The Consolation Prize (Brides of Karadok #3) - Alice Coldbreath Page 0,128
they had grown so hot, he would not be surprised if he were burnt to a cinder one of these days.
He rested his hand on her belly, where she barely showed as yet, under the flared skirts of her blue gown. They had not told anyone of their news, even at Lynwode, for it was early days and they delighted in the knowledge that only the two of them shared. Next spring there would be a baby. “Are you happy, my love?”
She nodded. “Next week we return home,” she said longingly. “I cannot wait to see how Otho and Rose have set up their new quarters in the lodge house, though Rose is sure to have lured Abelard there with her. Then we have our news to tell your family. Your father will be pleased, I think. He loves to see you piled high with new responsibilities.”
Armand grinned. “To be sure. But you must dance attendance on the King for another week first.” His expression darkened slightly. “I don’t like sharing you.”
She sighed. “It’s not so bad. In truth, I never thought I could be this happy in a royal court, but with you by my side, husband, it seems I could be content almost anywhere.” She touched his cheek lightly in a caress. “Besides,” she added bracingly, “now you’re no longer competing, you can come and take bread and milk with the king every morning. He has target practice with the bow and arrow tomorrow and is determined to teach me.”
“Impossible,” Armand answered swiftly. “I cannot spare you on the morrow for you will be tending to my hurts.”
“Hurts?” Her face fell. “Are they so very bad?” she asked immediately solicitous.
He nodded. “Yes, I need you to reforge my sword with your fiery dragon breath,” he said straight-faced.
“Armand!” She blushed prettily. “Your dragon will certainly tend to your needs later,” she assured him, and he lifted her hand to bestow on it a lingering kiss. He did not care who saw how much he doted on her. In truth, he could not hide it even if he had wanted to. It was apparent to one and all.
He would not call her princess just now, even in a whisper for it would discompose her, but later he would. When it was just the two of them. “You always do, my sweet Una.”
“And I always will, husband,” she vowed.
THE END
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More books coming in 2021 from Alice Coldbreath:
Her Bridegroom, Bought and Paid For
Aimee Ankatel, oldest daughter to the richest merchant in all Karadok only has eyes for the heavily scarred Lord Kentigern. A ferocious competitor, her heart beats louder when she watches him compete in the field. Not one of the handsome knights draws her admiration like he does.
When her father lends funds to the Crown and promises her a glittering match with a nobleman, she daydreams of making the ill-fated knight fall in love with her. After all, if Aimee’s Father buys back Kentigern’s lands and castle for a dowry, surely that would make her an acceptable bride to him?
Any idealistic dreams of youth Kentigern once had were lost long ago in battle when he was disfigured and blinded in one eye. His destiny was a cruel one, his homelands confiscated for his part in the Northern uprising, he ekes out a lonely nomadic existence, travelling from one tournament to another.
Never would he have dreamed that all he had once lost could be restored to him by some upstart merchant wanting a stud and a title for his pretty daughter. Never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined a reversal of fortune that included a wife like Aimee.
Other stories by Alice Coldbreath you may enjoy:
THE VAWDREY BROTHERS SERIES
Book 1 – Her Baseborn Bridegroom
Lady Linnet Cadwallader has been raised a helpless invalid in her own castle. Brought up to believe she will ‘never make old bones’ she lives a quiet and lonely existence, hiding away her excessive freckles and red hair from a world that believes her to be hideously misshapen and ugly.
Until one day her uncle arranges a marriage of convenience for her, a marriage in name only with a young puppet groom... but Sir Roland does not show up. In his place turns up his base-born brother Mason Vawdrey. And dark, forceful Mason is no-one’s puppet.
Things are about to get interesting at Cadwallader Castle. And Linnet is about to discover that maybe a golden leopardess does not need to change her glorious spots.
Victorian Romance from Alice Coldbreath:
Book 1 - A Bride for the Prizefighter
Mina’s well-ordered life is thrown into disarray when her father drops a bombshell on his deathbed, she has a brother she never knew of. Not only that, he is on his way to rescue her from the collapse of their school under a mountain of debts.
A wild journey across country later, Mina finds herself thrown at the feet of the brutish William Nye, prize-fighter and owner of a disreputable inn, The Merry Harlot. Respectable Mina is appalled to find herself obliged to wed this surly stranger!
Forced to draw on reserves of inner strength she never knew she possessed, Mina uncovers perilous secrets and bravely carves herself a new life at the side of this man, as she proves herself a more than worthy partner for the prize-fighter.