Lord
Roland de Wolfe burst into his sister’s bedchamber, sword drawn to meet
whatever peril she was facing. A frown quickly marred his brow to see her calmly
sitting by the fire reading a book.
“You
said ’twas urgent,” he muttered placing the blade in the scabbard strapped to
his side. “I thought mayhap you were in danger.”
Livinia
gave a light laugh. “I am perfectly fine.” She pointed to his attire or lack
thereof. “You could have at least put on a tunic. Obviously, I interrupted your
bath with my summons.”
“Aye,
you did, among other things,” he replied with a sly grin, not that his sister
needed to know of the woman waiting for him back in his own chamber. “What was
of such import that it could not wait ’til the morn?”
“I
have an idea that could be of mutual benefit to us. A wager if you would care
to take a chance,” she said with sparkling eyes. She reached over for a cup and
took a sip. “Are you game?”
His
eyes narrowed as he pondered her. Livinia had always been mischievous in her
youth. In the past, Roland had been more than willing to be an accomplice for
whatever she had in mind as long as no one was hurt in her games. She was used
to getting her way and Roland supposed he was much to blame since he had been
left to raise her.
He
came to sit opposite her, leaning his forearms on his legs. “What did you have
in mind, my dear?”
“Our
cousin Catherine arrived this morn. She brings with her Sir Charles…”
“Nay!”
“…
along with her husband’s sister, Lady Freya,” Livinia continued with a smirk.
His
brow rose. Now his sister had his attention. Roland knew of his Livinia’s
infatuation with Sir Charles since she was a young girl. He had hoped she had
outgrown those feelings but apparently not. “Laird Douglas has a sister?”
“Aye,
he does, and he has brought her with them to Wolverhampton. I was introduced to
them a short while ago, although I am expected to return to the great hall
shortly.”
“Go
on,” Roland said sitting back in his chair as he began tapping the wooden arms
with his fingertips.
“You
worm your way into Lady Freya’s affections. I do not care how you do it, only
that it drives a wedge between the woman and Sir Charles,” Livinia answered.
“How
exactly do you know Charles cares for the woman and why does this matter to you?”
“I
am not blind, Roland. Suffice to say I would like to see just how far we can
push them, tear them apart, or bring them together. I only care to make Charles
suffer a bit for not returning my affections in our youth,” she lifted her nose
a bit higher causing Roland to laugh at her antics.
“What
is in it for me?” he said mockingly. He just may enjoy this challenge if only
to see what depths his sister might go to try and finally win Sir Charles.
“Why,
you get the company of a lovely young woman who no doubt has a hefty dowry that
could be yours if you play this game right. Have you not said that we both
should marry soon to replenish your coffers?”
“And
you finally get Charles.” He let his comment fill the space between them ’til
he watched Livinia shrug.
“That
is the whole point of this, Roland. Are you in?”
“This
seems like an easy bet to make with you, sister. You will fail, of course, and
would never be happy with Charles as your husband. If he and Lady Freya ended
up as husband and wife, our wager will be that you agree to marry the man of my
choosing. Agreed?” he smirked knowing Livinia would agree before she thought
out her plan in greater detail. Generally, she could charm anyone to bend to
her will, Charles being the exception.
“Agreed!”
she said clapping her hands.
“’Tis
a wager then.” Roland stood and bent down to place a kiss on her sister’s cheek.
“Now if you will excuse me, I shall see to making myself presentable.” He also
needed to get rid of the woman currently waiting for him in his chamber. As he
left Livinia, he began mentally composing a list of eligible noblemen whom he
might consider worthy enough to marry his sister.
This is an original piece with secondary characters from Belle Sherry Ewing’s novella, To Love An English Knight: De Wolfe Pack Connected World, that released today. Read on to learn more about her medieval romance.
Excerpt:
Sir Charles de Grey read the missive he held from Wolverhampton Castle a second time. Disbelief changed to anger, filling his soul that perchance the outcome may have been different had he been with Lady Catherine’s brother and his family. But, nay… he was Catherine’s guardsman, sworn to protect her. He knew his duty to her and what was required of him. She may have been born Catherine de Wolfe, but she was now the lady of Berwyck.
Knowing the heartbreak this would
cause Lady Catherine, Charles knew he must quickly locate her husband so he
could reveal the news from the missive. Charles would like nothing better than
to crush the parchment beneath his feet than to deliver such horrible news to
someone he cared for.
