|
Emerald
Knight
by Michelle
M Pillow
Kindle
ARE | Barnes & Noble
BOB |Amazon PRINT
Createspace
PRINT
Medieval
Historical
Romance
Since
birth
Lady
Ginevra
has been
betrothed
to Lord
Wolfram,
second
son to
the
Count of
Whetshire.
There
was
never
any
question
as to
whom she
would
marry or
who she
would
be. Life
has been
mapped
out for
her and
she's
going to
live
happily
ever
after as
a
Countess.
However,
there is
one
complication
to her
plans.
Her
rogue of
a future
husband
isn't
taking
to their
life
together
with
open
arms. In
fact, he
seems to
enjoy
finding
reasons
to put
the
nuptials
off.
Rating:
Contains
graphic
sexual
content,
adult
language,
and
violence.
EXCERPT
Must
be 18
years
and
older to
read. If
not,
please
leave
the
site.
EMERALD
KNIGHT
By
Michelle
M.
Pillow
Dedication:
To Luna
Sloop,
whose
daughter
Amelia
loves
her very
much.
Happy
91st
Birthday!
To
Amelia,
a
wonderful
woman
with a
great
heart.
To Pam,
Jenny
and
Alma,
whose
kindness
is very
much
appreciated.
Author
Note
This
novel
spans
the
course
of many
years
and many
countries.
The goal
is to
tell a
story of
two
people,
not to
dwell
upon the
historical
details
or to
make
assumptions
about
such
political
and
religious
events
like the
Holy
Crusades.
I have
made
much of
the
historical
details,
such as
costuming
and
dates,
accurate
but did
take
some
liberties
with
fictional
settings
and
historical
figures.
Though
certain
events
surrounding
the
story
are
factual,
the
characters,
circumstances,
locations
and the
story
itself
are a
complete
work of
fiction
and are
by no
way
intended
to
reflect
the
actual
lives of
historical
figures.
Nor is
this
novel a
treatise
or
parody
of
modern
or
historical
political
and
religious
views.
For
some,
love
comes
swiftly
at first
glance,
for
those
most
stubborn
it can
take a
lifetime...
Prologue
Whetshire
Fortress,
Wessex,
1171
A.D.
Baron
Southaven
raised
his
proud
blue
eyes
from the
sheepskin
parchment.
His
quill
dripped
with ink
as he
set it
aside.
As he
blew
lightly
over the
bold
flourish
of his
signature,
a
satisfied
smile
lined
his
mouth.
Then,
dripping
wax onto
the
paper,
he
slipped
his ring
from his
finger
and
pressed
his seal
onto the
agreement.
Next to
him his
wife,
Lady
Southaven,
clapped
happily.
He
placed
the
crest
back
onto his
hand. It
was
done.
The
endless
fortnights
of
negotiation
since
the
birth of
his
daughter
had
finally
ended to
the
satisfaction
of both
houses.
“It’s
decided
then,”
the Earl
of
Whetshire
announced
with a
solemn
nod.
Wolfe’s
head
snapped
up. In
all his
eight
years he
had
never
been so
mortified.
His
father’s
stern
voice
expressed
neither
anger
nor
pleasure
at the
decision.
Though,
by all
indications,
the man
was
pleased
with the
match.
Turning
to look
down the
floor of
the main
hall,
the earl
squinted
in the
dimmed
torchlight.
The hour
was late
and the
fire had
dwindled
to a
soft
heat.
Wolfe
stood
dutifully
with his
two
brothers
awaiting
his
father’s
command.
Thomas,
the
oldest,
held his
head
high and
proud.
Wolfe,
standing
next to
him,
swallowed
nervously
and
kicked
at the
floor.
William,
the
youngest,
grinned
sheepishly
as if
nothing
concerned
him.
Their
sister’s
giggle
broke
the
silence,
as she
sat on
the lap
of the
baron’s
only
son.
Robert’s
gentle
laugh
followed
hers.
The earl
sighed
as he
watched
his
sons.
Motioning
to
Wolfe,
he
commanded
gruffly,
“Wolfram,
come
kiss
your
betrothed’s
lips and
seal
this
match.”
Wrinkling
his nose
and
stiffening
his
legs,
his feet
refused
to move.
His
brothers
chuckled
mockingly
behind
the
backs of
their
hands.
Thomas
knocked
him
forward
with a
swift
punch to
his
back.
