The Handfasting

Book 0: Knights of de Ware

by Glynnis Campbell

Genres: Historical Romance; Medieval Romance; Scottish & Highlander; christmas romance; Scottish historical romance; mistaken identity; disabled character; knight; romantic short stories

Synopsis

"Rich wit, delicious characters, and heartwarming romance...a must read!"–Laurin Wittig, Bestselling author

From USA Today bestselling author Glynnis Campbell...A French knight betrothed to a Highland heiress falls in love with his spirited bride, then realizes he's been tricked into wedding the wrong sister.

When Sir Noël de Ware comes from France to claim his betrothed—the most beautiful heiress in the Highlands—he's sure he's been given the best holiday gift ever...until he discovers the spirited lass he's wedded and bedded is not the right sister. Ysenda of Rivenloch never intended to be a counterfeit bride, and when she begins to fall in love with her handsome husband, she becomes trapped in her own deception. Only true love and a Yuletide wish can set things straight and grant them a happily ever after.

THE HANDFASTING
Origin novella for The Knights of de Ware
From a long line of legendary warriors come three brothers to carry on the rich and powerful de Ware legacy: Duncan the Champion...Holden the Warrior...Garth the Hero...

Length: 30,000 words = 152 pages
Rating: R-rated for passionate passages

In This Series

The Knights of de Ware
1199 – THE HANDFASTING (a novella)
1333 – MY CHAMPION
1333 – MY WARRIOR
1338 – MY HERO

Key Themes: Scottish historical romance, adventure stories, strong women, knight in shining armor, French hero, Highland romance, medieval castles, sisters, mistaken identity, disabled character, stories with humor

More Historical Romances by Glynnis Campbell

The Warrior Maids of Rivenloch
THE SHIPWRECK (a novella)
A YULETIDE KISS (a short story)
LADY DANGER
CAPTIVE HEART
KNIGHT'S PRIZE

The Knights of de Ware
THE HANDFASTING (a novella)
MY CHAMPION
MY WARRIOR
MY HERO

Medieval Outlaws
THE REIVER (a novella)
DANGER'S KISS
PASSION'S EXILE
DESIRE'S RANSOM

Scottish Lasses
THE OUTCAST (a novella)
MacFARLAND'S LASS
MacADAM'S LASS
MacKENZIE'S LASS

California Legends
NATIVE GOLD
NATIVE WOLF
NATIVE HAWK

Release date: December 8, 2015

Publisher: Glynnis Campbell

Print pages: 152

Sample

THE HIGHLANDS
YULETIDE 1199

"And thereto I pledge ye my troth."

Ysenda gulped. That hadn't been so difficult. And yet those simple words held such great weight.

His voice sounded much surer than hers. "I, Sir Noёl de Ware, take ye, Lady Cathalin ingen Gille, Maid o' Rivenloch, as my bride—"

"To my wedded wife," she corrected in a murmur.

"To my wedded wife...till death...comes..."

She fought back a giggle. "Till death parts ye and me."

"Till death parts ye and me..."

"And thereto I pledge ye my troth," she prompted.

"Aye," he said, finishing with a triumphant smile. "And thereto I pledge ye my troth."

"'Tis done then," her father said in satisfaction, clapping the matter from his hands.

Ysenda hardly heard him. Her attention was riveted on the man before her—the man who had somehow, improbably, just become her husband. A warm twinkle glimmered in his eyes. His smile was captivating. And the thumb he stroked softly over the top of their joined hands sent a curious tingle through her veins.

The laird raised a cup of ale in salute, and the clan followed with cheers.

But Noёl wasn't finished. He held his hand out to the man on his left, who placed a gold ring in his palm. Unwinding the handfasting ribbon to free her hand, Noёl then gently slipped the ring onto Ysenda's third finger.

She stared down at it. It was heavy, carved with the figure of a wolf's head.

"'Tis the great Wolf o' de Ware," he told her.

She bit her lip, troubled by its scowling face. The ring was loose on her finger. She hoped that it wouldn't slip off, that she wouldn't lose it, for it rightfully belonged to Cathalin.

He bent his head down to murmur, "I vow, my lady, from this time forward, ye shall have the protection o' the Wolf."

For one foolish moment, she wished that could be true. She wouldn't mind having an army of fierce wolfish knights at her beck and call.

She gave him a faltering smile, which he returned with a wide grin that made her heart skip. But this was Cathalin's husband, not hers. And part of her burned with envy at that truth.

He was still clasping the fingers of her right hand when he lifted his left hand to cup her cheek. He tipped her head up, commanding her gaze. His dark eyes sparked at her like a smoldering coal. She had trouble drawing breath. His thumb brushed at the corner of her mouth, coaxing her lips apart. In a sensual daze, she let her jaw relax as her eyes lowered to his tempting mouth.

He was going to kiss her.

Cathalin's bridegroom was going to kiss HER.

She should have stopped him. But she had to play out this fiction, for her brother's sake.

At least that was what she told herself as he closed the distance.

But it wasn't completely true.

She wanted to see what it felt like to kiss a man. And she wanted to pretend, even if only for a moment, that she was just as worthy and desirable as her sister.

When he touched his lips to hers, the cheering clan seemed to fade away. There were only the two of them, connected by their joined hands and their searching mouths. Her eyes fell closed. His light breath upon her cheek sent a current of pleasure rippling through her.

And then he leaned closer, increasing the sweet pressure.

She expected, by his formidable appearance, that his kiss would be rough and aggressive. But the warrior somehow reined in his strength. His lips were soft, tender, and deft. His fingertips gently caressed the sensitive flesh beneath her ear, making her shiver.

As he kissed her, he entwined the fingers of his right hand with hers and drew her closer, until their tangled hands formed a lover's knot between their hearts. Ysenda felt like warm candle wax, melting into him. Her heart beat forcefully against her ribs. A quiet, joyful moan sounded in her throat as he inclined his head to deepen the kiss.