Lyn Randal - Conquered And Seduced

‘…a highly sensuous tale of courage and enduring love set in the splendour of ancient Rome. Lyn Randal’s WARRIOR OR WIFE is an absolute must-read for those who love gladiators!’

—Award-winning author Lyn Stone

‘A stunning debut…

From the bloodlust of the gladiatorial arena to the silken sheets of a Roman senator’s couch, Lyn Randal’s story weaves a powerful and ancient magic.’

—RITA® Award winner and bestselling author Gayle Wilson

‘Randal’s Rome is an exciting, colourful place, where politics merge with the bloodlust of the arena and a proud Roman senator defies all for the love of a gladiatrix.’

— RT Book Reviews

Lucan smiled, and it reached all the way to his beautiful fiery eyes. ‘Let’s get married.’

‘You can’t be serious.’

‘I’m completely serious. You need to save the inn. I need a wife.’

‘But we’ve already…Lucan, we’ve been through this before.’

‘No. It’s not the same offer as before.’

Severina eyed him suspiciously. ‘It’s not?’

‘No. I’m not offering a true marriage. This would be in name only. A business relationship between you and me to solve both our problems.’

‘A business relationship? No…?’

‘Business only, Severina. Without obligation to fulfil those embarrassingly intimate conjugal duties.’

Severina drew in a long breath.

‘Unless you want to…’

www.millsandboon.co.uk

LYN RANDALgrew up on a farm in rural Mississippi, where long, hot summers away from school and friends meant entertaining herself with books and her own imagination. Now, years later, she lives on a farm in rural Alabama, where long, hot summers mean entertaining herself with—you guessed it!—more books and an even bigger imagination. She considers herself rather fortunate that her husband, two children, two cats and one dog have all become quite accustomed to her strange writing habits, hardly noticing that she mutters odd lines of dialogue while doing household chores, or disappears to take over the computer for hours on end, sometimes even managing to avoid huge mountains of laundry in the process.

Lyn especially enjoys the research that goes into writing historical novels, and she loves hearing from her readers. Contact her by visiting her website: www.lynrandal.com

Novels by Lyn Randal:

WARRIOR OR WIFE

TEMPTED BY INNOCENCE

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This book is dedicated to the readers who wrote and asked for Lucan and Severina’s story—

I hope it exceeds all your hopes.

It was a fine day for a fight.

Cassia Severina’s brow furrowed as her fist tightened around the hem of a skilfully woven stola.

A fine day for a fight, indeed, with its hint of spring and warm breezes that had drawn a crowd to this busy marketplace, and if the fierce-looking matron who held the other corner of the garment thought to intimidate her, then she, Cassia Severina, who’d faced far more formidable opponents in the Amphitheatre, who’d once killed two lionesses and a bear, who—

The sow-faced matron growled, ‘Let go. It’s mine. I saw it first.’

‘No. I was first to lay hands on it. You were still halfway across the market when I took it up.’

The woman whose wares were flung across the table stepped forwards. ‘It’ll belong to whoever pays me the coin for it first. Rip it, and you’ll lay out the full price!’

‘Let go,’ threatened the sow.

‘I will not ,’ Severina said, equally adamant. ‘I mean to have it. It’s to be a wedding garment.’

Ariadne stepped forwards in a graceful motion and placed a gentle hand on Severina’s fist. ‘It’s all right, mistress,’ she murmured. ‘There are other lovely gowns here. Any will suit.’

Severina hesitated. ‘I want this one for you, Ariadne. The material is fine and the embroidery’s exquisite. Besides, it’s the only one with the extra length you need.’

Ariadne smiled and Severina was, as always, startled by the perfection of her slave girl’s appearance. Ariadne was truly a beauty. And for her coming union with the man she loved, Ariadne deserved the loveliest stola in all of Rome.

‘Leave the gown,’ Ariadne murmured again, her slim fingers pulling at Severina’s to loosen her grip. ‘I’ll be happy with any other, or even with those I already own.’ Her eyes met those of her mistress, her expression soft and happy. ‘Am I not soon to be wife to Orthrus? And is he not the most extraordinary of men?’

She lowered her voice. ‘As much as I appreciate your kindness to me, mistress, I can’t help but fear for that poor matron. She has no idea of your skill at combat or how easily she’d be overcome. It wouldn’t be fair.’

The sow didn’t quite hear the whispered exchange, but her eyes narrowed in approval when Severina reluctantly released the garment.

‘Glad you’ve seen some sense, girl,’ the heavy woman said with a smirk. ‘I did see it first.’

Severina stared at her adversary, feeling the hot blood surge as it had done in the past when she’d stood, a fearless gladiatrix, before the crowds cheering in the Flavian Amphitheatre. Almost she could feel the hilt of a gladius against her palm. Almost she wished for the sharp, metallic clang of blade against blade.

Too bad those days were behind her.

Severina had little doubt that if the arrogant woman facing her across the swath of fabric could see her arrayed in battle gear, poised for combat, she’d not be so smug.

Severina spun around and moved away before she could act on her baser urges. She was, she reminded herself, no longer fighting in the Amphitheatre.

She owned her own business now. Her image was that of a cultured gentlewoman. She must consider her inn and the affluent clients who chose it for its quiet refinement.

It would hardly do for her to welcome them at the door nursing a black eye and bruised lip.

‘Well done,’ Ariadne said when they’d moved out of earshot. ‘Your restraint shows what a well-bred lady you truly are.’

‘Hardly. For long moments there, I wished heartily for a weapon in my hand.’

The younger woman laughed. ‘Well, forget about it. Just look around, stretching before us—table after table of exotic things! Wares from Germania and Egypt and Britannia and Gaul…’ Ariadne made a happy sound. ‘Doesn’t it fill you with wonder?’

In truth, it did. Every time Severina entered the three massive stone arches that marked the entrance to the marketplace, the wonder seized her.

‘Some day I’ll come here and buy whatever I want,’ Ariadne said wistfully. ‘Maybe I’ll even buy your wedding garment, mistress.’

Severina’s laughter was a little too bright. ‘You’ll probably earn your freedom long before I’ll need one of those.’

‘Then it really is over between you and Master Lucan?’