Unveiling Lady Clare
The secrets behind her eyesSir Arthur Ferrer catches sight of her among the stands at the Twelfth Night joust. There is something about her eyes…. He's seen them before. But when he goes to find the mysterious woman who has so captivated him, she's disappeared!Clare has been running from a dark past that she can never speak of. But this handsome knight seems determined to unveil her secrets. Will she dare to let him glimpse the real Lady Clare?Knights of ChampagneThree Swordsmen for Three Ladies
Читать Unveiling Lady Clare онлайн беплатно
âClare?â
Arthurâs thoughts were so clear he might as well have spoken them aloud. This was not the cramped loft in the Running Fox. The dormitory here was spacious. There was no excuse for them to be sleeping within reach of each other. Unless â¦
To remove any doubts as to her desires, Clare dropped her comb and held out her hand. âI think we shall both do very well. Itâs beautifully warm by the chimney.â
Arthur dropped his cloak and sword on the pallet and sat down beside her. He set the lamp to one side. âClare â¦â His voice was thick. Reaching out, he picked up a strand of her hair and wound it round his fingers. His eyes went black. âItâs good to see your hair again. Those veils.â he shook his head â⦠I prefer you without them.â
Clare set her hand on a broad shoulder and gave a little tug. Their lips met. The contact remained gentle until Arthur turned more fully towards her and gathered her to him. Clare closed her eyes and pressed against him, opening her mouth to his tongue. His masculine, earthy fragrance surrounded her.
His breathing ragged, he pulled back. Clare felt a soft touch on her cheek. He was shaking his head.
âClare, I am here to protect you, not ravish you.â
âAnd if I want to be ravished?â
DUTY, HONOUR, TRUTH, VALOUR
The tenets of the Knights of Champagne will be sorely tested in this exciting Medieval mini-series by
Carol Townend
The pounding of hooves, the cold snap of air, a knightâs colours flying high across the roaring crowdânothing rivals a tourney. The chance to prove his worth is at the beating heart of any knight.
And tournaments bring other dangers too. Scoundrels, thieves, murderers and worse are all drawn towards a town bursting with deep pockets, flowing wine and wanton women.
Only these three knights stand in their way. But what of the women who stand beside them?
Find out in Carol Townendâs Knights of Champagne Three Swordsmen for Three Ladies
LADY ISOBELâS CHAMPION Already available
Book Three Coming soon
Carol Townend has been making up stories since she was a child. Whenever she comes across a tumbledown building, be it castle or cottage, she canât help conjuring up the lives of the people who once lived there. Her Yorkshire forebears were friendly with the Brontë sisters. Perhaps their influence lingers â¦
Carolâs love of ancient and medieval history took her to London University, where she read History, and her first novel (published by Mills & Boon>®) won the Romantic Novelistsâ Associationâs New Writersâ Award. Currently she lives near Kew Gardens, with her husband and daughter. Visit her website at www.caroltownend.co.uk
Previous novels by the same author:
THE NOVICE BRIDE
AN HONOURABLE ROGUE HIS CAPTIVE LADY RUNAWAY LADY, CONQUERING LORD HER BANISHED LORD BOUND TO THE BARBARIAN* CHAINED TO THE BARBARIAN* BETROTHED TO THE BARBARIAN* LADY ISOBELâS CHAMPION **
*Palace Brides trilogy
**Knights of Champagne
Did you know that some of these novels are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk
AUTHOR NOTE
Arthurian myths and legends have been popular for hundreds of years. Dashing knights worship beautiful ladies, fight for honourâand sometimes lose honour! Some of the earliest versions of these stories were written in the twelfth century by an influential poet called Chrétien de Troyes. Troyes was the walled city in the French county of Champagne, where Chrétien lived and worked. His patron, Countess Marie of Champagne, was a princessâdaughter of King Louis of France, and the legendary Eleanor of Aquitaine. Countess Marieâs splendid artistic court in Troyes rivalled Queen Eleanorâs in Poitiers.
The books in my Knights of Champagne mini-series are not an attempt to rework the Arthurian myths and legends; they are original romances set around the Troyes court. I wanted to tell the stories of some of the lords and ladies who might have inspired Chrétienâand I was keen to give the women a more active role, since Chrétienâs ladies tend to be too passive for todayâs reader.
Apart from a brief glimpse of Count Henry and Countess Marie, my characters are all fictional. I have used the layout of the medieval city to create my Troyes, but these books are first and foremost fictional.
DEDICATION
To Kate Tremayne with love and thanks
for years of friendship and writerly chat.
Contents
Chapter One
January 1174âLodgings in the merchantsâ quarter of Troyes, in the County of Champagne.
It was mild for January, and the shutters were open to make the most of the light. As Clare helped Nicola to move from her cot to the bench by the table, she was given a warm smile. Clareâs heart liftedâNicola was weak and ill, and her smiles were precious.
âI see you had a visitor while I was at market,â Clare said.
