Page 4 (1/2)

Prologue

London

Winter, early 1075

Lady Jenova requests that Lord Henry of Montevoy cohorn…

Lord Henry sighed as the y breeches, carried on in a piping voice

…cohorn as soon as his duties at court allow him

It was not that Lord Henry of Montevoy did not want to coht as he sent the er off for refreshment He had known Lady Jenova forever, and he was very fond of her She had once been wed to the king’s cousin and was no Even if the king had not favored her, that e had made her important No, it was not that Lord Henry did not want to visit Lady Jenova It was just that, at this particular s on his mind

King William was not currently in residence at court in London; he was across the Channel, dealing with rebels in Le Maine and attending to his affairs in Norland were there There was intrigue afoot, stirrings as forits head and casting a glance about to see atching

Lord Henry did not like the tension he felt in the air these days

It was not just the thought of leaving this si pot unattended that concerned Henry He told his, to knoas going on and hole the problems of the realm Henry had never been horn was four days’ ride to the southwest

And, of course, he enjoyed partaking of civilized pursuits More particularly, good conversation, fine wine and beautiful women With his clear blue eyes set in a face almost perfect, Lord Henry was often called the land Henry had always treated the title with good hue of thirty-four His handsolance disht Henry was an integral part of King William’s council, and as such the powerful barons saw him either as a shrewd friend to look to in times of trouble, or adetri

The women saw him differently Henry was also famous as a lover, and few ladies could resist so handsome a trophy to show off to their friends

Jenova was the only woman he’d ever knoas unaffected by his handsome face She didn’t see him as a pretty trophy, or a shrewd adversary That was one of the reasons Henry liked her, and why he felt so at ease with her He could be himself with her, he could be Henry

If he rehtly, the last tient shed and kissed her fingers, then left her without a backward glance Had he been “good”? In his way, he supposed he had, but Henry knew he had done things that Jenova would quibble over What did she expect? She looked upon hioddess on high: a hts she expected of hi them Still, she accepted his faults She accepted him