Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 11/20/16 Seduction at the Christmas Court: An Unwanted Suitor

This month I’ll be posting snippets from my new medieval Christmas story, Seduction at the Christmas Court. This book continues the story begun in Time Enough to Love and its hero Lord Geoffrey Longford and heroine Lady Alyse de Courcy, now Lady Longford. The cover is temporary–I’m hoping to have a cover reveal this week!

Weekend Warriors, this weekend I journeyed to Memphis, TN to see my daughter starring in a play at her university. (She was fabulous, by the way. :))Sunday I’ll be flying home to work on another show at my university, so I’ll likely be visiting you all Sunday night or Monday.

This story begins in December 1349, about seven months after the end of  Time Enough to Love ended. As Alyse is decorating Longford Manor for Christmas, a messenger arrives with a message for them.

On the road to the Christmas Court at  Havering Palace, a playful mood strikes Alyse and she wagers Geoffrey she can beat him in a race to a distant tree. She agrees to a kiss as her forfeit if she loses, but asks something unexpected if he should lose the race.

Having arrived at court, Alyse find her sister and while catching up discovers Pippa is betrothed to one of Alyse’s former suitors, Guy de Valere.

*Note: This excerpt is unedited and creatively punctuated to conform to the rules of WWW.

“Pippa, please believe me, even though he pressed his suit before I left home, I never felt ought for him.” Alyse had to make her understand she’d had no desire for Guy whatsoever.

“That made no difference to him, apparently, for he spoke of naught but you from the start,” Pippa said as she looked into the fire intently. “Mother told me how ardently he sought you, then Father told me the fight between Guy and Geoffrey was over you.”

“And I told Guy, unequivocally, that I belonged to Geoffrey. He cannot still think of me in such a way.” Lord have mercy if he did, for Geoffrey would have no qualms fighting him again.

“I would not take that wager.”

Alyse stared back, clutching her skirts to stop her hands from shaking. “Is he here at court?”

 

Blurb:

Lord and Lady Longford journey to the Christmas Court of King Edward III in the year 1349 to wait upon the king and take part in some Yuletide merriment. However, when Geoffrey is suddenly called into the king’s service again, Alyse must remain at the court, attending the queen and persuading her rebellious sister to accept an unwanted betrothal. When rumors of Geoffrey’s death arise,  Alyse fends off an old suitor who wants to renew an old friendship. But how long will he take “No” for an answer?

Other Books in the Time Enough to Love series:

 

 

 

 

And don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here.  There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.