Welcome back to Sweet Saturday Sample!  All excerpts here are rated PG-13 or milder. Here’s a post from a brand new WIP, my medieval trilogy Time Enough To Love.  Part 1 is called Betrothal.  The series is set in England and France in 1348.  Betrothal takes place at the court of King Edward III.

Lady Alyce de Courcy is a waiting gentlewoman to Princess Joanna, youngest daughter of King Edward.  As the book opens, Alyse is anxiously awaiting word of her betrothal.  She would prefer to marry Lord Brayton, a knight and courtier to the king, who has taken her fancy.  In this Sample, Alyse is watching Lord Brayton while a new courtier presented to the court. (Disclaimer:  This work is not yet edited, so please forgive any flaws.)

Sir Geoffrey knelt before the king and suddenly dark chestnut colored hair, cropped closely to his head, came into view.  It framed a face ruggedly handsome with surprisingly intelligent eyes, long aquiline nose, and a strong, square jaw.  His mouth was generous, as she had seen across the room, with firm red lips now curled upward in an easy smile.  Attired richly in a dark blue damask coathardie Geoffrey Longford might have been called a woman’s ideal.   But not mine, Alyse thought with a sneer, and returned her attentions to Thomas Knowlton.

Secure in the assumption Lord Brayton would be attending his friend’s progress, Alyse lifted bold eyes to her ideal courtier. Security turned to disaster as she found him still looking at her and—even worse!—now grinning unabashedly at her.

He must have heard about my blunder this morning, Alyse thought feverishly, dropping her eyes from his gaze. God knows everyone else has.  That is why he keeps smiling at me.  But what does it mean? Is he pleased that I favor him?  Her hands trembled at the thought, shaking hard enough to threaten spilling ale on her gown.  She closed her eyes and prayed, Holy Mary, what must I do? 

Opening her eyes, she took a deep breath, and raised her chin.  Sir Geoffrey was now standing easily before the king eagerly awaiting His Majesty’s charge. 

King Edward spoke again.  “Lords and Ladies, I present Sir Geoffrey of Longford, who has re-joined our court after attending to his home and lands in Derbyshire for some months.  He returns to us to complete my daughter Joanna’s retinue.  Sir Geoffrey will act as undersecretary to Sir Robert Bouchier, head of the princess’s household, and will accompany my daughter when she leaves and remain with her as she goes to her new home in Castile.  He and his wife will serve as witnesses to the Princess Joanna’s marriage and Sir Geoffrey will become a permanent part of her household staff as Counselor and Advisor to the future Queen of Spain.”

So he was married, God help the girl!  So he would be accompanying them to Spain.  So she would make his acquaintance eventually.  Alyse frowned inwardly at the thought that she would probably be much in company with him if she were married to his friend Thomas Knowlton.

“Lady Alyse de Courcy!”  King Edward’s voice called out again, bringing Alyse’s head up like a startled deer.

 “Come forward, my lady.   I require your presence.”

I hope you enjoyed a sample of my new work, Time Enough to Love.  Stop by SSS tomorrow for six sentences from 7 Days of Seduction.  And today be sure to click here to visit more Sweet Samples.