He gave a heavy sigh as he left the
stable area after seeing the runner was sent to the kitchens to fill his belly
after his trip. Memories flitted unbidden across his mind, and he shook his
head remembering how he had once been in love with Lady Catherine. Aye! ’Twas
foolish on his part he knew, but the months he had been at Berwyck had
dispelled such feelings. She was happy in her marriage to the Lord of Berwyck.
Thankfully, Charles and Douglas fell into a common accord to keep the lady safe
at all costs. Her happiness was all that mattered. Charles’s heart would mend
one day, or so he supposed.
As he came into the inner bailey,
he saw a flash of fabric as a woman ran behind the healer’s hut. A hint of a
grin lit his face. Lady Freya, the laird’s sister, had been a bit of an
annoyance when he had first met her while traveling to Caen. When he had first
captured the woman who had been following him through camp, he had thought her
one of the whores who tended to show up at such events. ’Twas hardly his fault
for the mistake.
Fire had blazed in her blue-green
eyes, and for the briefest moment when their lips touched, he was reminded how
long it had been since he had a woman beneath him. His fingers had skimmed her
brown hair with blonde streaks lightened from the sun. She was beautiful, but
at the time, his heart had been clouded by another.
She had continued to shadow him
throughout their time at the tournament and even on their travels to Berwyck
last year. He had strange feelings for the young woman who could be no more
than a score of years. Considering he had been thrown into Berwyck’s dungeon
because of the jealousy she felt toward Lady Catherine, he supposed he could
forgive. She was young and sometimes foolish. Charles’s heart had become bitter
from the ordeal, and the wound that Catherine loved another was part to blame.
As he neared the hut, she came
around the corner carrying a basket as though she had not a care in the world.
Her eyes sparkled when they met his while she hummed a merry tune. But this was
no time to tarry with whatever antics she was up to today. He must find Douglas
without haste.
“Sir Charles,” she called out. She
offered him a smile, and he gave the briefest nod of his head. “’Tis a lovely
morn, is it not?”
He was momentarily startled by her
comment when he looked about at the cloudy sky above. “I suppose if you care
for the possibility of rain,” he murmured.
“I love the rain. ’Tis fun tae
dance in. Have ye never tried it?”
“I have hardly had time for such
amusement. Your brother keeps us busy with our training. Once it rains, I am
too busy trying to keep upright from slipping in the mud.”
“Ye should make the effort
sometime. Ye might enjoy it as long as ye have the right partner.” She fell
into step with him when he continued on his way toward the keep.
To Love An English Knight:
De Wolfe Pack Connected World
By Sherry Ewing
$0.99 or #FREE in Kindle Unlimited
Can a chance encounter lead to love?
Sir Charles de Grey is
in turmoil. He cannot forget the Scottish lass he kissed in Caen, but her
jealous spite toward the lady he was sworn to guard infuriated him. Living at
Berwyck Castle, he is torn between his desire for Lady Freya and his need to
rebuke her sometimes reckless behavior. Leaving her almost tears him apart, but
it might give him time to recover some balance.
Lady Freya of Clan
MacLaren didn’t expect to become blinded by love until she became quickly
besotted on first seeing the English knight in Caen. How quickly everything
fell apart when she defies him! Even worse, when he begins to show signs of
returning her feelings, he receives a message from home that will tear them
apart. Defying him again may put an end to any chance they may have together,
but what other choice does she have when he leaves her?
Can the fragile love
they found blossom into something more or will circumstances beyond their
control continue to provoke behavior that keeps them apart?
Buy
Links or read for #FREE in Kindle Unlimited:
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About Bluestocking
Belle Sherry Ewing:
Sherry Ewing picked up her first historical
romance when she was a teenager and has been hooked ever since. A bestselling
author, she writes historical and time travel romances to awaken the soul one
heart at a time. When not writing, she can be found in the
San Francisco area at her day job as an Information Technology Specialist.
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Lady Coira Easton stared out the window whilst she waited in her cousin’s solar with trepidation. It had been many a year since their paths had crossed and she had mixed feelings about their reunion. ’Twas not because she was afraid of him or what she had heard about his reputation over the years as the Devil’s Dragon. Nay… such was not the case. She was just uncertain as to where her life would lead her now that he was her only relation.
