Margaret Moore - In The King's Service

“Far be it from me to disappoint a lady—in anything.”

He strode toward her, reached out, took her hand and lifted it to his lips. He pressed a gentle kiss on her knuckles, then raised his eyes to regard her. “You, my lady, are the most surprising young woman I have ever met.”

Her cheeks flushing, she tugged her hand away. “Hardly a compliment, sir knight. I’m not impressed.”

He lifted the corners of his mouth in the sort of lazy smile he gave a woman after they had made love. “I assure you, a man likes to be surprised by a woman, and a truly surprising woman is a very rare creature.”

For the briefest of moments her eyes widened with shock, and he wanted to shout with triumph.

But then her eyes flashed with scornful fire. “Creatures?” she demanded. “Is that what women are to you?”

Praise for USA TODAY bestselling author Margaret Moore Praise About the Author Title Page Acknowledgments 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 Copyright

‘Fans who adore Moore’s high sexual tension and realistic action will revel in Mavis and Roland’s journey from lust to love.’

— RT Book Reviews on Bride for a Knight

‘Moore. Moore. Moore. Fans will love her newest medieval romance about a knight in tarnished armour and a damsel in distress. Readers can count on the author for realistic settings, authentic dialogue, lots of action and hot sexual tension.’

— RT Book Reviews on Castle of the Wolf

‘Moore taps in to the culture and mores of Scotland to create a colourful Highland love story.’

— RT Book Reviews on Highland Heiress

‘The talented Moore has penned another exciting Regency.’

— RT Book Reviews on Highland Rogue, London Miss

‘The story is fresh, fun, fast-paced, engaging and passionate, with an added touch of adventure.’

— The Romance Readers’ Connection on The Notorious Knight

Award-winning author MARGARET MOOREhas written over fifty romance novels and novellas for Harlequin Mills & Boon, Avon Books and HarperCollins Children’s Books. Her stories have been set in the Dark Ages and medieval Britain, Restoration, Regency and Victorian England and pre–Civil War Massachusetts. Margaret lives in Ontario, Canada, with her husband and two cats.

She can be found online at margaretmoore.com, margaretmoore.blogspot.comand @MargMooreAuthoron Twitter.

In the King’s Service

Margaret Moore

www.millsandboon.co.uk

With many thanks to the astute and delightful Melissa Endlich.

Cover

Introduction “Far be it from me to disappoint a lady—in anything.” He strode toward her, reached out, took her hand and lifted it to his lips. He pressed a gentle kiss on her knuckles, then raised his eyes to regard her. “You, my lady, are the most surprising young woman I have ever met.” Her cheeks flushing, she tugged her hand away. “Hardly a compliment, sir knight. I’m not impressed.” He lifted the corners of his mouth in the sort of lazy smile he gave a woman after they had made love. “I assure you, a man likes to be surprised by a woman, and a truly surprising woman is a very rare creature.” For the briefest of moments her eyes widened with shock, and he wanted to shout with triumph. But then her eyes flashed with scornful fire. “Creatures?” she demanded. “Is that what women are to you?”

Praise Praise for USA TODAY bestselling author Margaret Moore Praise About the Author Title Page Acknowledgments 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 Copyright ‘Fans who adore Moore’s high sexual tension and realistic action will revel in Mavis and Roland’s journey from lust to love.’ — RT Book Reviews on Bride for a Knight ‘Moore. Moore. Moore. Fans will love her newest medieval romance about a knight in tarnished armour and a damsel in distress. Readers can count on the author for realistic settings, authentic dialogue, lots of action and hot sexual tension.’ — RT Book Reviews on Castle of the Wolf ‘Moore taps in to the culture and mores of Scotland to create a colourful Highland love story.’ — RT Book Reviews on Highland Heiress ‘The talented Moore has penned another exciting Regency.’ — RT Book Reviews on Highland Rogue, London Miss ‘The story is fresh, fun, fast-paced, engaging and passionate, with an added touch of adventure.’ — The Romance Readers’ Connection on The Notorious Knight

About the Author

Title Page In the King’s Service Margaret Moore www.millsandboon.co.uk

Acknowledgments With many thanks to the astute and delightful Melissa Endlich.

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

Copyright

Sir Blaidd Morgan, knight of the realm, trusted friend of Henry III, champion of tournaments and reputedly able to whisper a woman into his bed, drew his horse to a halt and wiped his nose with the back of his gloved hand. Water dripped from the soaked hood of his woolen cloak, and his boots were spattered with mud. The scent of damp leaves arose from the wood on his left; on his right, some cows stood in a meadow beneath the shelter of an oak, looking as miserable as he felt. At least now, through the teeming downpour, he could make out a village and a castle just beyond.

“That has to be Throckton Castle, thank God,” he said to his equally drenched squire. “I was beginning to fear that we’d taken the wrong fork a few miles back and would have to bed down in the forest for the night.”

His squire pulled the hood of his cloak farther over his head. “I thought you Welsh were used to the rain.”

“Used to it, aye, Trev, I am, and because of your father’s ideas about training, too. But that doesn’t mean I like it.”

Blaidd and Trevelyan Fitzroy’s fathers were old friends, and Trev’s father, Sir Urien, had trained Blaidd in the arts of war, which included drilling in all kinds of weather.

Sixteen-year-old Trev nodded at the fortress looming in the distance. “I thought Lord Throckton wasn’t an important man, but that’s quite a castle.”

“It’s more impressive than I thought it would be, too,” Blaidd confessed.

On closer inspection—or as close as one could get from this vantage point through the rain—it seemed a massive creation, with inner and outer walls, an impressive gatehouse and a large keep in the center. Blaidd hadn’t seen many castles to rival it, and he wondered if King Henry would be equally as surprised to learn the extent of Lord Throckton’s fortifications, or if he already knew. That might explain the king’s suspicions.