How to Seduce a Queen: A Medieval Romance Novel by Stella Marie Alden Page A

giggled. “There are no dragons.”
    “Of course. Because George slew the last.” Haddr’s eyes sparkled.
    “Enough. We’ve a long day tomorrow. I’ve missed you so.” She hugged her friend tightly and kissed her on the cheek. At that moment, the man of their discussions walked into the kitchen, catching their embrace.
    His brows furrowed as if in pain and the smile dropped off his face. He cleared his throat and looked away. “Forgive me. I had one more cup to put away. I didn’t mean to interrupt your, uh, conversation.”
    For the love of Christ. He would believe the rumors, with all of the rest?
    Haddr began to speak, but Fay could not stop herself. She kissed Haddr solidly on the lips. “Goodnight, my love.”
    She gave the monk a perfected glower, and stormed out of the kitchen toward her chambers. That man was a thistle on her behind. It would be best for her to remember that, for soon she’d be sharing her chambers with a knight chosen by the king.
    With no torches, she shivered as she felt her way up the stairs in complete blackness. Once inside her room, she opened the shutters and breathed easier, bathing in blue moonlight.
    Far below, the hateful monk stormed out of the keep, crossed the square, and down the stairs. Shortly thereafter, he reappeared at the lowest level. The drawbridge went down and he crossed it with long strides. Loki followed with tail wagging. After he traversed the field, he took the path down to the sea’s edge.
    Bloody wounds of Christ. The water’s pull there was unpredictable. As a stranger, he might drown.
    After arguing with herself for the longest of time, she decided, as queen, it was right for her to check on his well-being. She tiptoed down the stairs. Thankfully, none on pallets in the hall gave her notice. In the kitchen, Haddr snored softly near the ovens.
    Fay slid aside a piece of stone, climbed through the hole, and down the ladder. In the cool tunnel, she lit a lamp and descended. Once she reached the seafloor, she padded her bare feet across the sand and searched the waves with racing heart. Where was he? Had he already drowned?
    When Loki barked, she almost shouted to him, but stopped short when her completely naked monk exited the sea. Water dripped from his magnificent chest, glistening in the moonlight. His arms and legs were firm and fine. What drew her attention, however, was the large appendage between his legs.
    He cursed when he saw her and ran back into the surf. Meanwhile the dog barked, running back and forth along the ocean’s edge.
    She dared breathe again when he withdrew with his back to her, shook like Loki, and put on his brown robe.
    Suddenly, the dog yelped as it stuck its nose where it didn’t belong. Chuckling, the monk squatted and kicked away a sea crab. He was rewarded with licks so grateful that he fell upon his arse. Giggling at their antics, she moved closer.
    When a shell snapped underfoot, he glanced up, and growled, “What’re you doing here?”
    She hobbled over sharp shells to stand eye to eye. He had no right to be angry with her. It should be the other way around. He was the one who believed the lies. She’d seen it in his eyes. “The tides here are unpredictable. I wanted to warn you.”
    “Now that you see that I’m not drowned, you can go. I need to pray.” He frowned, and reminded her of Scarborough, how his half-brother had dismissed her so similarly. Tonight it would not be so easy.
    “Here?” She wandered about so as to see his face, all the while Loki’s tail thumped her calves.
    “Aye, here. While I swim. Alone . Go back to your forbidden love. I will say naught about it, if that’s why you’ve followed.” His words were clipped with anger and his face stormy as the sea.
    She touched his arm. “Listen to me. Haddr is my friend. I don’t sleep with her. At least not in the manner you suggest.”
    “I know what I saw. Such friendships are forbidden by God.” His usually light eyes reflected the dark