The Knight's Vow
One kiss that changes everything Believing she will never marry, Lady Beatrice has made a dramatic decision–she will take up a convent life.But first she must ask a favor of one of her father's most handsome knights. Wanting to experience, just once, a man’s strong arms around her, she has turned to Sir Remy St Leger, intending that they should share a kiss.His startling touch sparks desire deep within her, and all at once Beatrice realises how much more life–and this man–has to give. Remy wants more too. . . But Beatrice cannot decide whether it is folly to refuse Remy, or folly to love him. . .
Читать The Knight's Vow онлайн беплатно
“I am twenty-nine years old,
Sir Remy, and I have never been kissed….”
Remy squinted a look at Beatrice, the light slowly dawning.
“I can expect to live twenty, maybe thirty years as a nun. Alone. Unloved. I would like to know…that is…will you kiss me?”
“He stared at her, silent.
“So that I may know what it is like,” she continued. “And take that memory with me.”
“He shook his head. “I cannot oblige you. ’Twould be more than my life is worth. Your father—”
“He will never know! I promise. No one will know.”
“Nay.” He turned to go.
“Wait! Please. Just a kiss. ’Tis all I ask. I hear most men are willing to kiss maids….”
The Knight’s Vow
Harlequin>®Historical #234—April 2008
CATHERINE MARCH
was born in Zimbabwe. Her love of the written word began when she was ten years old and her English teacher gave her Lorna Doone to read. Encouraged by her mother, Catherine began writing stories while a teenager. Over the years her employment has varied from barmaid to bank clerk to legal secretary. Her favorite hobbies are watching rugby, walking by the sea, exploring castles and reading.
The KNIGHT’S VOW
CATHERINE MARCH
TORONTO • NEW YORK • LONDON
AMSTERDAM • PARIS • SYDNEY • HAMBURG STOCKHOLM • ATHENS • TOKYO • MILAN • MADRID PRAGUE • WARSAW • BUDAPEST • AUCKLAND
Available from Harlequin>®Historical and CATHERINE MARCH
My Lady English #822
The Knight’s Vow #234
DON’T MISS THESE OTHER
NOVELS AVAILABLE NOW:
#891 KLONDIKE FEVER—Kate Bridges
Robbed at gunpoint, chained to a drifter, Lily thinks life can’t get any worse—until she realizes that she’s shackled to the one man she’s never been able to forget! Don’t miss the continuation of Kate Bridges’s thrilling Klondike series!
#892 NO PLACE FOR A LADY—Louise Allen
Miss Bree Mallory has no time for the pampered aristocracy! She’s too taken up with running the best coaching company on the roads. But an accidental meeting with an earl changes everything…. Join Louise Allen’s unconventional heroine as she shocks Society!
#893 A SINFUL ALLIANCE—Amanda McCabe
Marguerite is exceptionally beautiful—and entirely deadly! Sent by a king to assassinate the gorgeous Nicolai, she finds herself torn between royal duty and ardent desire…. Award-winning Amanda McCabe brings us scandal and seduction at the Tudor court!
#894 THE WANTON BRIDE—Mary Brendan
With disgrace just a breath away, Emily ached for Mark’s strong arms to comfort her. Yet she held a secret—one that would surely prevent any gentleman from considering her as a suitable bride…. Can Mary Brendan’s hero’s passion overcome Emily’s fears?
#233 MORE THAN A GOVERNESS—Sarah Mallory
Hired to teach the major’s children, Juliana finds herself drawn to their enigmatic father…. Lose yourself in debut author Sarah Mallory’s Regency world!
For Calvin, Bruce and David
With love
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter One
April 1277
The wind howled and the rain drummed a steady beat against the shutters of Castle Ashton. In the great hall the most privileged knights of the household sat close to a fire glowing in the hearth, wide enough to burn logs the length of a man.
Some of the knights threw dice upon a game of chance, several talked earnestly about past heroics upon the battlefield, two played chess and one tried his luck with a pretty serf who had, thus far, eluded his pursuit.
A door banged above and the wooden stairs creaked as footsteps pounded down from the lord’s solar on the first floor. The knights looked up, expectant, wary.
Lord Thurstan exuded a vibrant energy as he strode across the hall, despite his years of some two score and six. There was a touch of grey at his temples and threading through his thick brown beard, but his heavy body was still that of a warrior—in King Edward’s army he held a high rank.
‘Radley!’
‘My lord?’ Sir Giles Radley, second-in-command, leapt to his feet, his game of chess forgotten.
‘On the morrow you will escort Lady Beatrice to the convent at Glastonbury. Take forty men-at-arms and,’ he paused and looked around, eyes narrowed as he considered his twelve knights, ‘take Grenville, Montgomery, Woodford, Fitzpons, and…Baldslow. Oh, and take young St Leger as well. ‘Tis high time the boy earned his keep. And make haste, for we leave for Wales at the end of this week.’
The knights broke away from their idle pastimes and now crowded around Lord Thurstan, questions tripping eagerly over one another as they begged for news of the Welsh campaign.
‘So Edward is determined to conquer Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, and make him rue the day he ever refused to pay homage?’ asked Sir Hugh Montgomery.
‘Aye.’ Lord Thurstan accepted a goblet of wine, ‘The king has set his sights on Gwynedd and naught, neither reason nor argument, will deter him.’
Their discussion upon the merits and means of forcing the Welsh into submission went on well into the night. Those who had an early start on the morrow drifted away to bedrolls before the warm hearth. One hovered at Lord Thurstan’s elbow—Cedric Baldslow, a man who matched his lord in age, his square, solid frame not yet running to fat, his face well worn and tanned to the hue and texture of saddle leather, his greying head shaved. His thin mouth and narrow eyes reflected the portrait of a hard man, a man Lord Thurstan valued only as a knight who could, and would, fight hard in any battle.
