the dangerous dark eyes
of her husband. Terror surged through her at the sight of his snarling
countenance.
“Why so amorous
this morning, my sweet?” he growled, his eyes snapping with anger. “Were
Geoffrey’s kisses not as satisfying as you remembered?”
this morning, my sweet?” he growled, his eyes snapping with anger. “Were
Geoffrey’s kisses not as satisfying as you remembered?”
Oh, God. Oh,
God. He saw—
God. He saw—
Thomas flung her
toward the bed. She huddled at its foot in a heap, shivering, while he strode
to where she lay, towering over her. Alyse cringed before him, head bowed, too
frightened and ashamed for tears.
toward the bed. She huddled at its foot in a heap, shivering, while he strode
to where she lay, towering over her. Alyse cringed before him, head bowed, too
frightened and ashamed for tears.
“I believe I may
have misspoken earlier, madam.” His voice dripped sarcasm. “I had, in fact,
gone in search of you, to invite you to an intimate breakfast with your
husband. Imagine my dismay to find you engaged in one already, albeit with
someone else’s husband. From the exchange I saw, I can scarce credit that you
hunger still. Yet you enter our chamber apparently unsatisfied. Pray tell me,
how many more husbands would you devour ere the day begins?”
have misspoken earlier, madam.” His voice dripped sarcasm. “I had, in fact,
gone in search of you, to invite you to an intimate breakfast with your
husband. Imagine my dismay to find you engaged in one already, albeit with
someone else’s husband. From the exchange I saw, I can scarce credit that you
hunger still. Yet you enter our chamber apparently unsatisfied. Pray tell me,
how many more husbands would you devour ere the day begins?”
His voice rose
to an excruciating volume, and Alyse clamped her hands to her ears lest she be
deafened.
to an excruciating volume, and Alyse clamped her hands to her ears lest she be
deafened.
“I have played
the tender lover these past weeks. Petted and cajoled you, like some simpering
green boy in an effort to remain true to the vow I made you, despite my right
as your husband to demand your obedience in bed. I have been patient, kind, and
true, madam, and I am repaid in treachery!”
the tender lover these past weeks. Petted and cajoled you, like some simpering
green boy in an effort to remain true to the vow I made you, despite my right
as your husband to demand your obedience in bed. I have been patient, kind, and
true, madam, and I am repaid in treachery!”
“Nay, Thomas!”
Quite suddenly, she found her tongue and raised a resolute face to her livid
husband. She rose from the floor and stood facing him, breasts heaving in
indignation. “Whatever you saw, whatever you think, I did not betray you with
Geoffrey.”
Quite suddenly, she found her tongue and raised a resolute face to her livid
husband. She rose from the floor and stood facing him, breasts heaving in
indignation. “Whatever you saw, whatever you think, I did not betray you with
Geoffrey.”
“You were in his
arms, your mouths locked together as though nothing could pull them asunder. Do
you deny that?” He spat the words at her.
arms, your mouths locked together as though nothing could pull them asunder. Do
you deny that?” He spat the words at her.
“Nay.” She
pitched her voice low, her resentment of his accusation ebbing. “God forgive
me, I kissed him and held him, and he held me. And the world ceased to exist
for a little while.”
pitched her voice low, her resentment of his accusation ebbing. “God forgive
me, I kissed him and held him, and he held me. And the world ceased to exist
for a little while.”
Back Cover Copy for Time Enough to Love
When Lady Alyse
de Courcy is betrothed to Sir Geoffrey Longford, she has no choice but to make
the best of a bad bargain. The hulking knight is far from her ideal man, and
although he does possess some wit and charm, he is no match for the sinfully
sensual man she secretly admires, Thomas, Earl of Braeton, her betrothe’s best
friend.
de Courcy is betrothed to Sir Geoffrey Longford, she has no choice but to make
the best of a bad bargain. The hulking knight is far from her ideal man, and
although he does possess some wit and charm, he is no match for the sinfully
sensual man she secretly admires, Thomas, Earl of Braeton, her betrothe’s best
friend.
From the first,
Sir Geoffrey finds himself smitten by Lady Alyse, and, despite her infatuation
with his friend, vows to win her love. When Geoffrey puts his mind to wooing
Alyse, he is delighted to find her succumbing to his seduction. But when cruel circumstances separate them,
Geoffrey must watch helplessly as Thomas steps in to protect Alyse—and falls in
love with her himself.
Sir Geoffrey finds himself smitten by Lady Alyse, and, despite her infatuation
with his friend, vows to win her love. When Geoffrey puts his mind to wooing
Alyse, he is delighted to find her succumbing to his seduction. But when cruel circumstances separate them,
Geoffrey must watch helplessly as Thomas steps in to protect Alyse—and falls in
love with her himself.
As the three
courtiers accompany Princess Joanna to her wedding in Spain, they run headlong
into the Black Plague. With her world plunged into chaos, Alyse struggles with
her feelings for both the men she loves. But which love will survive?
courtiers accompany Princess Joanna to her wedding in Spain, they run headlong
into the Black Plague. With her world plunged into chaos, Alyse struggles with
her feelings for both the men she loves. But which love will survive?
Great excerpt! I love Jenna Jaxon's writing. Thanks, Ruth, for sharing this. BTW The Guardian's Witch looks amazing. What an intriguing cover!
What a pickle she does find herself in! I thoroughly enjoyed it, Jenna!