Rumours At Court
Wed by royal command!Widow Valerie of Florham wants nothing more than to forget her abusive marriage and live peacefully at the mercy of no man. She’d never have dreamed of a liaison with handsome Sir Gil Wolford, but then comes a royal decree…they must wed!Gil craves military conquest in Castile, far from his haunted past. Marriage to Lady Valerie is the last thing he should want, yet both have truths to hide from the rumour-mongers at court. They have no choice…and, once wed, the marriage bed changes everything!
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Wed by royal command!
Widow Valerie of Florham wants nothing more than to forget her abusive marriage and live peacefully at the mercy of no man. Sheâd never have dreamed of a liaison with handsome Sir Gil Wolford, but then comes a royal decreeâthey must wed!
Gil craves military conquest in Castile, far from his haunted past. Marriage to Lady Valerie is the last thing he should want, yet both have truths to hide from the rumormongers at court. They have no choice...and, once wed, the marriage bed changes everything!
You are cordially invited to Blythe Giffordâs
A hint of scandal this way comes!
Anne of Stamford, Lady Cecily and Lady Valerie serve the highest ladies in the land. And with their close proximity to the royal family they are privy to some of the greatest scandals the royal court has ever known!
As Anne, Cecily and Valerieâs worlds threaten to come crashing down three men enter their livesâdashing, gorgeous, and bringing with them more danger than ever before. Suddenly these three strong women must face a new challenge: resisting the power of seduction!
Follow Anne of Stamfordâs story in
Secrets at Court
Read Cecily, Countess of Losfordâs story in
Whispers at Court
Discover Lady Valerie of Florhamâs story in
Rumours at Court
All available now!
The monarchies of medieval Europe were a small, elite society. Kings and their families were expected to marry partners of similar stature, and such royal marriages were not expected to be love matches. They were arranged, like most medieval marriages, for reasons dynastic or financial, as heartless as a business transaction.
Even when countries were at war a marriage between royal families could create alliances, cement peace, or allow another rulerâs family the right to a distant throne.
But love has a way of interfering with such logical plansâfor royals and for their subjectsâ¦
After many years in public relations, advertising and marketing, award-winning author BLYTHE GIFFORD started writing seriously after a corporate lay-off. Ten years later she became an overnight success when she sold her Romance Writers of America Golden Heart® finalist manuscript to Mills & Boon. Her books, set primarily in medieval England or early-Tudor Scotland, usually incorporate real historical events and characters. The Chicago Tribune has called her work âthe perfect balance between history and romanceâ.
She loves to have visitors at blythegifford.com, facebook.com/BlytheGifford and Tweets at twitter.com/BlytheGifford.
Books by Blythe Gifford
Mills & Boon Historical Romance
Royal Weddings
Secrets at Court
Whispers at Court Rumours at Court
The Brunson Clan
Return of the Border Warrior
Captive of the Border Lord Taken by the Border Rebel
Linked by Character
A Yuletide Invitation âThe Harlotâs Daughterâ In the Masterâs Bed
Stand-Alone Novels
The Knave and the Maiden
Innocence Unveiled His Border Bride
Visit the Author Profile page at millsandboon.co.uk.
For my editor, Linda Fildew, whose constant patience and support has made this journey possible.
Many, many thanks to author Deborah Kinnard, who dropped everything to double-check my Spanish translations.
I owe you, friend!
Contents
LondonâFebruary 9th, 1372
Despite the cold, it seemed all of London had turned out to gawk at the Queen and to see the Duke of Lancaster, or âMy Lord of Spainâ as he now preferred, stand before them for the first time as King of Castile.
Sir Gilbert Wolford stood beside the man as he prepared to welcome his new wife, the titular Queen of Castile, to his grand palace on the Thames. A sense of unease threatened the triumph of the day. This was a celebration, yes, but of a battle far from won.
The English Parliament had accepted Lancaster, the son of Englandâs King, as the rightful Lord of Castile. Many Castilians, including the current King, disagreed.
But some day, Gil would return to the Iberian plains at Lancasterâs side. This time, he would not stop until they stood, triumphant, in the Palace of Alcázar. The token he had carried since their first attempt weighed heavily in his pocketâhis promise to himself.
Gil spared a glance for the ladies gathered to greet the Queen. Lady Valerie, Scargillâs widow, stood among them. She had just come to court and they had not met, but she had been pointed out to him from afar, easy to find in her widowâs wimple, covered as completely as a nun.
He had a last duty to perform for her dead husband.
One he would rather avoid.
In Castile, Gil had been known by the enemy as El Lobo, The Wolf, because he would kill to protect his men. But no man could save them all. Not in war. He had not been able to save Scargill and now the manâs widow must bear the price.
