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PROLOGUE

England, 1126

“I cannot wed him!”

Allegra, Lady of Cleonis and Fir theers “’Tis you I love! Only you!”

He smoothed a hand down the side of her face even as pain thru wills And you know that I cannot ith you, for I am promised to another ”

Tears glistened in her eyes and he thumbed one away, then reached to hold her hands with both of his own He blinked furiously, squeezing his eyes closed, trying to force the pain away from his head, but it would not abate

He e that ca, broken, on the ground beneath the tower It had happened long ago, and there was naught he could do to save them—then or now

“What shall happen when I couple with him? There will be no maidenhead to breach, and Lord Merle is like to kill ra’s tears fell freely now, and her voice held a clear strain of panic

He strove to clear hisFor if he did not have relief, he would go mad Mayhap he already was

“I shall send to your ’s bladder filled with blood You will hide it under your pillow, and when you couple with your new husband, you htened his fingers around her wrists, ignoring her gasp of pain “And when he sleeps anon, you will break that bladder of blood and shs, and on the bed sheets And Lord Merle will be none the wiser ”

Allegra’s blue eyes pooled with tears and grief “Aye And then I shall be ith a man I do not love, whilst I carry the babe of the man I do ”

~ Part I ~

CHAPTER ONE

Eighteen Years Later

Langumont Keep