Knight of Passion Read online

  “So we shall work together?” Linnet asked.

  “Aye, I am all for joining forces,” Jamie said, still hoping this would include more tonight than scheming on the queen’s behalf. Tomorrow he would worry about the consequences.

  Her eyes grew wide as he closed the distance between them to stand a hairbreadth from her. As he lifted his hand to cup her cheek, she backed away.

  “I told you once,” she said, her voice sharp with anger. “I will not have you touch me and regret it after.” When he opened his mouth to deny it, she held up her hand. “I will choose a lover who is not so harsh in his judgment of me.”

  He clenched his jaw at the thought of her with another man. “So, it is a lover you are seeking again, and not a husband,” he bit out. “Tell me, what are you looking for in the man you choose this time?”

  She raised her eyebrows and blinked those wide, innocent blue eyes at him. “Who is to say I expect to find all I want in one man?”

  Praise for Margaret Mallory

  KNIGHT OF PLEASURE

  “4 Stars! A riveting story… Such depth and sensuality are a rare treat.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  “Fascinating… An excellent historical romance. Ms. Mallory gives us amazingly vivid details of the characters, romance, and intrigue of England. You’re not just reading a novel, you are stepping into the story and feeling all the emotions of each character… Knight of Pleasure is amazing and I highly recommend it.”

  — TheRomanceReadersConnection.com

  “Marvelous… a terrific fifteenth-century romance filled with intrigue.”

  — HarrietKlausner.wwwi.com

  “An absolute delight… captivating… Combining a luscious romantic story with a fascinating look at an intriguing time in history, Mallory captures her readers’ attention… I look forward to the next book in the series, KNIGHT OF PASSION.”

  — FreshFiction.com

  “If you like heated romance sprinkled liberally with royal politics, you can’t miss this book.”

  — RomanceJunkiesReviews.com

  “Thrilling, romantic, and just plain good reading… an enjoyable, historically accurate, and very well written novel.”

  — RomRevToday.com

  “A beautifully written tale, allowing us to spend a night or two of pleasure engrossed in the story of Isobel and Stephen… Their romance is extremely satisfying for us to experience while the historical background makes the tale so much richer. A fantastic job.”

  — SingleTitles.com

  “Isobel almost jumps from the page as a fully developed character whose strengths and weaknesses make her seem extraordinarily real. Readers will rally behind her.”

  — MyShelf.com

  “Lovely… your own heart weeps with all the issues that are keeping [Isobel and Stephen] apart.”

  — HistoricalRomanceSociety.com

  “Mallory opens readers’ eyes to the world of King Henry V… detail-enriched… bringing alive historical facts and surroundings… I thoroughly enjoyed reading the fascinating and scintillating exchanges between Isobel and Stephen and watching as both characters grew in both love and maturity.”

  — CoffeeTimeRomance.com

  KNIGHT OF DESIRE

  “Spellbinding! Few writers share Margaret Mallory’s talent for bringing history to vivid, pulsing life.”

  —Virginia Henley, New York Times bestselling author of The Decadent Duke

  “An impressive debut… Margaret Mallory is a star in the making.”

  —Mary Balogh, New York Times bestselling author of At Last Comes Love

  “5 Stars! Amazing… The fifteenth century came alive… I swear the turning pages crackled with the friction both characters put out… Knight of Desire is the first in the All the King’s Men series and what a way to start it off.”

  — CoffeeTimeRomance.com

  “A fast-paced tale of romance and intrigue that will sweep you along and have you rooting for William and his fair Catherine to fight their way to love at last.”

  —Candace Camp, New York Times bestselling author of The Courtship Dance

  “4 Stars! Mallory’s debut is impressive. She breathes life into major historical characters… in a dramatic romance.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  “A lavish historical romance, evocative and emotionally rich. Knight of Desire will transport you.”

  —Sophie Jordan, USA Today bestselling author of Sins of a Wicked Duke

  “4 Hearts! A breath of fresh air… a fascinating tale, mixing emotionally complex characters with a captivating plot… I really enjoyed following William and Catherine as they explored their growing feelings for each other.”

  — NightOwlRomance.com

  “ Knight of Desire is akin to stepping into another century; Mallory has a grasp of history reminiscent of reading the great Roberta Gellis.”

  —Jackie Ivie, author of A Knight Well Spent

  “Stunning! Margaret Mallory writes with a freshness that dazzles.”

  —Gerri Russell, author of Warrior’s Lady

  “An amazing debut… I’m looking forward to the next installment of this series.”

  — TheRomanceReadersConnection.com

  “Medieval romance has a refreshing new voice in Margaret Mallory!”