Wolfe
spun to
his
older
brother
with a
fierce
growl.
“I’ll
get you
fer
that,
Thomas!”
Wolfe
hissed,
raising
his
fists in
warning.
“I’ll
wallop
you
good!”
Thomas
just
laughed
harder.
Being
the
oldest
and the
heir, he
wasn’t
too
concerned.
Even
though
he was
only two
years
older,
he had
grown
well
over
Wolfe in
size. He
smiled
confidently
down
from his
impressive
height.
“Yea,
Wolfe,
go kiss
your
bride.”
“Wolfram?”
Lady
Isabella
called
when her
son
hadn’t
moved.
The
countess’
voice
was loud
and
booming
compared
to the
stern
tone of
her
husband.
She
pushed
her
flaming
red hair
back
from her
forehead
as she
watched
her
children
expectantly.
“Yea,
you’d
better
hope she
don’t
spit up
on you!”
William
chimed
in. He
too was
rewarded
with a
dark
scowl.
Slowly,
Wolfe
stepped
forward.
His dark
brown
hair
fell in
front of
his eyes
as he
looked
solemnly
up at
his
parents.
Both
they,
the
baron
and
baroness
watched
him
expectantly
from
across
the
hall.
Before
having
taken
two
steps, a
foot
jutted
in front
of him.
He
tumbled
to the
ground.
Glancing
up from
the
straw
rushes
in
anger,
he
glared
at his
snickering
older
brother.
“I
warned
you,
Thomas!”
Wolfe
hollered.
He
forgot
his
father’s
command
as he
glared
at his
attacker.
Jumping
to his
feet, he
charged
Thomas
in the
waist.
He
rammed
his head
into his
brother’s
chest
and
knocked
him to
the
ground
with the
unexpected
force.
Thomas
slid
across
the
straw
rushes
that
lined
the hall
floor,
as Wolfe
howled
atop
him.
Wolfe
swung
for his
brother’s
jaw, his
fist
glancing
off
Thomas’
cheek
with a
reverberating
smack.
William
shouted
in
pleasure.
Thomas
fought
back. He
rolled
Wolfe
amidst
flying
fists
that
quickly
found
their
mark.
Wolfe
grunted
as
Thomas
clapped
the side
of his
head and
Thomas
protested
loudly
when
Wolfe
tried to
bite his
finger
off. The
digit
had
strayed
too
close to
his
younger
brother’s
opened
mouth.
The
battle
ended as
fast as
it
begun.
Wolfe
grunted
in
protest
as he
was
lifted
off of
Thomas.
His feet
kicked
in the
air only
to land
with a
heavy
thud on
the
stone
floor.
Neither
boy was
badly
bruised,
only
disheveled
from the
fray.
Guiltily,
Wolfe
wiped
his
bloodied
mouth
and
looked
at his
father,
his eyes
pleading
for
parental
mercy.
It was
not to
be.
“Attend
your
duties,
son.”
The earl
pointed
to the
head
table
where
the
adults
waited
patiently.
Wolfe
kicked
the
ground
in
anger,
as he
was made
to kiss
his
future
bride.
Thomas
and
William
laughed
in
delight
as he
was made
to walk
up to
the
platform.
The earl
ignored
his
snickering
sons and
followed
closely
behind
Wolfe.
As he
stepped
up to
the head
dining
table,
Wolfe
ignored
the
rolled
parchment
next to
the
small
wooden
bassinet.
The
paper
served
only as
a
reminder
of
things
he
couldn’t
control.
Frowning,
he
glanced
at his
sister
Helena.
She had
crawled
off
Robert’s
lap and
played
on the
floor
near his
feet.
She
looked
up at
him and
giggled
in
childish
amusement.
His
frown
deepened
into a
scowl.
“Go on,”
Robert
encouraged
in a
whisper.
His
young
green
eyes
shone
with
understanding,
as Wolfe
leaned
over the
cradle
to see
his
sister.
It was
obvious
he
didn’t
think
much of
kissing
Ginevra
either.
“Hurry,
afore
she
wakes up
and
starts
to
bawl.”
The
boys’
mothers
shared
modest
smiles.
Wolfe
gulped.
Leaning
over, he
studied
his
future
wife--a
round
baby
clad in
soft
yellow.
She was
only as
long as
his arm,
with
pudgy,
pink
cheeks
that
puffed
out from
her tiny
nose.
