Desired by Virginia Henley

Princess Isabel if she were given to a man who had no hope of a title.
    She wore a seafoam green underdress with a jade velvet tunic, caught at the waist by a girdle of real gold set with cabochon emeralds. Brianna believed the green gems had magic power to keep her safe from evil spirits—even from the mischievous harm of goblins and bad fairies. Her world was liberally sprinkled with spirits, undines, and other ministers of the devil.
    Adele’s clothes both contrasted with and complemented those of Lady Bedford. She wore a tasteful gray surcoat over a soft yellow kirtle. A fashionable wimple covered her hair. Only young maidens like Brianna were expected to wear their hair down. To be considered beautiful, it had to be the length of the arms. Adele took great pride in Brianna’s golden hair. When brushed out, as it was now, the tendrils fell to her ankles like a cloak of silk.
    They were admitted by yeomen into the Guard Chamber, which contained a collection of arms and weapons from the time of Great King Henry. Beyond this was the king’s Presence Chamber, which was smaller, but far more sumptuously furnished with carpets, tapestries, a pair of massive gilt throne chairs, and smaller, padded chairs throughout.
    The king was not alone when they entered, but the group of men with whom he’d been speaking left through double doors at the far end of the chamber. Edward Plantagenet strode down the room to welcome them. His smile lit up the chamber. “Do come in, Lady Bedford.”
    When she would have gone down into a curtsy, he took her hands. “No, no, we won’t stand on ceremony.”
    Brianna took a deep breath to introduce her aunt. “Your Majesty—”
    “No, don’t tell me … it’s Adele, your mother’s sister, I believe. I never forget a pretty face.”
    Adele blushed to the roots of her hair, as if she had never felt prettier in her life.
    “Sit!” Edward ordered. “Both of you.”
    They hesitated only a moment before they obeyed.
    “I think better on my feet. Pay no attention, ladies. I beg you take no offense.”
    By protocol, they were the ones who offended by sitting in the king’s presence while he remained standing.
    “I have plans to do some building here at Windsor. A great round tower at the east corner of the Upper Ward. I have a fancy for your beautiful stone from Bedfordshire.”
    Brianna couldn’t believe her ears. Stone! This audience with King Edward was about stone! She let out a long breath. She didn’t know if she felt relief or disappointment. Then she realized she felt both. “Your Majesty, I am deeply honored that you have chosen stone from my lands in Bedfordshire.”
    “Good! My steward will get in touch with your Bedfordshire castellan and work out a fair price.”
    “Ah no, Your Majesty, I wouldn’t dream of accepting money for my stone.”
    “God’s Splendor, what an innocent you are. It’s high time you had a husband to look after your affairs. I assure you he wouldn’t let me rape your land without charging me an arm and a leg!”
    It was Brianna’s turn to blush.
    Edward thought,
God’s Splendor, she’s a beauty
. His eyes candidly admired her glorious hair and her upthrusting breasts. She was enough to make a corpse quicken. His face softened at her youth. His blue eyes crinkled into a smile. “The Earl of Warrick is without. He’s asked for a private word with you. Don’t be afraid. His bark is worse than his bite. He has something very special he wants to ask you.” The king took Adele’s hand and led her from the chamber.
    Brianna’s mind refused to function. She stared at the tall, barrel-chested warrior as if she were witless. As Warrick, the Mad Hound, descended upon her, every instinct told her to flee. Her legs, however, had stopped functioning along with her brain. Her eyes widened as she took in the battle scars on his face. Dimly, in the far recesses of hermind, she recalled he had been widowed for five years. She had assumed at his age he