He acknowledged my curtsy with a stiff bow of his own, and replied, “Then courtesy is a turncoat and a traitor. But all my friends here may attest that I am well-loved among the ladies of France, not that you would know.” A dagger’s thrust, and meant to wound. Yet I would not show him how I bled. The gentlemen were chuckling, encouraging him, and he was not done. “Would that I could find it in my heart to change my heart, for the truth is that I love no woman.” He put the subtlest emphasis on the word love; again, intending to wound.
“A dear happiness to women, lest they be troubled with an unwanted suitor. Except perhaps in France.” More laughter, all around us. Yet could I bear to think about what that meant: well-loved among the ladies in France… Everyone else was so amused, but they could not see the truth beneath the jests. I turned toward the lady at my side. “I thank God that I have cold blood as he does. I would rather hear a dog bark at a crow than hear a man such as this swear he loves me.”
Did he flinch? I could not tell.
“May God keep you in that mind,” he said, “lest some poor gentleman suffer a scratched face.”
“Scratching could not make it worse, if it were such a face as yours.” Noting his new scar, I flinched inwardly. Perhaps that was too far. However, that comment drew appreciative hoots from his friends. I felt quite satisfied at having scored such a mark, but ashamed too.
“I wish my horse had the speed of your tongue. But enough, I’m done.” He held up his hands with a smile, a good-natured gesture of surrender, and backed away with a bow of his head.
Making me look the fool for attacking him so fiercely.
But mayhap not, for everyone was smiling and laughing. They all thought it was a fine jest to see two old friends sparring again.
No one could see my hands shaking.
Only the lady beside me seemed to sense something untoward. She linked her arm through mine and said, “My lady, shall we continue on together?”
My cousin Mary hurried over to us, excitement pouring off her in palpable waves. “Father says the king will stay at least a se’n’night!” she announced with delight.
“What do you mean, the king will stay?” I asked. “Does not his lady mother have a home in Woking? That is only a short distance from here. Why would they not ride on?”
“No one has said, but what does it matter?” she said. At my side, the lady in mourning sighed. I looked over Mary’s shoulder to where my uncle stood with the king. Our other guests were spread out through the hall in small clusters, though my aunt had already led the princess and the older woman away. Thus, those who remained in the hall were a fairly large group of men… and therein, of course, lay the answer. Time was required for the men to choose their brides – their prizes – and negotiate the terms of marriage.
With any luck, we prizes would have something to say about that.
Don’t stop now. Keep reading with your copy of LOVING BEATRICE available now.
Don’t miss more of Shakespeare’s Women Speak with book two, LOVING BEATRICE, and discover more from Maryanne Fantalis at mfantaliswrites.wordpress.com
Spurned by her first love Beatrice swears off men and marriage, until Benedict walks back into her life. Will she risk her heart a second time?
* * *
When her rich and titled family try to force the witty Beatrice to accept a betrothed, she holds vast to her vow. But when her heart strings are tugged once more, two years after her initial heartbreak, she has trouble resisting the man who started it all.
* * *
Benedict may have been poor before, but now he’s gained wealth and renown for prowess both on the battlefield and in the bedroom. He arrives as one of the men serving as escort to the king and his betrothed.
* * *
Beatrice is delighted at the possibility of being chosen as a lady-in-waiting, but the princess makes it clear that if she remains unmarried, there will be no admittance into the glittering royal circle. Given such a choice, how will Beatrice resist and to whom will she surrender?
* * *
Not just any man.
* * *
As the duo two reunite in a series of hot skirmishes, wielding words like fencing foils, can they drop their defenses long enough to realize their love burns as bright as ever or will their desires be doomed to the past?
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Acknowledgments
On a summer evening in 2010, I sat in the Mary Rippon Theater at the University of Colorado in Boulder watching Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.” I didn’t know it at the time, but the path of my writing career was about to change.
When I went home, I couldn’t stop thinking about the play. Instead of seeing a woman abused into obedience – which was what I had dreaded going in – I had experienced something entirely different. I started jotting down notes about what I had seen and felt, hoping to get it out of my system and get back to my “real” work.
Three months later, I had the first draft of what would become Finding Kate.
Thus, I have to begin with a heartfelt thank you to the Colorado Shakespeare Festival for their consistently excellent work, and specifically to the director and actors of that production of “The Taming of the Shrew” for their inspirational performance.
This book would not exist without the dedication and talent of the editors and staff at City Owl Press. Amanda and Tina, you took my manuscript and made my dreams come true in a beautiful way. Thanks also to Lisa of LisaBooks for the gorgeous cover design. The authors of City Owl are a loud, boisterous group – laughing, sharing highs and lows, and always there for you when you need them. I am so glad I chose City Owl as my publishing home.
There aren’t words to express my appreciation to my Louisville writing group. We’ve been meeting every week for the past seven or eight years, and you’ve kept me going when it would have been so much easier to quit. You have each played a special role in my writing life: Trudy, my project manager and problem solver, keeping me on track from week to week and year to year; Stephanie, a fellow dreamer who always looks for deeper meanings; Lisa, who had the courage to try NaNoWriMo and showed me how wonderful writing without inhibitions and perfectionism could be; and Jack, the most recent member, who has been like an athletic training partner, demanding that I keep striving, achieving, and honing my craft. Without the four of you, I don’t think I could have kept going through these waiting years… and it certainly wouldn’t have been as much fun.
