In The King's Service

In The King's Service
Margaret Moore

'Twas Said He Could Whisper A Woman To Bed……and now Sir Blaidd Morgan had turned his considerable charms on Lady Becca Throckton. But could she trust his intent? A childhood injury had made her fit to be no man's bride, and yet the Welsh warrior made her feel she'd a right to her woman's heart!The Lady Becca surprised him, and that was rare, Sir Blaidd mused. Indeed, she had a fire that stirred him in unexpected ways. Though he could ill afford a dalliance on this secret mission for his king, he found himself entranced. Surely this was no mere idyll. Nay, this had the feel of forever…!

“Far be it from me to disappoint a lady—in anything.”

He strode toward her, reached out, took her hand and lifted it to his lips. He pressed a gentle kiss upon her knuckles, then raised his eyes to regard her. “You, my lady, are the most surprising young woman I have ever met.”

Her cheeks flushing, she tugged her hand away. “Hardly a compliment, sir knight. I’m not impressed.”

He lifted the corners of his mouth in the sort of lazy smile he gave a woman after they had made love. “I assure you, a man likes to be surprised by a woman, and a truly surprising woman is a very rare creature.”

For the briefest of moments her eyes widened with shock, and he wanted to shout with triumph.

But then her eyes flashed with scornful fire. “Creatures?” she demanded. “Is that what women are to you—creatures?”

In the King’s Service

Harlequin Historical #675

Praise for USA TODAY bestselling author MARGARET MOORE’S titles

The Overlord’s Bride

“Ms. Moore is a master of the medieval time period.”

—Romantic Times

The Duke’s Desire

“This novel is in true Moore style—sweet, poignant and funny.”

—Halifax Chronicle-Herald

A Warrior’s Kiss

“Margaret Moore remains consistently innovative, matching an ending of romantic perfection to the rest of this highly entertaining read.”

—Romantic Times

In the King’s Service

Margaret Moore

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

With many thanks to the astute and delightful Melissa Endlich.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter One

Sir Blaidd Morgan, knight of the realm, trusted friend of Henry III, champion of tournaments and reputedly able to whisper a woman into his bed, drew his horse to a halt and wiped his nose with the back of his gloved hand. Water dripped from the soaked hood of his woolen cloak, and his boots were spattered with mud. The scent of damp leaves arose from the wood on his left; on his right, some cows stood in a meadow beneath the shelter of an oak, looking as miserable as he felt. At least now, through the teeming downpour, he could make out a village and a castle just beyond.

“That has to be Throckton Castle, thank God,” he said to his equally drenched squire. “I was beginning to fear that we’d taken the wrong fork a few miles back and would have to bed down in the forest for the night.”

His squire pulled the hood of his cloak farther over his head. “I thought you Welsh were used to the rain.”

“Used to it, aye, Trev, I am, and because of your father’s ideas about training, too. But that doesn’t mean I like it.”

Blaidd and Trevelyan Fitzroy’s fathers were old friends, and Trev’s father, Sir Urien, had trained Blaidd in the arts of war, which included drilling in all kinds of weather.