Published: January 23rd, 2017
Sir Drogo LaForce has spent a lifetime chasing the family honor and wealth denied him by his bastard birth. A clever scheme to uncloak a traitor against the Crown finally promises to win him everything he desires...
Lady Isabel has been in hiding ever since an evil Norman lord killed her father and usurped her English lands. But her plot to avenge her father and free her people is threatened when a mysterious Norman knight abducts her with plans to use her for espionage.
Drogo’s fascinating captive is nothing like he anticipated. Outspoken but innocent, Isabel reluctantly submits to Drogo's tutoring in the spymaster's craft, as well as the art of making love. But their potent attraction nearly leads to disaster. In the end they must decide between their dueling appetites for riches and revenge...or love.
EXCERPT
“You know de Belleterre will be hosting his annual feast in a fortnight,” Leofric said.
Isabel shuddered. “Candlemas.”
The Holy Church called the traditional midwinter festival Candlemas. It was when they commemorated the Blessed Mother’s presentation of her baby Jesus at the Temple. When the priests blessed their candles, which symbolized God’s light in bleakest winter, and when farmers prayed for spring to return soon.
But de Belleterre put his own degenerate spin on things and called the feast Imbolc, in the manner of the pagan people who had dwelled here long before Isabel’s forefathers had arrived. He marked it with a week-long orgy of gluttony, fornicating, and the abuse of his peasants.
“He will be expected to entertain guests,” Leofric said.
She glanced between him and the Norman who had taken her captive. An uneasy realization dawned. “And you want me to be one of those guests.”
Leofric nodded and went on. “’Tis the only way we can learn what the earl’s traitorous plans are and whom he consorts with—especially William’s Danish foes. If we can learn names and locations, it would prove the earl’s treachery toward William, and he would be forced to arrest him.”
“You’re mad, both of you. De Belleterre won’t tell me anything.”
Leofric shot an uncertain glimpse toward LaForce. To Isabel, Leofric said. “Not at once. You will have to gain his favor. He must come to trust you and feel safe to speak intimately with you.” Her friend fell silent.
“Go on,” she said warily. “How am I to gain his favor?” And why was Leofric behaving so diffident?
“For the love of God, man.” LaForce impatiently stepped around her to insert himself into her field of vision. He faced her squarely. “You must seduce de Belleterre and win access to his bed. He must grow careless enough to—”
“Seduce him!” A wave of nausea assaulted her as she repeated the ugly words. She swallowed hard. Though she’d already plotted a marriage of convenience with the devil, conjugal relations with him were definitely not in the plan—she’d only intended to get close enough to ram a knife into the monster’s gullet.
About the author:
Oberon Wonch has engaged in a love affair with books for as long as she can remember. Penning her own stories from an early age, she later earned a degree in World Literature while studying several languages—all in order to learn what makes a tale endure the ages, but really just to read more books. Her very favorite stories—both to read and write—are those that celebrate the happily-ever-after.
An avid gardener and armchair archaeologist, she grew up in northeast Ohio but now lives in Indiana with her college sweetheart husband and two very joyful little dogs.
No comments:
Post a Comment