Stephen—the only man she’d ever kissed, had ever wanted to kiss…!
She craved more, far more, knowing what heights this man could take her to. Her knees went weak with the memory of a solitary moment of bliss. She wanted the pleasure again. She wanted Stephen.
He broke the kiss, cradled her head against his shoulder. Even through her hard, unsteady breathing she felt him shudder.
Nothing had changed. Not in six years.
“I have to go.” His voice was low and harsh.
It took her a moment to remember he was leaving Branwick for York. But he’d be back, wouldn’t he?
“You will come back?”
“On my honor.”
The second kiss nearly knocked her senseless. Foolishness beyond belief, but if not for the girls napping on their nearby pallets, she’d be sore tempted to pull him down in the dirt and strip him bare…!
Dear Reader,
Harlequin Historicals is putting on a fresh face! We hope you enjoyed our special inside front cover art from recent months. We plan to bring this “extra” to you every month! You may also have noticed our new look—a maroon stripe that runs along the right side of the front cover and an “HH” logo in the upper right corner. Hopefully, this will help you find our books more easily in the crowded marketplace. And thanks again to those of you who participated in our reader survey. Your feedback enables us to bring you more of the stories and authors that you like!
We have four incredible books for you this month. The talented Shari Anton returns with a new medieval novel. Knave of Hearts is a secret-child story about a knight who, in the midst of seeking the hand of a wealthy widow, is unexpectedly reunited with his first—and not forgotten—love. Cheryl St.John’s new Western, Sweet Annie, is full of her signature-style emotion and tenderness. Here, a hardworking horseman falls in love with a crippled young woman whose family refuses to see her as the capable beauty she is.
Ice Maiden, by award-winning author Debra Lee Brown, will grab you and not let go. When a Scottish clan laird washes ashore on a remote island, the price of his passage home is temporary marriage to a Viking hellion whose icy facade belies a burning passion…. And don’t miss The Ranger’s Bride, a terrific tale by Laurie Grant. Wounded on the trail of an infamous gang, a Texas Ranger with a past seeks solace in the arms of a beautiful “widow,” who has her own secrets to reveal….
Enjoy! And come back again next month for four more choices of the best in historical romance.
Sincerely,
Tracy Farrell, Senior Editor
Knave of Hearts
Shari Anton
Available from Harlequin Historicals and SHARI ANTON
Emily’s Captain #357
By King’s Decree #401
Lord of the Manor #434
By Queen’s Grace #493
The Conqueror #507
Knave of Hearts #547
To the Schwagers:
Lady Chris, of the flaming hair and enchanting smile,
and Sir Ron, her dark and stormy knight.
Hark, the summer cometh!
And we couldn’t ask for better playmates.
Contents
Prologue
April, 1109
Stephen wished he could cheer his half brother out of his morose mood. He’d tried and failed, probably because by getting angry and confronting King Henry, Stephen bore some blame for getting Richard into trouble to begin with.
Within Wilmont’s richly furnished chambers in Westminster Palace, Richard slumped in a high-backed chair, a goblet of wine dangling from his fingertips, a frown on his face. No wonder. He’d been forced to accept the guardianship over the widow and orphan of Wilmont’s greatest enemy, a man who’d damn near succeeded in getting Richard killed.
Stephen still had trouble believing events had taken such a strange turn, but King Henry was adamant and they must all deal as best they could with this unpalatable situation. For his part, Stephen would leave at sunrise for Normandy, to assess the extent of young Philip’s estates and determine if the boy’s relatives posed a threat. The errand should take a month, or maybe a week or two more, to complete.
Which left Stephen this one night to secure a betrothal bargain with Carolyn de Grasse, the heiress who awaited him in a bedchamber on a lower floor of the palace.
Stephen gave Richard an affectionate shake on the shoulder. “Get some sleep. I will see you come morn.”
“Do try to stay out of trouble,” Richard said.
Stephen didn’t take offense. ’Twas the several goblets of quickly quaffed wine talking. Of his two siblings, Gerard, the eldest brother and powerful baron of Wilmont, was the more overbearing and quickest to censure. Despite his brothers’ tendency to overprotectiveness, Stephen wouldn’t trade either of them