If Love Dares Enough (27 page)

She had fallen back against the chair, and her eyes had glazed over. “Antoine,” she whispered. “Taste me.”

Now he had a dilemma. If he wasn’t careful he would spill his seed in his hose—not the first impression of his manhood he wanted to convey. He took a deep breath. “If I place my lips to your breast, I fear my shaft will be unable to control itself,” he growled.

She opened her eyes, glanced at his groin and smiled. “It doesn’t have to.”

He leaned forward and gently kissed each nipple in turn.

“
Mon Dieu
, Antoine, you cause needs to rise in me that I’ve never felt before,” she whispered, writhing in the chair.

“I would alleviate those needs, Sybilla, but after the babe, are you yet able—?”

“I’m able—willing and able.”

Gently, he drew her up from the chair and pulled her to his body. She ground her womanhood against his swollen phallus. “We must go slowly, for your first time,” he said with a smile. “I have the perfect method. Come.”

***

“Devona,” Hugh said shyly as he and his wife lay skin to skin on their wedding night. “You know I’m not an expert with women.”

“Hugh, your lovemaking is the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me. I don’t need you to be an expert. We will learn together how to please each other. You’ve only to look at me and I’m aroused.”

Hugh brought his mouth to hers and she opened for him, her body tingled with renewed need.

“I want you again,” he whispered. “You make me insatiable. Do you want to try something else? It’s a way of making love that Antoine—”

“You asked Antoine?” she asked with a smile. She could feel her face redden and saw that he was blushing too.

“He’s my brother. Brothers tell each other things,” he laughed. “Remember, I told you about it before? He says it takes some practice, but is worth it—especially for the woman, and I want you to have as much pleasure as I can give you.”

He turned Devona onto her back and spread her legs gently. It amazed her that she felt no embarrassment as this handsome man’s beautiful blue eyes gazed at her most intimate places.

“Bend your knees, my love,” he whispered.

Using his arms to support his upper body he entered her slowly, keeping his legs together. “You are so warm and wet.”

The urge was to thrust against him, but he whispered, “
Non
, keep still—as still as you can.”

He lowered all his weight on her, and then cupped her shoulders. He pulled his body up along hers, nestling his face against her neck. The head of his manhood remained inside her, but now his shaft lay against her quivering bud.

“Hugh,” she gasped as exquisite sensations coursed through her.

“Wrap your ankles around my calves,” he murmured.

The warmth of his breath tickled her ear and she felt a shiver of molten heat surge from her neck all the way to her toes.

“Rock your hips away from me, just a bit, so I stay inside you, but my shaft will pleasure your secret woman’s place.”

A moan of delight escaped her lips as Hugh’s manhood stroked her, then he moved his whole body lower and entered her fully again.

“Rock again,” he choked.

It took a few attempts to get the rhythm right but then they found it. He moved his hips up as she tipped down and then down as she tilted up.

“Antoine says the secret is to go slowly,” he whispered. “Do you like it?”

“Hugh,” she murmured, “It’s sweet torture.”

Soon the gentle rocking had her screaming out her fulfillment and she felt Hugh’s seed rush into her body.

“You must thank Antoine,” she gasped when she was once more capable of coherent thought. “But don’t tell him I said so!”

“I take it you liked it, my lady wife?” he teased, as he rolled away from her.

“It was wonderful. We barely moved and yet I’m exhausted.”

“Sleep then my beautiful Devona de Montbryce.”

He turned her onto her side and curled his body against her back.

“I feel so safe with you. I love you with all my heart,” she whispered.

“I love you too. You’ll always be safe with me. You know, my brother Ram is fond of boasting that he’s a most unusual nobleman because he’s in love with his wife Mabelle. Now Antoine and I are smitten. I was right! It’s a family curse.”

“It’s ironic,” Antoine complained. “Two pregnant women and I’m the only one retching into the sea.”

“You’re right, husband,” Sybilla replied, wiping Antoine’s brow. “This is the first time I haven’t felt nauseous in three months.”

“Same for me,” Devona said with a smile.

“Not to worry, Antoine, we’ll soon be ashore in England,” Hugh said, slapping him on the back and giving his shoulder a brotherly squeeze.

“Your hand no longer trembles,” Antoine remarked.

Hugh smiled at Devona. “
Non
, the tremor has gone.”

Antoine looked at Sybilla, already showing signs of carrying his babe, and said to Hugh. “The power of love. Isn’t it amazing?”

