Hooked. Betina Krahn. Читать онлайн. Newlib. NEWLIB.NET

Автор: Betina Krahn
Издательство: HarperCollins
Серия: Mills & Boon M&B
Жанр произведения: Зарубежная классика
Год издания: 0
isbn: 9781472051578
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      “My lord Warleigh, I am not prepared to receive you at this time.”

      “Not prepared to receive me? You can not have forgotten that we share this chamber.”

      “I have not forgotten. You may come back after my maid has prepared your bed.”

      Simon scowled, then shook his head. “Nay, ’twill not serve. This is my chamber and you are my wife. It is not improper for me to be alone with you.” He stepped before her, perusing her slowly. “To do anything I wish with you.”

      She sucked in a deep breath, as a rush of something dark and unknown raced through her. Desperately she fought for control at her reaction to him.

      “I would not say that you may do as you wish with me, my lord. Wed though we may be, it is not a real marriage.”

      “Do I detect a note of disappointment, Isabelle?”

      Praise for Catherine Archer’s previous works

      Summer’s Bride

      “A delightful read!”

      —Romance Reviews Today

      Winter’s Bride

      “…a pleasurable medieval romance with conventional characters and a tried-and-true plot.”

      —Romantic Times Magazine

      Fire Song

      “This finely crafted medieval romance…(is) a tale to savor.”

      —Romantic Times Magazine

      Lord Sin

      “…deftly done and sure to please.”

      —Romantic Times Magazine

      #591 MY LADY’S TRUST

      Julia Justiss

      #592 CALL OF THE WHITE WOLF

      Carol Finch

      #594 GOLD RUSH BRIDE

      Debra Lee Brown

      Dragon’s Dower

      Catherine Archer

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      MILLS & BOON

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      Available from Harlequin Historicals and

       CATHERINE ARCHER

      Rose Among Thorns #136

      **Velvet Bond #282

      **Velvet Touch #322

      Lady Thorn #353

      Lord Sin #379

      Fire Song #426

      *Winter’s Bride #477

      *The Bride of Spring #514

      *Summer’s Bride #544

      *Autumn’s Bride #582

      †Dragon’s Dower #593

      To my sisters-in-law, Edie, Iris, Lillian and Bev, for their continued interest and support of my writing for all these years. Thank you.

      Contents

       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

      Prologue

      England, 1188

      The three boys sat facing one another. The flames of the fire they had lit at the center of their circle burned no hotter than the anger in their eyes.

      Simon, who was the oldest by three months, took up his knife and held it over the flames. “I, Simon Warleigh, swear my allegiance and friendship to you, my brothers in arms, for the rest of my life.”

      He drew the blade across his palm, barely flinching as it left a long shallow cut that began to bleed immediately. He passed the blade to Jarrod on his right.

      The dark boy took the blade, held it over the flames and said, “I, Jarrod Maxwell, swear my allegiance and friendship to you, my brothers in arms, for the rest of my life.” He made no sign as the knife slit his flesh, passing it to his right.

      Christian was the youngest by nearly a year. His brown hair was glossy with golden streaks in the fire-light. He took the blade. He looked to his companions, then held the knife over the flames as they had done. His voice was as firm with conviction as theirs had been. “I, Christian Greatham, swear my allegiance and friendship to you, my brothers in arms, for the rest of my life.”

      He flicked his tongue out to wet his lower lip, then dragged the knife over his palm with a frown of concentration. He looked up at the other two.

      All three stood in unison and they held their dripping palms out over the flames.

      Simon spoke with a maturity far beyond his thirteen years. “Brothers we are, bound by the blood