Denise Lynn - Bedded By The Warrior

He smiled down at her with an expression that held no trace of humor. Instead, she saw a promise that chilled her blood and drew a gasp from her.

“Let me go, William.”

“No. I am not one of your court swains you can order about on a whim. You married a battle-hardened warrior, Sarah. Perhaps it is time you realize what that means.”

Bedded by the Warrior

Harlequin ®Historical

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William and Sarah. I’ve lost count of the number of letters asking about Sarah’s story. I’m pleased to tell you that here she is, in all her glory.

Sarah’s had a rough life; so has William. It’s about time they found what they’ve been looking for, and what they both need: romance, love and their own happily-ever-after.

Come, join me in the 12th century for a little while. Discover if William and Sarah’s rock-strewn road leads them to what they so desire.

Falcon’s Desire #645

Falcon’s Honor #744

Falcon’s Love #761

Falcon’s Heart #833

Commanded to His Bed #845

Bedded by Her Lord #874

Hallowe’en Husbands #917

“Wedding at Warehaven”

Bedded by the Warrior #950

To the Readers.

Wishing you all a little romance to lighten your day.

And to Tom who unknowingly lightens my days.

#947 STETSONS, SPRING AND WEDDING RINGS—Jillian Hart, Judith Stacy and Stacey Kayne

Meet Clara, Brynn and Constance as they go West. They are looking for new lives, and three forceful men are determined to be their new loves! They want to keep these courageous women where they belong—in their towns, in their hearts and, most of all, in their beds….

Romance blossoms in the West!

#948 LORD BRAYBROOK’S PENNILESS BRIDE—Elizabeth Rolls

Viscount Braybrook is paying Christiana Daventry to keep her wayward brother far away from his stepsister. But when he realizes he wants to keep Christy intimately close, suddenly his heart is at risk from the one thing money can’t buy—love!

The Viscount and the governess…

#949 THE SURGEON’S LADY—Carla Kelly

Lady Laura Taunton seeks solace from her unhappy past by nursing the wounded, but naval surgeon Philemon Brittle would rather she sought pleasure in his arms! Can he convince her that marriage is the truest path to happiness…and passion?

A once-in-a-lifetime love.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Epilogue

Queen Eleanor’s Court at Poitiers—May 1171

‘You should be grateful for your freedom.’ The hard edge of warning beneath Queen Eleanor’s words was unmistakable.

Lady Sarah of Remy felt the Queen’s glare against her back as she walked toward the chamber door. Icy fingers of dread clutched her spine at Eleanor’s implied threat.

Unmindful of the voice inside her head urging her to leave the chamber without comment, Sarah turned to face the Queen. Eleanor’s relentless stare prompted Sarah to temper her response. ‘Marriage to a brutal stranger is not worth more than my freedom.’

‘I know you well, Sarah. A temporary marriage to Bronwyn will prove less of a trial than rotting in a cell.’

Sarah trembled at the mere mention of his name. William of Bronwyn was too large and frightening, his shoulders too broad, his manners too coarse. She closed her eyes against the memory of being found naked in bed with him.

The task assigned to her had seemed so simple. Yet, like a bad dream spinning out of control, it had all gone so horribly wrong.

Bronwyn and his friend Earl Hugh of Wynnedom were somehow involved with King Henry. Ever since Archbishop Becket’s death last year, the Queen had become suspicious of anything her husband the King did. Especially when she hadn’t been consulted. Even more so when his secret dealings took place on her lands.

King Henry had been seen with Bronwyn and Wynnedom near the castle. The three men had met with a foreigner unknown to Queen Eleanor and she wanted to know why.

Unfortunately, her questioning of the Earl had produced no suitable answer. In fact, the man’s arrogance had angered her more than his unwillingness to provide the information she wanted. Determined to serve him a taste of his own insolence, the Queen had devised a plan that would place him firmly under her control.

He would be caught compromising one of her favoured ladies—Sarah. Eleanor knew that the Earl’s honour would convince him to wed Sarah, making him a member of her court. She’d been certain that he would then be more willing to share his secrets with her. The Earl of Wynnedom would prove an excellent informant once he realised the benefits of bending to the Queen’s will.

Something Sarah knew well. As the Queen’s spy, she had successfully completed every assigned task—thus far. This task should have been no different.

‘You failed me, Sarah, and left me no choice.’

Sometimes she wondered if Eleanor could read her mind. ‘I didn’t know the Earl was married to Adrienna until it was too late.’

‘Then you should have discovered it sooner.’

And how was she to have done that? While Adrienna was also one of Eleanor’s ladies-in-waiting, it wasn’t as if they’d been fast friends.

‘Instead, you let yourself be found in bed with his friend.’ The Queen rose and walked toward her. ‘Sarah, we have been through this already. Even had Bronwyn forced you to do so, he offered marriage.’

‘Offered?’ He hadn’t offered marriage. After the Queen had ordered the four of them—her, Bronwyn, Wynnedom and Adrienna—to leave her court, he’d nearly commanded that they wed.

Waving off her question as if it were nothing more than a flea, Eleanor countered, ‘While the delivery might not have been to your liking, the end result will be the same. You will wed Bronwyn.’

Sarah had been with the court long enough to know that once Eleanor’s anger at being foiled lessened, the Queen could be convinced to see reason. That was why she’d slipped away from Bronwyn in the first place—to hopefully change the Queen’s mind. However, were she to leave the court, how would she ever gain another audience in which to plead her case?

‘My Queen—’

‘No!’ Eleanor’s shout dissolved Sarah’s complaint before it left her mouth. ‘Wed him. Get me the information I seek and then you will have your freedom.’