Hugh nodded and tightened his grip around Devona’s waist, putting his hand protectively on her belly. They all watched in silence as the cliffs came into view. “I’m anxious to see East Preston,” Antoine enthused. “Barat assures me it’s in much better shape.”

Hugh laughed. “I hope so. You cannot take Sybilla and little Denis to a rat infested ruin. If it’s not ready you can stay at Melton with us.” He glanced over at Devona, seeking her agreement. She was close to tears as the men brought the longboat ashore on the south coast of England.

He lifted her down to the beach. “I thought I’d never return to my homeland,” she murmured. “It will be good to see my mother and sisters again. Although it’s only a month since they went home, I’ve missed them.”

Hugh put his arm around his wife’s waist. “Your grandfather will be waiting anxiously, not to mention Boden and Brigantia.”

Devona rested her head on her husband’s shoulder and watched as the horses were unloaded. When all was ready for the ride to Sussex, she turned to look at Antoine standing next to Hugh. Her brother-by-marriage had one arm draped protectively around his wife and in the other he held Denis. His cloak protected his family from the brisk sea breeze. She looked up at Hugh and her smile told him they were both thinking the same thing.

He pulled her closer. “I don’t think you’re the only Lady Montbryce who’ll be rocked to sleep this night,” he whispered.

Devona’s face reddened as she turned to Sybilla with a broad smile and said, “Welcome to my homeland, sister.”

Thank you for reading
If Love Dares Enough
. If you enjoyed this book, I would appreciate your help in having others enjoy it too.

Recommend it
to friends, readers’ groups and discussion boards.

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Review it.
  Please tell other readers why you liked this book by reviewing it at the following websites: Amazon and Goodreads.  If you do publish a review, send an email to anna at annamarkland dot com, so I can thank you personally. Some readers have kindly told me they couldn’t put my books down, often reading until well past their bedtime. My goal in a nutshell!

If you’d like to know more about Hugh and Antoine’s role in the Norman Conquest, or how Ram de Montbryce and his wife, Mabelle, met (non too auspiciously), read
Conquering Passion
, Book I of
The Montbryce Legacy
.

You’ll discover things about Ram de Montbryce in Book I that will lead you to read Book II of The Legacy,
A Man of Value
(don’t want to say too much and spoil it for my readers!)

If you’d like to follow Robert and Baudoin, the next generation of Montbryces, read
Passion in the Blood
, Book IV of the Legacy.

A complete glossary for Ms. Markland’s novels.

CP=
Conquering Passion
(Montbryce Legacy, Book I) © Anna Markland 2011
AMOV=
A Man of Value
(Montbryce Legacy, Book II) © Anna Markland 2011
ILDE=
If Love Dares Enough
(Montbryce Legacy, Book III) © Anna Markland 2012
PIB=
Passion in the Blood
(Montbryce Legacy, Book IV) © Anna Markland 2012
DP=
Defiant Passion
(Sons of Rhodri, Book I) © Anna Markland 2012
DB=
Dark and Bright
(Sons of Rhodri, Book II) © Anna Markland 2012
WTH=The Winds of the Heavens (Sons of Rhodri, Book III) © Anna Markland 2012
CA=
Carried Away
(FitzRam Family, Book I) © Anna Markland 2012
Abbaye aux Dames
—An abbey for women built in Caen by William the Conqueror ILDE, PIB
Abbaye aux Hommes
—An abbey for men built in Caen by William the Conqueror ILDE, PIB
Abbey
—Agneta’s mare in AMOV
Abbot
—Caedmon’s roan stallion in AMOV

