A Knight's Persuasion
Read A Knight's Persuasion Online
Authors: Catherine Kean
Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #Historical, #General
A Knight’s Persuasion
Knight’s Series Book 4
by
Catherine Kean
Dedication:
For Mike, who is a hero to me in so many ways. And for Megan, whose beauty and imagination inspire me and make me so very proud to be called “Mom.”
Published by Catherine Kean
P.O. Box 917624
Longwood, FL 32791-7624
Visit Catherine’s website at
http://www.catherinekean.com
Copyright © 2012 by Catherine Kean
All elements of this book are fictional.
The author reserves all rights to this eBook.
This eBook may not be re-sold or reproduced in any way.
This novel is a reissue and was previously published in mass market paperback.
Cover design by Kimberly Killion, Hot Damn Designs
Acknowledgments:
A very special thank-you to my awesome sister, Amanda Caux, who read through a prior draft of this novel. Oodles of thanks, too, to Caroline Phipps, critique partner extraordinaire, for the “midnight line edit.” I appreciated your suggestions so much.
Contents
Chapter One
Sherstowe Keep, Moydenshire, England
Spring, 1213
“There she is, at the bottom of the stairs.”
Nineteen-year-old Edouard de Lanceau glanced in the direction his good friend Kaine Northwood had pointed, toward the wooden staircase descending from the castle’s upper level, the area where Lord de Greyne and his family resided. Edouard tried to ignore the lurch of his pulse. Soon he’d see for the first time the young lady his father, Geoffrey de Lanceau, lord of all of Moydenshire, thought might be a good match for Edouard.
“As you know, Lord de Greyne is one of my most loyal knights,” Edouard’s sire had said in a private meeting before this morning’s horseback ride to Sherstowe. “He shares my concerns about King John’s rule. He, too, resents the instability his wars with France and his ruthless taxes have brought to England.”
His father had seemed so grave, Edouard had laughed. “You look as if you have discovered that nasty past lover of yours—Veronique, I believe she is named?—is one of King John’s advisors.”
Edouard had hoped for a grudging smile. Instead, his sire had looked even more grim. “Do not jest about her. If befriending the king would further her ambitions, especially her goal to destroy me, she would find a way to get that alliance.”
Edouard had barely resisted a groan. “I was jesting.”
“I am not.” Anguish had touched his sire’s gaze. “Until the day I die, I will watch for her and that bastard son she claimed years ago is mine. The unsettled circumstances in England provide the perfect opportunity for her to return and try to wreak her vengeance. ’Tis yet another reason why I want this alliance.”
Veronique hadn’t been sighted in these lands for years. She sure as hellfire wasn’t going to be a reason for Edouard to marry Juliana de Greyne.
“Listen, Son. King John continues to persecute noblemen he believes are no longer loyal to him, whether his information is true or not. I know of lords whose castles have been seized by the crown or destroyed. One day, he may challenge my right to Moydenshire. We need to secure strong allies now, for the day that happens.”
“Father—”
Raising a hand, his sire added, “A union by marriage between our household and the de Greyne’s would ensure their many relatives will fight for us, as we will for them.”
Anger had sucked the breath from Edouard. “You expect me to marry a woman I have never met before in order to protect Moydenshire? You are a rich and powerful lord. You have many allies and command large armies.”
“True.” A grudging smile tilted his father’s mouth. “No bond of loyalty runs deeper, though, than that of families. You are well of an age to wed.”
Fury had threatened to choke Edouard. “You cannot ask this of me! I do not want to marry.”
“All I ask for now, Son, is that you keep in mind what I have told you and meet the lady.”
Forcing thoughts of that conversation aside, Edouard strained to see past the noblemen gathered closest to the stairs. He fought the awful pressure in his throat. He’d rather lick mud from a stone than become betrothed to this woman he considered a stranger.
Kaine’s elbow jammed into Edouard’s side. “Did you see her?”
“Nay.” Edouard resisted a smug grin. Could he possibly go the entire day without meeting Juliana? With the crush of noblemen, women, children, and servants at the feast, it might be possible. If only he could escape outside, but the stairwell into the hall was clogged with arriving guests.
Shoving overlong hair from his eyes, Kaine frowned. “Wait a moment. When the noblemen move, you will see her.”
Rolling his eyes, Edouard glanced at the nearby tables. Servants were pushing aside vases brimming over with brightly colored wildflowers to set down earthenware jugs filled with wine or ale. One of the maids was rather fetching; a luscious roundness to her bottom and bosom.
Which reminded him, once again, how he didn’t want to be married. Life offered too many exciting, pleasurable adventures for him to be shackled by the responsibilities of a wife. Just because other noblemen’s sons his age were burdened with betrothal didn’t mean he had to be, too.
The king hadn’t remotely threatened Moydenshire, thus there was no urgency for Edouard to wed.
