Sweet Saturday: 03/23/13 Betrothal ~ “A Lover’s Quarrel”

Welcome back to Sweet Saturday Sample!  All excerpts here are rated PG-13 or milder.

I’m continuing with a sample from my medieval WIP, Time Enough to Love:  Book 1 ~ Betrothal. I turned my edits around in about 48 hours.  Maybe only two more rounds to go!  Fingers crossed for an April release!

Disclaimer:  This work is still going through the editing process, so please forgive any flaws.  

This series is set in England and France in 1348.  Part 1, Betrothal, takes place at the court of King Edward III.

This excerpt comes just after last Sunday’s 8 sentences (If you’d like to read them, they are here.)  Alyse and Geoffrey are in the middle of their first fight.  He has insulted her intelligence and it does not sit well with Lady Alyse.

Her bitter accusation jolted Geoffrey. “Nay, madam,” he retorted, stung by her undeserved censure, “’twas not I who raised the initial doubt. I, in fact, championed your wisdom to Thomas.” 

“But you are here all the same, Sir Geoffrey.”  She straightened her back and clasped her hands before her.  “Obviously mistrusting me as much as your friend.”

Geoffrey shook his head.  “He knows you but little, Alyse.”

  “And you know me somewhat better, my lord, though indeed it is apparently not enough. You have asked time and again for me to trust you and I…I had begun to do so. Yet how am I to give unto you that which you withhold from me?”

“Alyse, ’tis not about trusting you. ’Twas your inexperience I feared would lead you into mishap.” A poor excuse, but the only one he could summon. Why had he listened to Thomas, God curse him? 

“I may not have been at court very long, my lord, yet I have lived my entire life among noble households. I have been taught what is seemly and what ostentation, perhaps better than you.” She closed her eyes, and when she opened them, his heart sank, for they glittered with the mistrust of two days before.

I hope you enjoyed this latest sample from  Betrothal.   And be sure to click here to visit more Sweet Samples.