Adam de Montbryce
—Son of Antoine and Sybilla PIB
Adelaide
—Daughter of King Henry I CA
Aediva Melton
—Sister of the Saxon heroine in ILDE
Agnes
—Norman Scullery maid at Domfort Castle in ILDE
Agneta Kirkthwaite
—English Heroine of Danish and Saxon descent in AMOV
Aidan Branton FitzRam
—Son of Caedmon and Agneta, twin of Blythe; named for Agneta’s brothers who were slain at Bolton. AMOV, CA
Alexandre de Montbryce
—Eldest son of Robert and Dorianne. Heir to the title Comte de Montbryce. Born in Caen during his father’s incarceration PIB
Alnwick
—Located in Northumbria. Site of a battle in 1093 between Roger de Mowbray, Earl of Northumbria, and Malcolm, King of Scotland. Malcolm and his son were killed. Agneta rescues Caedmon from the battlefield and tends his injuries. AMOV
Andras ap Rhys
—Welshman—Friend and comrade of Rhodri ap Owain in CP and DP
Aneurin ap Norweg
—Welshman—Friend and comrade of Rhodri ap Owain in CP and DP
Angeline Hugo
—Norman peasant, rape victim of Arnulf de Valtesse CP
Anjou
—Geographic area of France south of Normandy. Its people are called Angevins. Normans and Angevins were traditional enemies. ILDE
Annalise de Vymont
—Heroine of DB. Niece of the Earl of Chester.
Antoine de Montbryce
—Norman hero of ILDE; brother of Rambaud and Hugh
ap Owain
—Welsh patronymic—son of Owain
Arnulf de Valtesse
—Norman half brother of Mabelle de Montbryce, heroine of CP. Bastard son of Guillaume de Valtesse. Murdered in CP by Simon Hugo
Ascha (Bronson) Woolgar
—Saxon mother of Caedmon; in CP and AMOV
Barat Cormant
—Norman steward brought to England by the Montbryces for Sussex properties; ILDE; son of Michel, brother of Théo.
Baudoin de Montbryce
—Norman born in England; second son of Ram and Mabelle de Montbryce; becomes 2nd Earl of Ellesmere; marries Carys verch Rhodri; appears in CP, AMOV, DP and PIB.
Bemia Melton
—Saxon sister of heroine of ILDE
Bernard Chauvelin
—Norman soldier at Montbryce Castle PIB
Bernard de Montbryce
—Father of Ram, Antoine and Hugh. Dies in 1066 while his sons are fighting in England.
Bileaud
—Norman steward at Domfort Castle ILDE
Blythe Lacey FitzRam
—Daughter of Caedmon and Agneta, twin of Aidan. Born in AMOV. Heroine of CA
Boden
—English mastiff in ILDE
Bolton
—Village in Northumbria; location of Kirkthwaite Hall
Bonhomme
—Normans; family name of the stewards of Montbryce and Ellesmere.
Brigantia
—English mastiff in ILDE
Brindis
—Horse belonging to Ram de Montbryce in CP
Caedmon Brice (Woolgar) FitzRam
—Illegitimate son of Ram de Montbryce and Ascha Woolgar. Appears in CP, PIB & CA; hero of AMOV
Caryl Penarth
—Welsh healer; appears in CP and DP
Carys verch Rhodri
—Welsh; healer; daughter of Rhodri and wife of Baudoin de Montbryce. Becomes 2nd Countess of Ellesmere. Appears in PIB, DP and DB
Catherine de Montbryce
—Daughter of Robert and Dorianne PIB
Commote
—A Welsh area of administration, similar to a county.
Cormant
—Normans; family name of stewards at Alensonne in CP and at East Preston in ILDE
Coventina Brightmore
—Saxon; friend of hero and heroine in AMOV; marries Leofric Deacon
Curia regis
—Latin for King’s Court ILDE
Dda
—Welsh surname of Rhonwen and Myfanwy; CP and DP and DB
de Valtesse
—Maiden surname of heroine of CP
Denis de Sancerre
—Angevin; son of Sybilla and adopted son of Antoine de Montbryce; dwarf ILDE & PIB
Devona Melton
—Saxon; heroine of ILDE; marries Hugh de Montbryce
Dieter Von Wolfenberg
—German hero of CA; married Blythe FitzRam
Dorianne de Giroux
—Norman heroine of PIB; marries Robert de Montbryce
Earl of Chester
—Hugh d’Avranches. Historical figure. Known by the Welsh as Hugh Vras (the Fat) PIB, DB
Edgar the Aetheling
—Saxon; historical figure. Claimant to throne of England taken by William the Conqueror. Aetheling is a Saxon term for “next in line”; appears in CP and AMOV
Edwin FitzRam
—English; brother of Blythe, Aidan and Ragna; son of Caedmon and Agneta
Elenor de Giroux
—Norman; mother of Dorianne de Giroux; wife of Francois. PIB
Ellesmere
