Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors!
Thank you to everyone who came by to visit!
I was absent last week, so this week I’m continuing from the last week I posted, from Book 2 of my medieval romance Time Enough to Love, the boxed set that released earlier in January.
This scene is from Betrayal and picks up right after the last snippet. After the devastating news that Geoffrey, her betrothed, has married another, Aylse has just been astounded by a proposal from his best friend, Thomas, who has concerns she may be pregnant.
“Why would you want that?” she asked, for indeed, no man she knew would want to claim another’s child as their own.
He paused, as if unsure how to answer. “When I pledged myself to your service, ’twas in absolute earnest. I mean to protect you in all ways possible, including safeguarding your reputation with the court. If you are with child and unmarried, you will be dismissed from Princess Joanna’s service in disgrace. I would not stand by and see that happen while I have means to prevent it.”
“But, Thomas, I do not wish to…marry.” Alyse closed her eyes and swallowed hard. The thought of being joined to another man—even Thomas—horrified her.
“And yet you must.”
Blurb for Time Enough to Love:
When Lady Alyse de Courcy is betrothed to Sir Geoffrey Longford, she has no choice but to make the best of a bad bargain. The hulking knight is far from her ideal man, and although he does possess some wit and charm, he is no match for the sinfully sensual man she secretly admires, Thomas, Earl of Braeton, her betrothed’s best friend.
From the first, Sir Geoffrey finds himself smitten by Lady Alyse, and, despite her infatuation with his friend, vows to win her love. When Geoffrey puts his mind to wooing Alyse, he is delighted to find her succumbing to his seduction. But when cruel circumstances separate them, Geoffrey must watch helplessly as Thomas steps in to protect Alyse—and falls in love with her himself.
As the three courtiers accompany Princess Joanna to her wedding in Spain, they run headlong into the Black Plague. With her world plunged into chaos, Alyse struggles with her feelings for both the men she loves. But which love will survive?
Time Enough to Love is available at Amazon.
That’s all for this week. Hope you enjoyed it!
And don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.
Jenna Jaxon Romance--because passion is timeless. 
I love these stories. Alyse is a wonderful character, and the agony of choosing which to love??? 🙂
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That was one reason I loved this story so much. The hell I put the characters through was agonizing for both them and me. I loved it! Thank you, Teresa!
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This is a strange situation. Aylse is right, men didn’t want to raise another man’s child; that’s a biological imperative that supercedes any one society or era. So why is he willing? And why doesn’t she jump at the offer?
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Tune in next week, same bat time, same bat channel. 🙂 No, really, I’ve given snippets in the middle of a situation that you all don’t have the information you need to know why they are both acting this way. Next week all will be revealed. Cross my heart.
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They both have logical reasoning to support their positions, though given the era, Thomas seems to have the more compelling argument.
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Yes, but in affairs of the heart, logic takes a back seat most time, don’t you think? Thanks for coming by, Carrie-Anne.
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Thomas was a man’s man. He hadn’t really loved her yet but was honorable beyond belief.
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He is one of my favorite characters, Melissa. A medieval playboy who took love and chivalry seriously. 🙂
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Wonderful excerpt. Tweeted
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Thank you, Lindsay. Much appreciated. 🙂
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Amazing how in such a short snippet – you can pull the reader right into the scene.
Tweeted.
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Thank you so much, Daryl! 🙂
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If a lady really wants to be single, no man will do. Though I do hope she changes her mind since Thomas seems like a sweetie!
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I think we’ll see in the next week or two what she decides to do. Thanks for coming by, Christina.
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Nice dialogue, Jenna.Thomas is a keeper. Although, I do have to wonder why ‘being joined’ with Thomas is such a horrific idea.
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Thank you, Kim. I think next week you’ll see why this marriage holds no charms for Alyse, even though Thomas is completely charming. 🙂
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