Weddings. When
we discussed this theme I knew exactly what I wanted to share with you. Lord Alex, a seventh son, would do anything for a domain of his own. Below is an excerpt where Alex finds out what his King has in store for him. Grab a cup of tea, coffee or a glass of wine. I hope you enjoy the scene as much as I had writing it.
She must choose
between keeping her secret and
losing the man she loves.
England, 1290
Lord Alex
Stelton can't resist a challenge, especially one with a prize like this:
protect a castle on the Scottish border for a year, and it's his. Desperate for
land of his own, he'll do anything to win the estate—even enter a proxy
marriage to Lady Lisbeth Reynolds, the rumored witch who lives there.
Feared and
scorned for her second sight, Lisbeth swore she'd never marry, but she is drawn
to the handsome, confident Alex. She sees great love with him but fears what he
would think of her gift and her visions of a traitor in their midst.
Despite his own
vow never to fall in love, Alex can't get the alluring Lisbeth out of his mind
and is driven to protect her when attacks begin on the border. But as her
visions of danger intensify, Lisbeth knows it is she who must protect him.
Realizing they'll secure their future only by facing the threat together, she
must choose between keeping her magic a secret and losing the man she loves.
Review for The
Guardian’s Witch
As a fan of
historical romances, this book has got it all. With the added spice of the
paranormal that has been added, the book got even better. Having read a book of
this nature by this author previously, I can honestly say that it was a joy to
read. The story was a beautiful tale of love and betrayal, and the enduring
faith of the human heart. The characters are delightful and charming, and quite
easily drew me in. I found this novel to be thoroughly enjoyable and totally
delightful.
...Night Owl Romance Top Pick - 4.5 Stars
Excerpt from The
Guardian’s Witch
The king’s
message on the top of a very orderly pile of papers on his desk caught his eye.
The bold red seal screamed for attention. Lord Alex thought about the last time
he saw King Edward.
“Alex, are you still here?” King Edward came out of
his private apartment.
Alex uncurled to his full height from the hard
bench. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Early in the morning a royal messenger had pounded
on his door and rousted him out of bed. He had handed Alex the summons. The
king demanded Alex attend him. But that was hours ago. He had planned to leave
this morning as soon as the castle gates were open, and instead had spent the
day suffering in the small antechamber. The room filled and emptied several
times while he paced, cursed and finally sat and waited. His anger long gone,
he was resigned to the whim of his king.
“Where is everyone?” The king looked around the
room. He had a surprised look on his face.
Alex followed the king’s gaze. “It seems, sire, I’m
the last one left. You wanted to see me—this morning.” Alex approached the
king.
Edward’s face gave nothing away. His slow,
mischievous smile annoyed Alex. What was the man up to?
“Yes, Alex. Come with me.” The king treaded the
well-worn carpets with a lively step and led Alex up one hall and down another
until Alex was certain they would end up back at the king’s chamber. “Ah, here
we are.” The king threw the doors open revealing a large party. Everyone
quieted and made way for His Majesty.
One courtier’s voice rang out. “To the bridegroom.”
Alex looked startled. Who was the bridegroom? Then the chaos began.
Alex, accompanied by King Edward through the tumult,
was the center of attention. His back was pounded and his arm pumped by anyone
close enough to touch him. When they got through the room, the king’s man
brought the crowd to silence when he pounded his staff on the floor.
“Lord Alex,” said Edward. “Say goodbye to your
bachelor days. Tonight you marry.”
Alex felt the blood drain from his face. He quickly
summoned up his control to stall the display of any emotion.
“You’ve succeeded where the others have failed.
Every other protector I’ve sent to Glen Kirk has gone missing. Was it Lady
Lisbeth’s beauty and charms that kept you there?”
The mention of Lisbeth’s name among this crowd made
his temper rise. The room exploded in loud laughter. A flurry of activity left
Alex draped in flowers and propelled onto the small dais where a veiled woman
stood attended by two others. Alex glared at the king.