—Location of castle given to Ram as a reward by William the Conqueror. Ram and Mabelle eventually turn a derelict Anglo-Saxon earthwork into a vibrant, thriving castle.
Emrys
—Cook at llys Powwydd. DB
Enid
—Saxon maid of Ascha Woolgar. CP & AMOV
Espérance
—Cat who brings solace to Robert de Montbryce during his solitary confinement. The word means ‘hope’. PIB
Etienne Robert de Montbryce
—Second son of Baudoin and Carys; DB
Fernand Bonhomme
—Norman; second generation of his family to be steward of Montbryce Castle. Father of Mathieu and Honore. Married to Vangeline.
FitzRam
—Norman patronymic surname bestowed on Caedmon by Ram. AMOV
Fleurie Mabelle de Montbryce
—Daughter of Baudoin and Carys. Her mother almost dies giving birth to her. DB
Fortis
—Black stallion; Ram’s favourite mount; saves his life at Hastings CP
François de Giroux
—Norman father of Dorianne and Pierre de Giroux PIB; sworn enemy of the Montbryces ILDE
Gallien Rambaud de Montbryce
—Eldest son of Baudoin and Carys DB
Gareth Bronson
—Saxon brother of Ascha Woolgar; takes Ascha to Scotland. CP & AMOV
Gawain Bronson
—Saxon nephew of Ascha Woolgar; CP & AMOV
Gervais
—Norman soldier; Ram’s second in command; CP & DP
Gerwint Isembart de Montbryce (Izzy)
—Second son of Hugh and Devona. Named for his grandfather and great grandfather, and the rat catcher, Joubert. Prefers to be called Izzy.PIB
Gerwint Melton
—ILDE Saxon grandfather of heroine
Gicotte
—Norman soldier at Montbryce Castle; PIB
Giroux
—Norman surname of the family sworn to avenge Guillaume de Valtesse's cruelty to their ancestor; CP, ILDE & PIB
Giselle
—Norman maidservant who accompanies Mabelle to England and becomes chatelaine of Ellesmere; kidnapped with Mabelle; CP
Glain verch Llewelyn
—Welsh bonesetter in DB
Guillaume de Valtesse
—Norman father of Mabelle; his cruelty begins the feud between the Valtesses and the Giroux family; CP
Hastings
—Site in Southern England of a historic battle in 1066 that changed the history of England and Normandy CP
Heinrich
—Historical figure; Holy Roman Emperor; CA
Hélène de Fleury
—Norman wife of friend of Montbryce brothers killed at Hastings. CP
Hugh de Montbryce
—Norman-virgin hero of ILDE; brother of Antoine and Ram CP, PIB
Hylda
—Christian name of Mabelle’s mother, purported to have been strangled by her husband, Mabelle’s father.
Hylda Rhonwen de Montbryce (Rhoni)
—Daughter of Ram and Mabelle born in captivity in Wales; CP, AMOV
Isembart Joubert
—Rat catcher from Montbryce; instrumental in saving the lives of Hugh and Devona; ILDE
Isolda verch Llewelyn
—Welsh healer, heroine of WTH
Joleyne
—Norman mistress of Ram de Montbryce before he meets Mabelle; CP
King Harald Hardråda of Norway
—Historical figure; pretender to the English throne; killed by King Harold’s army at Stamford Bridge; CP
King Harold II of England
—Historical figure; Saxon brother-in-law of Edward the Confessor. Claimed the throne on Edward’s death; slain at Hastings by the Conqueror’s army; CP
King Henry I
—Norman king of England; son of William the Conqueror; known as Henry Beauclerc; succeeded his brother William Rufus on the throne. Historical figure; PIB
King Malcolm Canmore of Scotland
—Historical figure. CP & AMOV
King William I of England
—William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandie. CP, ILDE; historical figure
King William Rufus
—William II of England; son of the Conqueror; AMOV; historical figure
Kirkthwaite
—Surname of Agneta’s family AMOV
Kirkthwaite Hall
—Ancestral home of Agneta’s family, destroyed in a raid by the Scots AMOV
Köln
—German (Saxon) town, known as Cologne in English; CA
La Cuisinière
—Legendary Norman cook at Montbryce Castle; her name simply means ‘The Cook’ CP
Lande Pourri
—A wooded area outside Caen PIB
Leofric Deacon
—Saxon friend of Caedmon AMOV; badly injured at Alnwick; marries Coventina Brightmore
Llys
(plural Llysoed)—A building that served as a royal court for a commote in Wales. Stone castles were virtually unknown in England and Wales before the Conquest