Her lips
puckered
to suck
in
dreamlike
abandon.
Grimacing,
he shook
his head
in
denial
and took
a
defiant
step
back.
“Why do
I have
to marry
’er? Why
can’t I
give ’er
to
Thomas?
He’s the
oldest.
He’s the
one
who’s
goin’ to
need a
wife.”
Wolfe
glanced
dejectedly
to his
mother,
who only
smiled
and
nodded
her head
for him
to
follow
his
father’s
order.
Already
he knew
the
answer.
Thomas
wouldn’t
be bound
by such
an
agreement
because
he was
the
oldest.
The earl
wanted
to be
sure
they
left
Thomas’
option
open in
case
there
was a
shift of
politics.
And
Wolfe,
being
the
second
oldest,
was the
most
logical
of
choices
to unite
the
manors
of
Whetshire
and
Southaven.
It would
strengthen
the ties
of the
land and
help to
build a
secure
future
for all
those
involved.
Understanding
didn’t
make it
easier.
With a
sigh, he
glanced
back
down.
Ginevra’s
eyes
opened.
The
round
green
orbs
looked
at him
curiously
from
underneath
silky
black
lashes.
Quickly,
he
puckered
his lips
as he
leaned
over to
kiss the
baby’s
soft
cheek.
The
baroness
flushed
and laid
her hand
proudly
over her
heart.
The men
nodded
in
satisfaction
as they
clasped
hands.
Ginevra
gurgled
and her
lips
twitched
into a
softened,
toothless
smile.
Drool
spilled
over her
lips and
chin.
Wolfe
felt
himself
melt a
little
as he
looked
at her.
But,
then, he
hardened
as he
heard
the
snickering
laughter
of his
two
brothers
behind
him. His
face
turned
into a
disgusted
scowl.
“She
smells!”
he
exclaimed
loudly
with an
offended
wrinkle
to his
nose.
Ginevra
began to
cry, her
tiny
fists
pounding
her
displeasure
into the
air. Her
shrill
voice
rang
over the
hall, as
her
mother
rushed
forward
to lift
her into
the
protective
enclosure
of her
arms.
Wolfe
ignored
his
bride
and
stalked
from the
table to
once
again
pummel
his
brother.
©
copyright
November
2005,
Michelle
M.
Pillow
This is
a work
of
fiction.
All
characters,
events,
and
places
are of
the
author’s
imagination
and not
to be
confused
with
fact.
Any
resemblance
to
living
persons
or
events
is
merely
coincidence.
REVIEWS
"5
HEARTS!
Ms.
Pillow
succeeded
in
bringing
her
words to
life.
This
book
breathes,
screams,
and
compels
you to
finish
it. This
is a
spectacular
Epic
story
about
love
growing
in spite
of
everything
a love
separated
by duty,
age,
time and
the very
natures
of Wolfe
and Gin.
This
story
captures
your
attention
until
you can
no
longer
remember
that Gin
and
Wolfe
are
characters
instead
of
living
souls.
Awesome,
do not
miss!"
Sara
Sawyer,
TRS,
January
28, 2006
"Pillow
puts a
lot of
action
in a
small
amount
of
space,
but the
ultimate
result
is a
wonderful
blend of
conflict
and
love."
Faith V.
Smith RT
BOOKreviews,
July
2006
"4 1/2
Stars!
...a
beautifully
crafted
story."
Candy,
Ecataromance
June
2006
"4 Blue
Ribbons!
An
entertaining
read. Once
again,
Ms.
Pillow
doesn't
disappoint."
Romance
Junkies,
Feb 2006
"4
HEARTS!
Michelle
M.
Pillow
knows
how to
write a
truly
exciting,
flourishing
and
romantic
historical."
Valerie,
Love
Romances,
Feb 2006
Additional
Book
Information
Amazon
ASIN:B003WEAJ66
Electronic
ISBN:978-1-4524-9726-6
PRINT
ISBN-13:
978-1460962176
PRINT
ISBN-10:1460962176
Release
Date: July
2010
Available at the following vendors
Eros Ebooks, Smashwords
Print Version
(if applicable)
historical
romance,
historical,
passion,
sweet,
romance,
history,
fiction,
michelle
pillow,
knight,
horse,
mandy
roth,
the
raven
books,
raven
happy
hour,
kindle,
barnes
and
noble,
nook,
ebook,
ereader,
print,
full
story
|
