The Virgin's War by Laura Andersen

Author:Laura Andersen
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2016-07-12T07:00:00+00:00

“I march your mercenaries against Robert and persuade him to renounce his claims and banish himself from Scotland.”

“Persuade?”

“Perhaps with a shade more violence behind it.” He said it with a disconcerting relish.

“And third?”

“You comply.”

Maisie’s eyebrows shot up so far she could almost feel them against her hairline. “By marrying some greedy stranger the king or my brother proposes?”

“By marrying me.”

The silence was tangible, and Maisie felt as though something heavy had landed on her chest. She could hardly draw breath to speak.

“Also highly impractical,” she managed, with what she hoped was amusement.

“But tempting?” Those hazel eyes of his slid across her face and she looked away.

Not for anything would she reveal just how tempting. “I can manage. There is no need to offer yourself as sacrifice.”

“It would be no sacrifice.” He spoke as though deliberating which words to choose so there would be no misunderstanding. “Surely such a clever woman recognizes how important you have become to me.”

Important. Not quite the same thing as loved. “Your family and your queen would be horrified.”

“I think you underestimate my family. And the queen cannot have it both ways—if I am no longer one of her nobles, then she can have no say in my personal life.”

“Marry me and you will never be restored to your title.”

He smiled grimly. “All the more reason. I do not want it.”

“Stephen—”

“Mariota, you need not be afraid. If it helps, consider this simply an extension of our friendship. There need be no personal awkwardness. The marriage would be for you to define. I would never press you for…well…”

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