Eleanor MacRead, common peasant girl, never expected to be chosen to serve as lady-in-waiting to the Queen of England. Her months of servitude in the palace are initially uneventful, aside from the occasional courtly catfight or Viking raid. She certainly never expected to meet the dashing—and dangerous—Sir Robert. Soon, the two become embroiled in a tangled web of love, lies, and diplomatic intrigue. Is Sir Robert the knight that Eleanor’s been dreaming of, or the night that will ruin her family’s name forever?
Intrepid cultural correspondent Effie Shins-Fyve has procured this exclusive excerpt from electrifying female author Diane Tress’ (Breathless Knight, Love by the Sword, Faithlessly Yours) sweeping period novel Gorgeous Knight.
Chapter 62
Revelations
Eleanor cast the parchment into the fire, tears streaming down her cheeks. Could it be true? Had Sir Robert been unfaithful all along? Watching the edges of the paper curl and split in the flames, she couldn’t help but think of that first night in the dungeon—the night he’d sworn fidelity unto death. What could she believe besides his word?
Fresh tears sprung to her eyes, blurring the chamber into an indiscriminate blend of color and light. She simply stood in front of the roaring fire, musing on her lost love.
Suddenly, Eleanor perceived another figure looming in the room. Snatching up the iron poker and whirling round, she found herself face-to-face with the last man she ever wanted to see.
“Robert! How dare you enter my lady’s chamber!” she cried, brandishing the poker in his stunningly attractive face. Robert simply tossed his golden locks, raising his chiseled jaw to look down at her sardonically. His dazzling blue eyes glistened in the firelight. Could this be the face of vice and treachery?
“Eleanor, I’ve come to explain myself,” he said in a deep, manly voice. “Only give me the chance.”
“I give no chances to traitors,” Eleanor said, tossing her own chestnut locks defiantly. “I’ve read your account—you’ve been lying from the moment that we met.”
Robert put his large, work-calloused hands up in defense. “It is true, Eleanor,” he said. “I did not mention that I have a wife and twenty-five children—”
“Wait, what?”
“Oh, is that—was that not what you—what exactly were you referring to?”
“You have how many children?!?”
“I thought that’s what you were referencing with the whole you’ve been lying from the moment we met thing. Are we not on the same page?”
“No! Absolutely not! I was talking about this letter revealing your mercenary connections to the invading Visigoth army!”
“Ah. I see.”
“. . . ”
“. . . ”
“. . . ”
“Well, this is awkward. I truly was under the impression that you had found out about my secret family. I’m really sorry. Anyway, Galahad roasted a pig in the mead hall, so if you’re interested—”
“. . . ”
“Well, anyway, I’ll be there. So…see you later, I guess.”
LOLOLOLOLOL Excellent plot twist. 5 stars!