One of the best things about living in the Boulder/Denver area of Colorado is the vibrant and supportive community of writers here. Specifically, thank you to Tara Dairman, Jeannie Mobley, Jennifer Chambliss Bertman, and Emily France who have shared chai and advice about the business as they blazed the path to publication ahead of me.
I have to thank Katharine Owens and Courtney Mckinney-Whitaker for their long-distance friendship and honest feedback on my work. Kat and Courtney, you always make me think, and you always make me laugh. Thank you for sharing your lives and your writing journeys with me.
Special thanks to Cedric Pereira, who agreed to take my author photo even though he knows how much I hate photos of myself and then managed to make me look good, and thank you to Tami Westen, who made the photo shoot so much fun; to Chris Fravil and Becky Karch, for always reading my earliest (and ugliest) drafts and telling me to keep going; to J. Anderson Coats, who always knows where to find the most obscure medieval reference materials; and to Anne Sandoe, whose Shakespeare acting class taught me a whole new kind of courage.
My parents instilled in me a love of history, literature, and all thi
ngs British. My mother, in particular, taught me to love reading and would have been incredibly proud of this achievement. My father, at 80, still works hard and learns something new every day. Without their example, I would not be the person I am today.
My husband’s parents have always made me feel like one of their beloved children. Their love and support have been unwavering, and I am immensely grateful.
My kids have tolerated more than a little benign neglect throughout their childhood in my pursuit of publication. They’ve turned out well in spite of it. In fact, they astonish me.
Finally, a writer of romantic fiction has to have a good imagination, but she also needs a solid grounding in the reality of “happily ever after.” I am lucky enough to be living my happily ever after, every single day. Jeff, I couldn’t do any of this without you.
About the Author
© Cedric Pereira Photography
MARYANNE FANTALIS lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with her husband and two kids, and it’s the only place outside of England she’d ever want to live. Her fiction combines her two favorite subjects – medieval England and Shakespeare’s plays – and she’ll talk your ear off about either of them if given the opportunity. In addition to writing novels, Maryanne teaches writing at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Look for her in one of her favorite spots: playing in a racing mountain stream, browsing at the local public library, or getting inspired at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival.
mfantaliswrites.wordpress.com
About the Publisher
City Owl Press is a cutting edge indie publishing company, bringing the world of romance and speculative fiction to discerning readers.
www.cityowlpress.com
Additional Titles
LOVING BEATRICE
By: Maryanne Fantalis
Spurned by her first love, will she risk her heart a second time?
* * *
ALL I EVER WANTED
By: Katrina Mills
Second Chance, Summer Romance.
* * *
FORGET ME NOT
By: Em Shotwell
Maybe dating the good guy isn’t so bad.
* * *
BOHERMORE
By: Jennifer Rose McMahon
USA Today Bestselling Author
When your dreams become reality, being cursed can be a real nightmare.
* * *
INISH CLARE
By: Jennifer Rose McMahon
USA Today Bestselling Author
When your dreams become reality, hidden secrets come to light.
* * *
BALLYCROY
By: Jennifer Rose McMahon
USA Today Bestselling Author
When your dreams become reality, the legends become truth.
* * *
EVERYTHING BUT THE EARL
By: Willa Ramsey
Miss Caroline Crispin is on top of the world. But she’s about to take a painful fall.
* * *
FORBIDDEN BY FAITH
By: Negeen Papehn
Sara knows her life would be easier if she married a man of her faith, but when has love ever been easy?
* * *
FORBIDDEN BY DESTINY
By: Negeen Papehn
Leyla had never known what it felt like to fall in love. Not until her best friend Sara broke Ben’s heart.
* * *
FORBIDDEN BY TIME
By: Negeen Papehn
When love blossoms from the unexpected will the years between separate them forever?
* * *
HARVEST MOON HOMECOMING
By: Jessie Gussman
A tangle of arguments and decorations leads to a stolen kiss.
* * *
BETTER TOGETHER
By: Jessie Gussman
He wants her to notice him. She has to pretend she doesn’t.
* * *
JUST RIGHT
By: Jessie Gussman
Sometimes a match that’s all wrong, turns out to be just right.
* * *
THE 12 DARES OF CHRISTMAS
By: Leigh W. Stuart
‘Tis the Season to Be Daring...
* * *
MISCHIEVOUSLY MINE
By: Leigh W. Stuart
Only one can come out on top…
* * *
THE FIX
By: Kristin Rouse
Sometimes the fix is worth the fall.
* * *
THE LAIRD OF DUNCAIRN
By: Craig Comer
The year is 1882 Scotland, and the auld alliance betwixt king and fey has long been forgotten.
* * *
OAK SEER
By: Craig Comer
With heinous cults and unruly mobs all around, Effie must become more lest Scotland fall into devastation.
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