Edward leaned close to ensure only Alex heard. “If
only you could see your face.”
“A word, sire,” Alex asked in a controlled quiet
tone.
“You have my full attention,” the king said softly
as he nodded recognition to courtiers.
“There was no mention of a marriage.”
“And your point?”
“Sire, I’m certain I will marry, but it will be to a
woman of my own choosing.” Alex held to a thin glimmer of hope that this was
all a bad hoax.
The king’s expression turned hard. “Do you doubt my
judgment?”
Alex looked at his king and knew all was lost. “No,
sire.” He bowed his head slightly in submission. “But would you reconsider?” He
could hear the desperation in his voice.
“You know I have your best interest at heart.”
Edward paused. “Would you give me Glen Kirk as forfeit?”
He imposed an iron control on his face. “I am
grateful for your choice of wife, sire. I am a fortunate man.” Alex bowed. He
would never give up Glen Kirk.
The king straightened, clapped him on his back, and
boomed in a loud voice, “Come, you’ll be married to your Lisbeth by proxy. I’ve
arranged everything.”
Alex was certain he had. He smiled through clenched
teeth.
“Lord Alex.” The king ushered Alex in front of a
meek little man who hardly fit the elegant robes he wore. Two of Alex’s
brother’s, Bennett and Cameron, moved out from the crowd and joined him.
“Easy, Alex,” said Cameron. “The king’s
entertainment will soon be over.”
Alex stood there seething. The robed man went on and
on but Alex stood rigid and remote. Glen Kirk was worth the inconvenience of a
wife.
“Kneel, sir,” the robed man, sword in hand, demanded
of Alex. “Kneel and prepare for the sword of courage.”
“Watch that sword of yours, Alex. You won’t need
courage, more likely stamina. I suspect you’ll be thrusting it all night,”
shouted someone, sending the crowd into peals of laughter.
Every muscle tightened but Alex forced a bland
disinterested expression on his face while deep down he raged. Out of the
corner of his eye he saw Bryce standing by the door. A silent signal passed
between them.
“Steady, man,” cautioned Bennett.
“Take your rightful place and humble yourself before
your king and maker. As you bravely and solemnly come here today, you have
shown to all present that you are worthy and ready to care for this woman your
king has chosen for you, from this day forward. To take thy woman’s hand is an
act of bravery only supplanted by the call to arms”
“Is it war he enters or Lady Lisbeth?” Another roll
of laughter passed through the room.
Husband or not, Lisbeth was Wesley’s daughter. Her
name would not be dragged into this farce. He turned to the crowd and gave them
a hostile stare.
The effect was immediate. The raucous talk quieted
at once.
“Do you understand and accept this, sir?” The little
man couldn’t hide the fear in his voice.
“Sure he does—now get on with it. There’s no wine
until this is over.”
The king gently nudged Alex.
Alex glanced at Edward and saw something honest in
his gentle smile. The edge smoothed off his anger. He turned to the holy man.
“Yes, I understand.”
The sword was too heavy for the man to handle. The
tip came dangerously close to Alex’s neck but he didn’t move. Cameron quickly
interceded and helped place the blade on Alex’s shoulder.
Alex gave his brother a scathing look.
“Mother would never forgive me if I let someone lop
off your head,” he whispered.
“Three times I tap thee, once in the name of our
King…”
A shout rang up from the attending audience.
“…once in the name of our bishop, and once in the
name of our holy protector. Now that you have knelt and been christened and
tapped, I declare thee ready to receive your bride.”
The king squeezed his shoulder. The veiled woman
approached. “My dear.” The king took her hand and drew her next to Alex.
With all the solemnness the little man could muster
he began. “We are gathered here to join this man and this woman in a binding of
life. At this day of binding, if any man declares any reason why they may not
be coupled together, speak now.”
“It is all well with us—let them marry,” responded
the crowd in unison.
