Sweet Saturday Samples

Welcome back to Sweet Saturday Samples! Here's another excerpt from my sweet medieval romance, Illuminations of the Heart (rating PG). My hero, Triston, has a rival for Siri's affections. Read on to make his further acquaintance. (Yes, he appeared briefly in one of my excerpts before.)

Raynor pressed a hand to his chest. “Carissima, you wrong me. It was for you alone that this poor heart of mine kept beating while my life otherwise threatened to flow away. Send me away from the bright beam of your smile and I shall dwindle and waste like a rose in the merciless snows of winter.”

“Don’t be absurd,” she said. “You cannot stay here any longer. I do not think I can keep you safe of Triston’s temper.”

“Sooner would I take that risk than lose the sweet light of your face. Carissima.” 

He held out his hands. She did not know why, but she put her own in his. There was no laughter now in his eyes, but an earnest glow that startled her. 

“You are the breath of my life. I knew from the first hour I saw you, when I unveiled your face on that dusty road, that I should never rest until I could hold you in my arms and speak to you every inadequate word of love from my soul. I will cherish you forever. Please—” he bowed his head and kissed her hands “—come with me to Belle Noir.”

He sounded more fervent than she had ever heard him before. But…

“Come with you?”

He raised his head and his mouth lifted in the depths of his beard. “It is customary for a wife to reside in her husband’s home.”

“You mean marry you? Truly?”

His smile grew rueful. “This shock of yours does not please me, carissima. Have I been so clumsy in my praises that you did not realize how deeply I am in love with you?”

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And if you'd like to help me celebrate the upcoming release of my next medieval romance, Dangerous Favor, click here. There's chocolate involved if you do. ;-)