  —Paula Quinn, author of A Highlander Never Surrenders

  “Mallory spins a masterful tale, blending history and passion into a sensuous delight.”

  —Sue-Ellen Welfonder, USA Today bestselling author of Seducing a Scottish Bride

  “Terrific… strong… Fans will desire more deep historical romances from Ms. Mallory.”

  — HarrietKlausner.wwwi.com

  “Margaret Mallory writes with intense passion and beautiful, believable emotion.”

  —Lucy Monroe,bestselling author of Annabelle’s Courtship

  “The story sizzles with romance and adventure.”

  — RomRevToday.com

  ALSO BY MARGARET MALLORY

  Knight of Desire

  Knight of Pleasure

  Copyright

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Copyright © 2010 by Peggy L. Brown

  Excerpt from Knight of Desire copyright © 2009 by Peggy L. Brown All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

  Cover illustration by Franco Accornero

  Forever

  Hachette Book Group

  237 Park Avenue

  New York, NY 10017

  Visit our website at www.HachetteBookGroup.com

  www.twitter.com/foreverromance

  Forever is an imprint of Grand Central Publishing. The Forever name and logo is a trademark of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

  First eBook Edition: June 2010

  ISBN: 978-0-446-56922-4

  This book is dedicated to my children, Emily and Jeff, who are the joy of my life and make me proud every day.

  Contents

  “So we shall work together?” Linnet asked.

  Praise for Margaret Mallory

  Copyright

  Acknowledgments

  Prologue

  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 Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Chapter Thirty-five

  Chapter Thirty-six

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-one

  Chapter Forty-two

  Chapter Forty-three

  Epilogue

  Historical Note

  A Preview of Knight of Desire

  Prologue

  The Dish

  Acknowledgments

  I am grateful to everyone at Grand Central Publishing for their support, especially my insightful editor, Alex Logan. It’s lucky for us both that she has a sense of humor. Special thanks also goes to Claire Brown for another gorgeous cover. As always, I want to thank my agent and friend, Kevan Lyon, for her sage advice and constant support.

  A big thank-you goes to my friends and sister—Anthea, Ginny, Jessica, and Cathy—whose comments on the draft manuscript saved my editor much needless suffering. I am in awe of the generosity of other romance writers and am very grateful for it.

  I appreciate every single person who e-mailed to tell me they loved one of my books. You make the months alone with my laptop worthwhile.

  Thanks to all the friends and family who have thrown themselves into supporting the only author they know. My biggest thanks goes to my husband, who helped me through an incredibly busy year.

  “Were I a man, a duke, and next of blood, I would remove these tedious stumbling-blocks And smooth my way upon their headless necks…”

  —Eleanor Cobham, Duchess of Gloucester Henry VI, Part 2, Act 1, Scene 2

  Prologue

  The Louvre, Paris

  December 1420

  “What if we get caught?” Jamie said, glancing up and down the palace corridor.

  Getting caught was precisely the point, but Linnet was not going to tell Jamie that. She looked up at him through her lashes and said, “Don’t you want to?”

  The way his eyes went dark made her breath catch.

  “You know I do,” he said, brushing the back of his fingers against her cheek.

  Her skin tingled from his touch. If she did not take care, Jamie could make her forget her purpose.

  She felt a twinge of guilt for not telling him. None of the other young men at court would care what her reasons were if she dragged one of them into an empty bedchamber. But Jamie would refuse her if he knew. That stubborn sense of honor—misplaced though it may be—was one of the things she liked best about him.

  “Everyone is attending the celebrations,” she assured him.

  The feasting that began with King Henry’s triumphal entry into Paris with his French princess was continuing without pause through Advent.

  “But the guest who has this chamber could return at any time,” Jamie said.

  He sucked in his breath as she ran a finger down his chest.

  “If you are going to be a frightened mouse,” she said, “I can find someone else.”

  Jamie’s boyish sweetness was gone. He gripped her arm and jerked open the bedchamber door. Before she knew it, she was inside the bedchamber with her back pressed against the door. Jamie kissed her long and hard.

  “Don’t ever say you will go with another man,” he said, taking her chin in his hand. “Don’t ever say it.”

  “You are the only one I want.” This was the truth, but she regretted telling him. He would read more into it than he ought.

  “ ’Tis the same for me,” he whispered and rested his forehead against hers.

  She closed her eyes and breathed in his scent as she leaned against him. He could be such a tender boy.

  But she did not know how much time she had. “Now,” she whispered in his ear. “I want to do it now.”

  When she rubbed her hand up his cock for good measure, he made a sound between a growl and a moan and lifted her from the ground. Men were so predictable, so easily managed, there was almost no challenge in it. Still, Jamie’s reaction was gratifying.

