Blood of the Rose
Table of Contents
Praise for
Kiss of the Rose
“Kate Pearce gives historical romance some serious fangs with
Kiss of the Rose
. Better plan on losing some sleep, because this is a guaranteed all-nighter!”
—Jessica Andersen, author of the Nightkeepers novels
“A book you can really sink your teeth into! It has everything: adventure, romance, history, and Druids and Vampires too!”
—Brandy Purdy, author of
The Boleyn Wife
“Wonderfully dark and intriguing . . . a fascinating, sensual world filled with adventure!”
—Colleen Gleason, author of the Gardella Vampire Chronicles
“Pearce brings otherworldly passion, danger, and intrigue to life in her sensational new series . . . a wonderful, unique story penned by an amazingly talented author.”
—Joyfully Reviewed
“Original and outstanding,
Kiss of the Rose
is a brand-new take on vampires.... I am really looking forward to Kate Pearce’s next installment of this highly provocative series. Her ability to tell an awesome story with sensual and sinfully delicious love scenes is just one of the many reasons why I can’t read enough from this amazing author! Five Ribbons.”
—Romance Junkies
“Refreshingly imaginative and deliciously sensual . . .
Kiss of the Rose
is an exhilarating tale that will make you want to invest your time, your undivided attention, and maybe even a bit of your heart. This novel will seduce you with all its sensuality, passion, intrigue, danger, and magic. Five stars!”
—Book Soulmates
“A unique and thrilling series that will delight fans of vampire fiction and historical romance enthusiasts as well.... Combining history, the paranormal, and a whole lot of sensual excitement, author Kate Pearce deftly delivers . . . a distinctive tale that fans of both genres are sure to scoop up and enjoy.”
—Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews
Praise for the Other Novels of Kate Pearce
“What an amazingly rich and engrossing story! I was hooked from the very beginning and absolutely did not stop reading until the very end. I hope to read more by this very talented author in the future.”
—The Romance Studio
“Intelligent characters, complex emotions, and a plot that engaged my emotions to a rare high. Very highly recommended.”
—TwoLips Reviews
“Can you say HOT? . . . From the first scorching page to the last, Kate Pearce takes you on a wild ride of sex and suspense, keeping you guessing until the very end.”
—Simply Romance Reviews
“This book has something for everyone: hot sex scenes, a sexy hero with a tragic past, a smart and compassionate heroine, intrigue, danger, and Regency London at its most decadent!”
—
Romantic Times
“Guaranteed to quicken the pulse.”
—Joyfully Reviewed
“One of the most arousing and enigmatic historical novels I have read this year.”
—Romance Junkies
“Hot and steamy . . . with vividly imagined scenes.”
—Ecataromance
THE TUDOR VAMPIRE CHRONICLES BY KATE PEARCE
Kiss of the Rose
SIGNET ECLIPSE
Published by New American Library, a division of
Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street,
New York, New York 10014, USA
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First published by Signet Eclipse, an imprint of New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
First Printing, February 2011
Copyright © Kate Pearce, 2011
eISBN : 978-1-101-47702-1
All rights reserved
SIGNET ECLIPSE and logo are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.
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To Dana, Susan, and Amy. We’ve been writing together for many years, and even though you didn’t get to read more than the synopsis of this one, it is still dedicated to you all, for your unwavering support, endless cups of tea, and sharp red pencils.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks again to my editor, Tracy Bernstein, and to my agent, Deidre Knight, for keeping me on track. Big thanks to my family for simply putting up with me when I disappear into “book world.” Crystal Jordan and Dayna Hart had the doubtful privilege of reading the manuscript and get mega points for both pointing out the same mistakes, which actually makes it much easier to fix than if everyone disagrees.
On the research front, along with the usual suspects, I enjoyed Alison Weir’s new book
The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn
. I also have to thank Chrissy Olinger for her knowledge about the correct herbs to use in a fertility potion, and April Morelock for creating a suitably Druidic fertility prayer. More research information can be found on my Web site at
TheTudorVampireChronicles.com
. Of course, this is primarily a paranormal romance, and I apologize in advance for any historical errors, which are entirely my own.
Chapter 1
Richmond Palace
The Court of King Henry VIII
Summer 1530
R
osalind Llewellyn slid off her horse and immediately grabbed hold of the bridle. After a long day in the saddle, her legs seemed unable to meet the hardness of the ground and bowed like the branches of a willow tree. She glanced around the familiar royal stable yard and heaved a sigh. It was late evening, and everything was quiet. Despite her long absence, nothing had changed. Even the same horses’ heads were framed in the half-open stalls and the same voices called out to one another.
She glanced at her companion, Rhys Williams, who was busy removing their belongings from the packs and simultaneously inquiring as to where he should stable the horses. Rhys looked the same as well—if she discounted a certain grim set to his features when he looked at her.
“Can I help, Rhys?”
“No, my lady. Why don’t you just stand there in the way instead?”
Rosalind threw him a cross look. “I’m too tired to argue with you, Rhys. Just tell me what to do and I’ll be glad to help.”
He doffed his cap at her, revealing the dark auburn of his hair. “Then perhaps my lady might move the bags behind the safety of the wall? I’d hate for the horses to trip.”
“Or for any of my belongings to be crushed,” Rosalind muttered, as she gathered the first of the leather saddlebags and hefted it over the wall. Rhys cocked an eyebrow at her as she continued her task.
“You seem a little out of sorts, my lady.”
“Of course I am. I didn’t expect to come back to court. My cousin Jasper is perfectly capable of guarding the king. I’m not sure why I had to return at all.”