The man turned to Alex. “Sir, do you take this woman
who represents Lady Lisbeth Reynolds, daughter of the late Lord and Lady
Reynolds to wife?”
Alex gave the obligatory response but he didn’t hear
the rest of the ceremony.
“Lord Alex, I said you can kiss the bride,” said the
frightened man.
The room was quiet. Whispers went through the room.
“Who is she?”
“Well, Lord Alex? Do you need instructions?” The
king’s words sent a ripple of laughter through the room that soon turned into a
tidal wave.
With a smile on his face that didn’t reach his eyes,
Alex gently unveiled his proxy wife. There staring at him with wide blue eyes
and a lovely smile was Lady Barbara Kincaid.
She looked at him boldly. Another roll of laughter
filled the room.
He gave her a nod. She was still a beauty after all
the years.
“I know you did not brood when I declined your
proposal.”
“No, m’lady. There was nothing to brood over. You
were merely a youthful dalliance that was quickly forgotten.”
Barbara’s eyes widened at the insult. “Alex, is
there someplace we can speak?”
“No, m’lady. I know of none.”
“Did you really vow to never take a wife?” asked
another faceless voice in the room.
He looked at Barbara. She had a pleasant smile on
her face.
How well trained she had become in the
ways of the court. She covered his affront with poise.
“I stand here ready to marry Lady Lisbeth. Does that
answer your question?” Indeed he had vowed to never marry. The humiliation of
his youthful blunder and her not-so-private rejection spread through court like
a spring storm. He hadn’t enough words to thank his father for quickly getting
him a commission with a regiment that left for Wales.
“We heard all about your brave deeds in Wales. You
returned to us much changed,” said Barbara.
“Come on, Alex. Kiss the bride so we can get on.”
After four long hard years he had returned to London
to find Barbara willing to renew their friendship. He had no interest.
Barbara moved with lightning speed, threw her arms
around him, and kissed him deeply, to the enjoyment of the crowd.
He stood cold as a statue against her assault.
“Let’s finish this entertainment, m’lady. I’ve important matters that need my
attention.”
The spectacle over, the bride and groom mingled with
the crowd.
“Alex,” his brothers Bennett and Cameron pulled him
to the side. “We had no idea you were the intended groom. If we’d known, we
would have gotten you away. We thought you and Bryce had left for Glen Kirk
early this morning.”
“That was our plan but the king summoned me.” He
nodded and flashed a tight-lipped smile at the people who walked by and
congratulated him. “I leave for Glen Kirk as soon as I can, if I have to wake
the king’s guard to open the gate.”
“We’ll go with you.”
He gave his brothers a penetrating stare. Finally,
he relaxed. “No, you both stay here and enjoy the entertainment. But thank you
for the offer. Bryce rides with me.” Alex headed for the door.
“Where are you going, Lord Alex? Aren’t you staying
for your wedding feast?” asked Edward, who stood by the door speaking to
Howard.
“No, sire.” He laughed as if amused. “I have a long
journey to be with my wife.”
He watched Cameron sidle up and lead Barbara away.
Both were quickly lost in the crowd.
A shiver of
unease crossed his back. He focused on the king’s message still on his desk.
He’d been back at Glen Kirk for weeks, and he still hadn’t told Lisbeth she was
his wife. He let out a loud sigh. He could wait no longer. What would he say?
He paced in front of the hearth. His quick mind was blank. He should have told
her when he first arrived. He saw that now.
About the Author
RUTH A. CASIE is an author of swashbuckling action-adventure time-travel romance
about strong empowered women and the men who deserve them,
endearing flaws and all. Ruth also writes contemporary romance with enough
action to keep you turning pages. She lives in New Jersey with her husband,
three empty bedrooms and a growing number of incomplete counted cross-stitch
projects. Before she found her voice, she was a speech therapist (pun
intended), client liaison for a corrugated manufacturer, and international bank
product and marketing manager, but her favorite job is the one she’s doing
now—writing romance.