  As he carried her to the bed, Linnet gave herself a moment to savor the thought of how angry Alain, her “father,” was going to be. That man would rue the day.

  From the moment Jamie laid her down and started kissing her, she forgot about Alain and her plans for revenge. This part she could not control, did not even try. A fire had raged between them since the day he arrived in Paris with the king. No matter how often they sneaked away to be together, the fire only burned hotter. She gave into it with abandon now, as she did every time.

  Afterward, she lay in Jamie’s arms, wishing the contentment of the moment could last. It never did.

  “I’ve sent a letter to my parents,” Jamie said, rubbing his cheek against the top of her head. “I expect my father will grant me a small estate upon our betrothal.”

  Her heart began to race. “Betrothed? You haven’t spoken to me of betrothal before.”

  “Did I need to?” She heard the smile in his voice. “After what we’ve being doing, I thought it obvious.”

  “But you never told me. You never asked me.”

  “I see I have committed a grievous error,” he said, sounding amused. “All right, let me ask it, then. My darling Linnet, love of my heart, will you wed me and be my wife?”

  “Nay, I will not.”

  “What?” Jamie sat up and leaned over her. “I am sorry if I offended you by not speaking plainly before. You know I love you.”

  “Men say that all the time.”

  “But I mean it,” he said, rubbing his thumb across her cheek. “And I shall still love you when your beauty is no more than a memory traced upon your face.”

  They had left the bed curtains drawn. In the sunlight from the tall window, she took in the strong lines of his handsome face, the intense expression in the violet-blue eyes. She swallowed. She hadn’t meant to hurt him. Why did he not tell her these things before?

  She reached up and cupped the side of his face with her hand. “You will always be special to me as my first lover.”

  “First lover!” His fingers dug into her arm. A moment later, he released her and flopped back down on the bed. “How you enjoy torturing me with your teasing! Sometimes you go too far.”

  Why do men never believe what you say? They persist in believing “no” means “perhaps,” and “I despise you” means “I want you to write me bad poetry.”

  “I do not wish to be a wife,” she said to Jamie. “I could not bear having a man tell me what to do all my life.”

  Jamie laughed. “As if I would dare try.”

  “You would. It is what men do.”

  He turned on his side, his dark hair falling across his eyes. “Let us pretend you are serious. What else could you do? I cannot see you as a nun.”

  She batted away his hand as he reached for her breast. “I may make a brief marriage.”

  “A brief one?” he said, raising his eyebrows.

  “Aye, to a very old man who will leave me a wealthy widow,” she said. “Or, I may become a famous courtesan.”

  The bed shook with Jamie’s laughter.

  “I am trying to be honest with you,” she said, slapping his shoulder.

  “You are beautiful enough to become the
most famous courtesan in all of France,” he said, pulling her on top of him. “And you know it very well. But enough of this foolishness. We must make our plan.”

  She may as well be speaking to a turnip. She pushed away from him and sat up, wrapping her arms around her knees. In sooth, she could not imagine letting anyone else touch her the way Jamie did. But her plans required independence and money of her own.

  Whenever her resolve weakened, she thought of the men who robbed her grandfather blind when he grew feebleminded toward the end. They were men he’d done business with for years; men he’d trusted and loaned money to in hard times. Not an hour after he died, these same men stripped their house in Falaise of valuables. Because of them, she and her brother, Francois, were stealing food to survive even before the English siege began.

  One day, she would return to Falaise and destroy every one of those men who stole from them and left them to starve.

  “Do you think your father will object to our marrying?” Jamie asked, startling her from her thoughts.

  “Aye, he would,” she said absently over her shoulder, “because the devil’s spawn has already chosen a husband for me.”

  Jamie jerked upright beside her. “He intends to pledge you to another?”

  “After ignoring me and my brother for most of our lives, Alain thinks he can play father now and tell me what to do.” Alain sorely underestimated her. “He only claimed us because his legitimate sons are dead.”

  Jamie gripped her arm. “Who is the man he wants you to wed?”

  “That snake Guy Pomeroy.”

  Jamie raised his eyebrows. “Your father aims high. Sir Guy is close to the Duke of Gloucester, the king’s youngest brother.”

  “ ’Tis not for my benefit, you can be sure,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I hate the way Sir Guy looks at me. I swear, I would put a blade in his heart before I let him near me.”

  “You are mine to protect now.” Jamie took her hand and kissed it. “I know you loathe your father, but he must be dealt with. It will be awkward if he has already spoken with Sir Guy, but that cannot be helped.”

  “I have taken care of it.” She had to tell Jamie now. He would be so angry he might not speak to her for days.