Lothar von
Süpplingenburg
—
Saxon Duke who became Holy Roman Emperor CA
Mabelle de Montbryce
—Norman heroine of CP; wife of Ram de Montbryce; Countess of Ellesmere and Comtesse de Montbryce; AMOV, PIB, DP
Mabelle de Valtesse
—Maiden name of Mabelle de Montbryce; CP, AMOV, PIB, DP
Margaret, Queen of Scotland
(Saint Margaret)—AMOV, CP; historical figure known for her piety; Saxon; second wife of King Malcolm Canmore; sister of Edgar Aetheling.
Marguerite de Montbryce
—Daughter of Robert and Dorianne
Martin Bonhomme
—Norman steward at Ellesmere; son of Mathieu
Mathieu Bonhomme
—Son of Fernand; goes to England to be steward at Ellesmere, father of Martin Bonhomme
Mathieu de Montbryce
—Son of Antoine and Sybilla. PIB
Melton Bernard de Montbryce
—Eldest son of Hugh and Devona; named for Devona’s family name and Hugh’s father. PIB
Michel Cormant
—Norman steward at Alensonne; father of Barat, Theo and Paul; CP
Montbryce
—Noble Norman family at the heart of the Legacy
Mont St. Michel—
Abbey church of Carolingian origin built on an island off the French coast.
Morwenna verch Morgan
—Welsh; betrothed to Rhodri; villain; mistress of Phillippe de Giroux; CP, DP
Myfanwy Dda
—Welsh mother of Rhonwen; healer; murdered by Phillippe de Giroux; CP, DP
Myfanwy Mabelle verch Rhodri
—Eldest child of Rhodri and Rhonwen; becomes a Prioress. DP, DB
Neuadd
—The communal great hall in Welsh buildings
Northumbria
—North east part of England; site of constant conflict between Scots and Normans.
Oda
—maidservant to Sybilla ILDE
Paul Cormant
—Norman steward (Alensonne)
Phillippe de Giroux
—Norman villain; CP, DP, PIB
Pierre de Fleury
—Norman soldier; friend of the Montbryce brothers; killed at Hastings; CP
Pierre de Giroux
—Norman villain PIB; brother of heroine, Dorianne
Ragna FitzRam
—English daughter of Caedmon and Agneta; holy terror; becomes known as The Wild Viking Princess.
Rambaud (Ram) de Montbryce
—Norman nobleman; hero of Hastings; confidant to William the Conqueror. First Earl of Ellesmere;
Comte
de Montbryce; eldest son of Bernard de Montbryce, brother to Antoine and Hugh. Hero of CP. AMOV, PIB & DP
Regis
—Antoine’s stallion ILDE
Renouf de Maubadon
—Norman (Angevin) villain of PIB
Rhodri ap Owain
—Welsh villain turned hero. CP, AMOV, DP
Rhonwen Dda
—Welsh/Saxon heroine DP. Healer CP
Rhun ap Rhodri
—Welsh patriot; son of Rhodri. Twin of Rhydderch. Redhead. DB, hero of WTH
Rhydderch ap Rhodri
—Welsh patriot; son of Rhodri and Rhonwen. Redhead. Twin of Rhun. DB, hero of WTH
Rhys ap Rhodri
—Eldest son of Rhodri; hero of DB. Appears in AMOV
Robert Curthose
—Son of William the Conqueror; became Duke of Normandie on his father’s death; coveted his brother Henry’s throne; captured by Henry at Tinchebray and imprisoned for the remainder of his life. PIB
Robert de Montbryce
—Eldest son of Ram and Mabelle; born in England. Becomes
Comte
de Montbryce. CP, AMOV, DP; hero of PIB
Ruyton
—Location of Shelfhoc Hall
Shelfhoc Hall
—Ancestral home of the Woolgars in Ruyton, Shropshire, England.
Sibell
—Mabelle’s mare in CP
Simon Hugo
—Norman serf at Alensonne who murders Arnulf de Valtesse to avenge his daughter. CP
Stephen Marquand
—ILDE Norman neighbour of Meltons
Sybilla de Taloche
—ILDE; heroine; Angevin; widow of Denis de Sancerre, mother of the dwarf, Denis de Sancerre. Marries Antoine de Montbryce
Théobald Cormant
—Norman steward; brother of Barat
Torod
—Norman villain; thug, henchman of Renouf ILDE
Trésor
—Cook at Ellesmere. The French word means ‘treasure’.CP
Tristan Bonhomme
—Son of Honoré; steward at Montbryce
Tybaut
—AMOV; steward at Shelfhoc Hall; Norman
Vangeline Bonhomme
—Wife of Fernand; dies in 1066; CP
Velox
—Hugh’s stallion in ILDE
Victoire
—Cook at Domfort Castle; ILDE
Wilona Melton
—Saxon mother of Devona, heroine of ILDE
Woolgar
—Married name of Ascha Bronson, widow of Sir Caedmon Woolgar, a housecarl of King Harold who died at Hastings; CP, AMOV
Wyvern
—Caedmon’s horse; saves his life at Alnwick. AMOV