Blurb:
Forced by his father into a marriage he
didn’t want, Prince Alan soon finds that his bride isn’t the sweet, submissive
creature he expected. Morgane has the
heart of a dragon and beauty beyond compare, but she isn’t thrilled about the
marriage either. When black treachery
threatens the kingdom, Morgane and Alan embark on a perilous journey that has
an excellent chance of ending in failure and death for them and all of their
people.
Excerpt:
King Bowdyn sprang from his throne and paced around the room
like a crazed tiger. "Perhaps you did not understand me, Alan," he
snarled. His hands clenched into fists held rigidly to his sides. "This is
not a request, but a command. You will marry Lady Maybina before the next full
moon has passed."
Alan dared not raise his eyes from the floor. "Father,
I do not…"
"Silence!" the king roared. "I have respected
your wishes for three years now, but my patience is at an end. You will wed
Lady Maybina as I have commanded."
"Father, having married once for love, I have no desire
to marry a woman whom I have never met! Can you not understand? Think of the
love you share with my mother. Is it so bad that I desire the same kind of
relationship?"
The king's face turned purple, but he took a deep breath and
returned to sit upon his huge, jewel encrusted throne. He wiped his face with a
lace-trimmed handkerchief. "I have never understood you. You insisted on
marrying a commoner—a nobody—and now that death has released you from your
vows, you refuse to marry a woman of your own station."
Alan's heart thudded in his chest. How far could he push his
father? With Bowdyn one could never be sure. "I am sorry to disappoint
you."
"The kingdom needs heirs. The wedding will proceed as I
have planned."
I'm intrigued (and somewhat appalled) by the whole idea of arranged marriages...what great stories they make, though.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing....
Here's MY SWEET SATURDAY SAMPLE
I' m appalled in the real world myself.
ReplyDeleteWhoa! I hope this scenario ends well! Great scene, Elaine.
ReplyDeleteGreat scene! Looking forward to more!!
ReplyDeleteVery intense scene! I hope that Alan is at least able to grow to love his bride, if the marriage must go through.
ReplyDeleteA very passionate excerpt. Great scene.
ReplyDeletethis reminds me of how much I would NOT want to have lived under such social restraints.
ReplyDeleteImagine being forced to marry a stranger just because the "boss" (of your family or kingdom) says so.