Shari Anton - By King's Decree

Cover Page

Praise Critical acclaim for Shari Anton’s first book, Emily’s Captain “…superb Civil War drama…a nearly perfect heroine…a great male lead…” — Affaire de Coeur “Humor, love, deception—it’s all here…A keeper for those who love historicals.” — Rendezvous “Keep an eye on this lady, she’s excellent! 4 1/2 bells.” — Bell, Book and Candle “K.I.S.S. Award for the hero, Jared Hunter.” — Romantic Times

Excerpt Pressed against him, Ardith listened to Gerard’s heartbeat. The steady thump pounded louder, faster, and a low groan sounded deep in his throat. She smiled at how easily his body responded to her nearness. Men thought themselves superior to women. Yet in the bedchamber, if a woman was of a mind, she could reduce a haughty baron to a mere male with the paltry weapon of a rightly placed hip. Ardith was of a mind. She looked up into Gerard’s face, a smile threatening the corners of her mouth. “Mayhap women should be warriors.” Confusion showed in his eyes. “Ardith, are you feverish?” Ardith had never learned women’s wiles, didn’t know if she could seduce. If she had any talent at all, now was the time to find out. She lowered her voice and half closed her eyes. “Aye, Gerard. I burn. Come ease my torment.” His reaction was most gratifying…

Dear Reader Dear Reader, Author Shari Anton was first introduced during our 1997 March Madness promotion of new authors with her Civil War period romance, Emily’s Captain. With this month’s By King’s Decree, Ms. Anton has turned her considerable talents toward the telling of a stirring medieval tale in which a Saxon woman must overcome corruption, jealousy and the shadow of barrenness, or be separated forever from the knight who holds her heart. Devlin, by author Erin Yorke, is the story of an Irish rebel and an Englishwoman, who must battle distrust and betrayal before finding the happiness they both deserve. And Deborah Simmons returns this month with The de Burgh Bride, the sequel to her steamy adventure Taming the Wolf. This book features the scholarly de Burgh brother, Geoffrey, who has drawn the short straw and must marry the “wicked” daughter of a vanquished enemy, a woman who reportedly murdered her first husband in the marriage bed! A city banker forced to spend a year recuperating in the country goes head-to-head with a practical country widow and learns that some of life’s greatest pleasures are the simple ones in the next book in Theresa Michaels’s new series, The Merry Widows — Catherine. Whatever your tastes in reading, we hope you enjoy all four books this month. Keep an eye out for them, wherever Harlequin Historicals® are sold. Sincerely, Tracy Farrell Senior Editor

Title Page By King’s Decree Shari Anton www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author SHARI ANTON prefers to spend her free time at Civil War encampments, medieval fairs or pioneer cemeteries rather than doing housework. Her husband doesn’t mind tagging along to any historical site she wants to visit—if they can take the Harleys to get there! She is also a member of RWA and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America (WisRWA). The mother of two grown children and one grandchild, Shari lives in southeastern Wisconsin with her husband and a very spoiled golden retriever. Shari would love to hear from you. You can write to her at: P.O. Box 510611, New Berlin, WI 53151-0611.

Dedication To my parents Richard & Ramona Foley Loveya!!

Prologue

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

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Copyright

“…superb Civil War drama…a nearly perfect heroine…a great male lead…”

— Affaire de Coeur

“Humor, love, deception—it’s all here…A keeper for those who love historicals.”

— Rendezvous

“Keep an eye on this lady, she’s excellent! 4 1/2 bells.”

— Bell, Book and Candle

“K.I.S.S. Award for the hero, Jared Hunter.”

— Romantic Times

The steady thump pounded louder, faster, and a low groan sounded deep in his throat. She smiled at how easily his body responded to her nearness.

Men thought themselves superior to women. Yet in the bedchamber, if a woman was of a mind, she could reduce a haughty baron to a mere male with the paltry weapon of a rightly placed hip.

Ardith was of a mind.

She looked up into Gerard’s face, a smile threatening the corners of her mouth. “Mayhap women should be warriors.”

Confusion showed in his eyes. “Ardith, are you feverish?”

Ardith had never learned women’s wiles, didn’t know if she could seduce. If she had any talent at all, now was the time to find out. She lowered her voice and half closed her eyes. “Aye, Gerard. I burn. Come ease my torment.”

His reaction was most gratifying…

Dear Reader,

Author Shari Anton was first introduced during our 1997 March Madness promotion of new authors with her Civil War period romance, Emily’s Captain. With this month’s By King’s Decree, Ms. Anton has turned her considerable talents toward the telling of a stirring medieval tale in which a Saxon woman must overcome corruption, jealousy and the shadow of barrenness, or be separated forever from the knight who holds her heart.

Devlin, by author Erin Yorke, is the story of an Irish rebel and an Englishwoman, who must battle distrust and betrayal before finding the happiness they both deserve. And Deborah Simmons returns this month with The de Burgh Bride, the sequel to her steamy adventure Taming the Wolf. This book features the scholarly de Burgh brother, Geoffrey, who has drawn the short straw and must marry the “wicked” daughter of a vanquished enemy, a woman who reportedly murdered her first husband in the marriage bed!

A city banker forced to spend a year recuperating in the country goes head-to-head with a practical country widow and learns that some of life’s greatest pleasures are the simple ones in the next book in Theresa Michaels’s new series, The Merry Widows — Catherine.

Whatever your tastes in reading, we hope you enjoy all four books this month. Keep an eye out for them, wherever Harlequin Historicals® are sold.

Sincerely,

Tracy Farrell

Senior Editor

www.millsandboon.co.uk

prefers to spend her free time at Civil War encampments, medieval fairs or pioneer cemeteries rather than doing housework. Her husband doesn’t mind tagging along to any historical site she wants to visit—if they can take the Harleys to get there! She is also a member of RWA and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America (WisRWA).

The mother of two grown children and one grandchild, Shari lives in southeastern Wisconsin with her husband and a very spoiled golden retriever.

Shari would love to hear from you. You can write to her at: P.O. Box 510611, New Berlin, WI 53151-0611.