“Yes, Wife, you are stunning,” Nicholas told her. Muriel had decided to wear the silk gown made from the cloth her father had promised her before his death. It was bright blue with a gold ornate collar and bodice, with small gold chains connecting the two pieces. Her hair was pulled back, but not pinned up since Nicholas said he loved to see it blow in the breeze.
Nicholas wore dark hose and a dark tunic that Muriel had made for him. Across his chest he wore the bright red, blue, and yellow crest that signified he was a Baron of the Cinque Ports. His sword was at his side, the hilt made of gold and silver, with a large cross embedded in the top.
“Congratulations,” said his father as they walked down the stairs. “I must say I’m still not happy about the marriage, but at least now my grandchildren won’t be bastards.”
“Thank you, father,” said Nicholas as they shared a clasp of hands and a pat on the back.
“Aye, I hope you’ll be happy with Muriel,” said his brother, Reynard.
“It is Lady Muriel now,” Nicholas corrected him, and Muriel just smiled. She knew it would take a while for his brother and father to accept that he’d married a merchant’s daughter. Still, just the fact that they had showed up was a good start.
“Romney, we never thought you’d do it,” said Lord John, as he and Lord Conlin came to congratulate them next.
“So which of you is next?” asked Nicholas, his question seeming to roil both of them.
“I have no intention of ever being married again,” said John.
“I am doing fine without a wife as well,” added Conlin.
“Uh huh,” said Nicholas with a slight nod. “And just a few short months ago, I thought the same as both of you.”
“The harbor is filled with ships for the trade show, and now there are others arriving as well,” Brother Germain pointed out next.
“They look like merchant ships,” said Isaac.
“I can’t believe they are all here for the trade fair,” said Roger, squinting to see them.
“Well, I may have . . . invited some of the nobles from Sandwich as well as my daughter to the wedding celebration,” Conlin admitted. “I hope you don’t mind, Romney.”
“I happened to mention it to some of my knights as well,” added Sir John.
“I hope to hell you two plan on paying for this, because I don’t have any intention of paying for food to feed half of England,” Nicholas said with a teasing smile.
“I like that they will all be here,” said Muriel. “I would love to meet your friends, and the friends of the other barons as well.”
“She’s already acting like a noble.” Nicholas pulled Muriel into his arms. “Come here, Wife, and let me kiss you.” They shared a passionate kiss right there on the steps of the church, and everyone cheered and clapped their hands, accepting the newly married couple.
The herald blew his straight trumpet, standing atop the shoulders of another man to make an announcement. “I’d like to present Baron Nicholas, and Lady Muriel – the new Lord and Lady Romney.”
More cheering continued, and alewives walked by passing out tankards of heather flavored ale that Nicholas had imported here from the Highlands for this special occasion.
“So when would you like to have the Tart de brymlent?” asked Henry, standing at the foot of the stairs with his arm around a peasant woman.
“As soon as we get back to the great hall is fine,” said Nicholas. “And Henry, don’t make me sorry I allowed you beyond the manor walls.”
“I’ll never run away again, my lord, now that you have hired my love to work at your manor as well.” He reached over and gave the woman a kiss atop the head.
“That, you’ll have to thank my wife for, as it was her idea.” Nicholas pulled Muriel into his arms and she lay her head against his chest. “The only reason I agreed was because instead of losing a servant, I was gaining one instead.”
“She’s not a servant, but a freewoman,” Muriel reminded him.
“Aye,” he said with a nod. “But I have a feeling she won’t want to leave.”
“I do believe I am craving those silly fish tarts you like so much,” she told him.
“I know,” said Nicholas with a nod. “And since ’twill be a long time before the babies are born, I thought it would be a good idea to keep Henry around to make the tarts rather than to put up with an unhappy wife.”
“Romney, your mind is addled by the way you make decisions nowadays,” said John, and everyone laughed.
“Well, thank you both,” said Henry with a bow. “And I promise never to disappoint you again.”
“Everyone over to the great hall for the celebration feast,” called out the steward. And with that, the procession of people headed toward the manor.
Muriel turned, and with her back toward Nicholas’s chest, he wrapped his arms around her as they watched the ships pull into the harbor. The sea air kissed her skin, and the sound of gulls filled the air as he nuzzled the top of her head. The sky had been previously overcast, but now the clouds parted and sun broke through in rays that looked like they were being sent from God himself.
“Well, even if the king doesn’t agree to our union, it looks like his superior does,” said Nicholas with a chuckle.
His hands came around her belly, and she felt that she, as well as their unborn babies, would always be protected by this noble, courageous and wonderful man.
She leaned her head back against his chest and closed her eyes, basking in the glory of having everything she could have ever dreamed of, coming true.
“Nicholas, Husband. You have made me so very happy. I have found everything I have ever been looking for in life with you. But I am saddened that your quest will never be fulfilled.”
“Oh, but I have exactly what I’ve been searching for as well, Muriel.”
“But you’ll never get your own castle,” she told him. “It was your passion – your quest in life.”
“Sometimes things that seem so important at one time, won’t seem that way later. And I have found everything I want with you, Muriel, so don’t think I am disappointed in any way at all.”
“I am happy to hear it,” she said, and smiled, watching the ships on the sea. “And never, in all my life have I ever dreamed that I – Muriel Draper, a spinster and the daughter of a merchant would end up being the answer to The Baron’s Quest.”
From the Author
This is the first of the Barons of the Cinque Ports Series. It will be followed by The Baron’s Bounty – Book 2, and The Baron’s Destiny – Book 3. If you enjoyed the book, I’d love for you to leave a review for me on Amazon.com. And be sure to check out my other medieval series as well, such as The Legacy of the Blade Series, Daughters of the Dagger Series and the MadMan MacKeefe Series.
You can read more about the Cinque Ports in my book, Lady of the Mist – Book 4 of my Legacy of the Blade Series, where my hero, Garrett, is a Baron of the Cinque Ports and my heroine, Echo, is a pirate.
Elizabeth Rose
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
The Gorgon
Copyright Page
Kathryn Le Veque Novels
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
Epilogue
The Great Knights of de Moray Series
About Kathryn Le Veque
The Lion of Wales
Copyright Page
&n
bsp; About the Book
Other Books from the Author
A Brief Guide to Welsh Pronunciation
Cast of Characters
Part One: Cold My Heart
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Part Two: The Oaken Door
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Part Three: Of Men and Dragons
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
Historical Background
Excerpt from A Long Cloud
Highlander’s Redemption
Copyright Page
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
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Epilogue
Author’s Note
Thank you!
Books by Emma Prince
Teasers for the Sinclair Brothers Trilogy
Teaser for Enthralled
The Baron’s Quest
Copyright Page
Books by Elizabeth Rose
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
Chapter Twenty-Six
From the Author
Medieval Romantic Legends Page 110
