Dragon's Dower

Dragon's Dower
Catherine Archer

Simon Warleigh and his brothers-in-arms had sworn to avenge the murder of their beloved foster father, the Dragon. But upon Simon's return from the Holy Land, the brave knight was falsely accused of treason and stripped of his lands.His only chance to recover his beloved Avington was to marry the daughter of the very man he had vowed to bring to justice!Simon was quickly wed to the beautiful Lady Isabelle, with her mesmerizing violet eyes and a demeanor as cold as the chapel statues. Yet there were glimpses of the fire burning beneath Isabelle's cool exterior. And soon thoughts of revenge turned to thoughts of love as Simon yearned to melt the ice maiden into a woman of flesh and blood.

“My lord Warleigh, I am not prepared to receive you at this time.”

“Not prepared to receive me? You can not have forgotten that we share this chamber.”

“I have not forgotten. You may come back after my maid has prepared your bed.”

Simon scowled, then shook his head. “Nay, ’twill not serve. This is my chamber and you are my wife. It is not improper for me to be alone with you.” He stepped before her, perusing her slowly. “To do anything I wish with you.”

She sucked in a deep breath, as a rush of something dark and unknown raced through her. Desperately she fought for control at her reaction to him.

“I would not say that you may do as you wish with me, my lord. Wed though we may be, it is not a real marriage.”

“Do I detect a note of disappointment, Isabelle?”

Praise for Catherine Archer’s previous works

Summer’s Bride

“A delightful read!”

—Romance Reviews Today

Winter’s Bride

“…a pleasurable medieval romance with conventional characters and a tried-and-true plot.”

—Romantic Times Magazine

Fire Song

“This finely crafted medieval romance…(is) a tale to savor.”

—Romantic Times Magazine

Lord Sin

“…deftly done and sure to please.”

—Romantic Times Magazine

#591 MY LADY’S TRUST

Julia Justiss

#592 CALL OF THE WHITE WOLF

Carol Finch

#594 GOLD RUSH BRIDE

Debra Lee Brown

Dragon’s Dower

Catherine Archer

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

Available from Harlequin Historicals and

CATHERINE ARCHER

Rose Among Thorns #136

** (#litres_trial_promo)Velvet Bond #282

** (#litres_trial_promo)Velvet Touch #322

Lady Thorn #353

Lord Sin #379

Fire Song #426

* (#litres_trial_promo)Winter’s Bride #477

* (#litres_trial_promo)The Bride of Spring #514

* (#litres_trial_promo)Summer’s Bride #544

* (#litres_trial_promo)Autumn’s Bride #582

† (#litres_trial_promo)Dragon’s Dower #593

To my sisters-in-law, Edie, Iris, Lillian and Bev, for their continued interest and support of my writing for all these years. Thank you.

Contents

Prologue (#u46ba24f4-b601-5727-909f-069e1d207d47)

Chapter One (#u39f97629-81ac-51ac-b3c9-fe0879379e2f)

Chapter Two (#uc21d9b79-1434-5f3a-a8d4-faa047a6433e)

Chapter Three (#u0fba57b9-da13-554b-ac9a-c3595a549456)