The Red Wolf's Prize by Regan Walker

Author:Regan Walker
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Historical Romance, England, Knights & Knighthood, Warrior, Love Story, Medieval England, Romance, Medieval Romance, Knights
Publisher: CreateSpace
Published: 2014-09-30T14:00:00+00:00

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Aethel brushed her long dark plait over her shoulder and picked up the pitcher. Slowly she walked toward the kitchen. The knight’s eyes followed her from the corner of the hall where he stood leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his broad chest. Sir Alain de Roux, the largest of the Norman knights, the one who carried the Red Wolf’s banner, was staring at her as he often did. There were other men who looked at her, but his intense perusal was different. More possessive somehow.

She had been with no man since the old thegn died, having been rejected by the new lord. And she wanted none. So, she ignored them all. Still, the big knight intrigued her, his penetrating gaze following her about the hall as she served the evening meal. Was it lust she saw in his eyes or something else? Something more?

He walked slowly toward her and her pulse sped. The man rarely said much, even to the other knights, so she was surprised when he came to stand before her and leaned in to whisper in English, “You are better than what you think of yourself, Aethel.”

His hazel eyes had sparks of green and his dark brown hair was wavy to his nape, a sensual man with a face that said he’d experienced much of life. “What know ye of what I think, sir knight?”

“I know you were jealous of Lady Serena even when we all thought her to be a servant. It need not be so. You are a beautiful woman and should have a man of your own.”

Aethel hardly knew what to say. She had played second choice for so long she had become used to the role though, in truth, she had always wanted more. “A man like ye, sir knight?” she teased, assuming he was not serious. With his large muscled chest and arms, he was a giant of a man. And not unattractive. “Would ye be wanting me for a night?” She had no intention of giving herself to this man, if that is what he sought, but she would know.

“Nay, Aethel. I would have you for more.”

Aethel shivered at the heat she observed in his eyes, a fierce look that seemed to peel away all her layers of defense.

“I would have you for my wife.”

“Wife?” Was the Red Wolf’s banner man sincere? Though men had desired her, even some of the Red Wolf’s men, Aethel had never been offered marriage. And since Theodric had rejected her love, and she’d gone to the old thegn’s bed, she thought she would never have a husband or children of her own. She knew enough of herbs to assure she would not birth a bastard. But as a child, she’d had dreams. Always they were of the fair-haired Theodric, captain of the thegn’s guard, who she’d watched at swordplay from the time they were both children. But those dreams died years ago.

“Aye, wife.” His gaze did not falter and in his eyes she saw a challenge.

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