He’d told his father that during their discussions. His sire, of all indignities, had shaken his graying head of brown hair. “’Tis my honor-bound duty, as lord of Moydenshire, to consider all that might come to pass. I will not fail to protect these lands and the lives of the good folk living under my rule. Or to protect you, Son.” Before Edouard could say a word, his sire had smiled. “You would feel differently about marriage if you met the right lady.”
“A woman like Mother, you mean?” Nigh everyone in Moydenshire knew of Geoffrey de Lanceau and Lady Elizabeth’s love, in part from
chansons
telling of the pivotal battle at Wode years ago that his sire, driven by vengeance for past misdeeds, had fought and won. He’d survived a mortal crossbow wound from the fight because of his lady love’s devoted care.
Yet Edouard knew enough married lords who were so miserable they took courtesans to their beds, to know his parents’ loving relationship was exceptional. Moreover, their relationship had no bearing on the matter of Edouard’s betrothal—and that, too, he’d told his sire.
Still smiling, his father had spread his hands wide. “Come with me to Sherstowe to meet Juliana. One afternoon. Surely ’tis not too much to ask of you?”
And so, here he was, wearing his finest wool mantle, tunic, and hose, wishing to be anywhere but this noisy hall garlanded with enough wildflowers to color a meadow.
“Now your Juliana is walking to the left of the dais.”
“She’s not
my
—”
Kaine whistled. “Beautiful.”
Edouard muttered an oath. His friend had a wicked sense of humor. She might well resemble the whiskered fish they caught in the lake.
With an impatient huff, Kaine jabbed Edouard again. “Look. She is wearing a dark green gown. That girl behind her is her younger sister.”
Sighing reluctantly, Edouard looked. He caught a glimpse of a woman through the gap in the throng heading to the dais to pay their respects to their host, Lord de Greyne. Her dark brown hair, swept up around her pretty, oval face, was cleverly tied with a green ribbon in a style that accentuated her fair skin and fine-boned features. He stared, entranced for one awed breath, before a nobleman walked in front of her and she was again lost to Edouard’s view.
She was lovely, aye, but . . . His pulse did a peculiar kick against his ribs, as though the emotional chains binding him to this visit and his looming responsibility tightened by a link.
How he hated the sense of entrapment. More than ever, he wanted to retreat outside.
“Come on,” Kaine said.
Before Edouard could protest, his friend shoved him forward, almost knocking him into an elderly lady shuffling toward one of the tables.
“My apologies.” Edouard bowed to the frowning woman before striding past. He glared at Kaine, strutting a few paces ahead. “Do not do that again. If you were not my friend, I would wallop you.”
Kaine grinned. “I did not realize that old crone would be in the way.” He winked. “I know you want to meet your lady.”
Edouard’s jaw tightened. “In truth, I would rather—”
“Kiss her, aye. You shall have more chance of that after the meal. Mayhap during the dancing.”
“I do not want to kiss her. Would you listen to me? I—”
The pretty maidservant rushed into the space between Edouard and a table. Catching her gaze, he winked in the brazen way he’d been taught by the stable hand at Branton Keep, who’d given him several blunt lessons on seducing women.
The girl blushed and smiled before she resumed her duties.
“Hurry!” Kaine called, darting back to grab Edouard’s sleeve.
Enough
.
Edouard turned on Kaine and propelled him back against the stone wall, close to a tapestry depicting a Norman battle. As Kaine’s back hit the stone, his flailing arm knocked a garland of wildflowers draping from an iron sconce beside the tapestry. Edouard caught the earthy tang of daisies. He fought a sneeze.
When he clenched his fist into the front of Kaine’s tunic, Kaine laughed and held up his hands in surrender. “All right. We will meet her when you wish.”
“Good.” Edouard’s grip tightened. “You will stop your talk about kissing.”
Mischief glinted in Kaine’s eyes. “Why? Are you afraid to kiss Lady Juliana?”
“Of course not.”
Hearty chuckles rippled from a nearby crowd. Although he knew the laughter wasn’t directed at him, Edouard scowled.
“I think you
are
afraid.” Kaine glanced past Edouard as though to find Juliana and catch her attention. “I
dare
you to kiss her.”
Edouard ground his teeth. Why was Kaine so persistent?
“On the lips.”
“Wait just a . . .” As Edouard glowered at his grinning friend, a sudden sense of understanding crept over him. Kaine was getting Edouard back for their bet several weeks ago, which Edouard won; Kaine had to relinquish his favorite dagger as well as a nighttime stroll with the busty, blond kitchen maid they both lusted after.
“If you leave today without kissing Juliana,”—Kaine’s grin turned sly—“you owe me that nice leather knife belt the village tanner made for you. You will also return my dagger.”
Edouard snorted. “I do not have to heed you.”
“True. The dare, though, has already been offered. If you refuse to accept . . .” Kaine shrugged. “Our friends will enjoy hearing how you were too much of a coward for a kiss. And from your almost betrothed.”