Welcome back to Sweet Saturday Sample!  All excerpts here are rated PG-13 or milder. Here’s another post from my 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.  I’ve almost completed the first revision!

Lady Alyse 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.  Alyse is watching Lord Brayton while a new courtier is presented to the court.  Now Alyse has been called before the king.  After receiving the new that the new courtier, Sir Geoffrey Longford, is her betrothed, a dazed Alyse manages to finally speak. (Disclaimer:  This work is not yet edited, so please forgive any flaws.)

“I affirm Lady Alyse to be all that could be hoped for in a wife.  Please you and God, we shall make the match, and with all good haste.”

His self-satisfied tone and the thought of his outrageous teasing touched a contrary flame in Alyse.   She pulled her wits together and beamed brilliantly at her newly betrothed lord. “Take care my lord, for the wise women say ‘Marry in haste, repent at your leisure.’” 

Sir Geoffrey raised a dark eyebrow while those around the banquet hall laughed.  Heart pounding at her audacity, Alyse watched helplessly as he reached over and lifted her hand.  “Such repentance could never be suffered too slowly, my lady, if ’twere your gentle hand that held mine through it.”

Laughter and applause washed over Alyse, struck absolutely dumb at the touch of his lips to her skin.  Her heart pounded, and there was a strange roaring in her ears; she wondered vaguely if she was about to faint.  His big, rough hand shot a blazing streak up her arm that lodged in her chest, stilling her breath. 

Spellbound, she watched him, head bent over her now smoldering hand, kissing it with an unhurried thoroughness that seemed to stop time.  His lips scorched where they lingered, all the while spreading fire that consumed her body and mind. Had she the strength, she would have snatched it from his grasp to save herself from immolation.  Other men had danced with her, held her hand, kissed it. They had never made her feel thus.

In a daze she watched Geoffrey wrench his lips from her hand and stand, eyes widened as if amazed.  His brows furrowed a moment, then he spoke to the king. “May I ask, Your Majesty, when the banns will be read?  I am sorely pressed to begin my repentance.”

The king chuckled. “You are impatient, Sir Geoffrey, but with such beauty before you, I well understand your desire for haste.  The first banns will be read this Sunday, and a fortnight hence you shall be husband and wife.  Now take the maid to back to her table lest you devour her with your eyes.” 

Alyse wanted to fan her hot face, furious at having been made such a spectacle in front of the court, but accompanied him obediently.  Indeed he gave her no choice, for he placed her arm atop his and started toward her table.  At least the humiliation is over.

As if reading her thoughts, Geoffrey shot her a mischievous glance that made her heart leap into her throat, then coolly reversed his direction. Instead of taking the direct route to her table, a mere half-dozen steps away, his course now included the entire Great Hall. King Edward laughed in approval at his courtier’s boldness as Geoffrey proceeded to stop at every table to present her as his betrothed.

I hope you enjoyed this sample of  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.