A Winter’s Rose Read online

  “Oh, no. What more?” A feeling like dread doused Rosalynde’s joy as he reached back to pluck something from his belt. It was a parchment… bearing the King’s seal… already broken. “It came for me whilst we were in council,” he said, avoiding her gaze for the moment. “We spoke at length about the implications. Read the letter,” he demanded.

  With trembling hands, Rosalynde took the parchment, her heart tripping painfully, as she straightened it, then read as he bade her…

  To Giles, son of Richard de Vere, heir apparent to Warkworth

  It is with a heavy heart that I compose you such dire news. But I shall come straight to the point with an economy of words. In the matter of your betrothed, Seren Pendragon, you are hereby released from your contract—

  Rosalynde’s eyes widened. She peered up in fright. “Oh no, Giles!”

  Giles held up a hand and shook his head, then pointed a finger to the letter, begging her to continue. With a stinking heart, she returned to reading and the very next words gave voice to her worst fears.

  As the lady has been unaccounted for now for nearly three months, I cannot, in good faith, keep you to our bargain…

  Fearful tears pricked at Rosalynde’s eyes. “Seren is gone,” she said, though she didn’t wait for Giles to speak. Once again, she lowered her gaze to the parchment…

  … and nevertheless, if you would agree to honor your oath to the Crown, I will ask you arrive on the fifth day of June to seal your vows. In good faith, I will keep my promise to see you honored as the first earl of Warkworth.

  However, in the event you do not appear as summoned, I would assume you have no desire to keep your northern estates, and I will assign the seat elsewhere. To be sure the delegate will be agreeable, I shall assign the transference to my son and his loyal forces.

  He would send Eustace? Again? The very fiend who’d burned Warkworth to the ground once already? With an army no less! If that were not a threat, she didn’t’ know what was. The letter was signed…

  Subscribed and sealed this twentieth day of April in the year of our lord 1148. Stephen, Rex Anglorum by the Grace of God, Protector of the Realm and Defender of the Faith.

  “Nay,” said Rosalynde, stunned, returning the parchment to Giles. And for the first time in her life, she had the most desperate longing to send a raven to Morwen—what about Arwyn? Were both of her sisters gone? Where were they? Together? Dead—but nay, nay! If any harm would have befallen her twin, Rosalynde would know it. She knew in her heart… she would know it. “Nay,” she said again, swallowing, because, in truth, they’d never received any word, not even from Morwen, and they still hadn’t any clue why her mother hadn’t pursued Rose to reclaim the grimoire.

  “What will you do?”

  “The only right thing to do. I will go, of course. Were it not for Seren, I would defy Stephen to send his son, but they are bound to reveal more to my face than they have in that letter. Therefore, I would go, if for naught else, to investigate where Seren may have gone.”

  Rosalynde nodded. So much for their fragile peace. Her fingers sought the ring he’d placed around her finger, wishing that life could be so easy as a fae’s tale. “When do you leave?”

  “We still have two months. We should use that time to prepare. In the meantime, I know you crave news of your sisters, and I encourage you to use your gifts as you will.”

  She peered up at him, surprised. “Even with… your emissaries?”

  He shrugged. “If the Church is willing to use magik in one form, they must accept it in another.” He was speaking of the sword, of course—the one he wore in his scabbard. And now she understood why it glowed that day in the glade. It was forged by dewine magik—a very powerful magik not unlike the sorcery that forged the sword of Arthur.

  “Shall I go with you?”

  “Nay, Rose. You are safer here, surrounded by loyal men. If you travel with me to London, I will not be able to keep you safe.”

  Alas, she knew he spoke true. It was here that they had an army to serve them. In London, they would be at the mercy of the King. “Will you kneel?”

  He smiled sadly. “Alas, my love, to keep you safe, I would kneel a hundred times over.”

  And so here it began… somehow, she must get word to Elspeth, and perhaps together they could find a way to reach Rhiannon. Rhiannon would know what to do. Rhiannon always knew what to do. “What about Warkworth?” she worried, realizing how much work was left to be done. The perimeter walls were complete, but there was still so much work to be completed.

  “I would leave it, along with my armies, in capable hands.”

  “Wilhelm?”

  “Nay,” he said, shaking his head. “I will dispatch my brother at once, with two loyal men to search for your sisters.”

  “Thank you!” Rose said, hardly realizing how much she’d longed to hear those words until she did. “I love you, Giles. I love you so much. Thank you, thank you!” And yet, as happy as it made her, she feared for the castle in his absence—who could be this commander he trusted so well? “Who?” She demanded. “Who will you leave?”

  Very tenderly, he brushed the hair from her face. “Who else but you, my lady of Warkworth? You are a Pendragon who knows better than any what your mother is capable of—I would leave you in command of three hundred men, and a ship at your disposal, should you need it. If by chance worse should come to worst, you will board that ship and sail to France. But I warrant it will not come to that.”

  “But—”

  He held up a finger. “Before you gainsay me, my lovely wife, let me remind you that I saw you battle a Shadow Beast, all the while my butcher brother sat on his bum—I know your warrior’s heart.” And he would leave her in charge of an army? Just like that? A woman? A witch?

  “Giles,” she protested, “I know nothing of battles nor armies—nor even how to wield a sword.”

  “Oh, yeah,” he said. “I nearly forgot.” And he stepped back to unsheathe the sword in his scabbard, then held it out, presenting it to her lengthwise, suspended atop the tips of his fingers. “It served me well, but tis only fitting it should serve a Pendragon since the alloy used to forge it was designed by a Pendragon. And before she could speak another word, he said, “Lessons begin on the morrow.”

  Rosalynde blinked, reaching out to touch the shining metal—perfectly made, perfectly preserved, even after so many centuries.

  Imbued by a Pendragon… the Merlin of Britain, the father of their coven… Taliesin.

  Very reverently, she took the sword from her husband’s hands, and with some effort, she held it aloft, lifting the blade so it pointed skyward, catching the sun with a hard gleam that no doubt shone for miles. It was only then… as the sword stood erect in her hands… illumined by the bright midday sun, that she noticed something she hadn’t seen before—a single word inscribed between the serpents… Caledfwlch… translated, it meant cut steel… and in the language of Holy Church… Caliburn… or Excalibor.

  Blinking, with sudden realization, she peered up at her lord husband.

  He lifted one golden brow, and then shrugged. “Luck of the draw,” he said.

  * * *

  What’s next for the daughters of Avalon? Turn the page.

  Up Next in the Daughters of Avalon series…

  Fire Song

  Connected Series

  Series Bibliography

  Have you also read the Highland Brides and the Guardians of the Stone? While it’s not necessary to read these past series to enjoy Daughters of Avalon, all three series are related with shared characters.

  These books are Also available as Audiobooks

  * * *

  Start with The MacKinnon’s Bride FREE

  The Highland Brides

  The MacKinnon’s Bride

  Lyon’s Gift

  On Bended Knee

  Lion Heart

  Highland Song

  MacKinnon’s Hope

  * * *

  The Guardians of the Stone
<
br />   Once Upon a Highland Legend

  Highland Fire

  Highland Steel

  Highland Storm

  Maiden from the Mist

  * * *

  Also connected…

  Angel of Fire

  Once Upon a Kiss

  * * *

  Daughters of Avalon

  The King’s Favorite

  A Winter’s Rose

  Fire Song

  Rhiannon

  Also by Tanya Anne Crosby

  A brand-new series

  Daughters of Avalon

  The King’s Favorite

  A Winter’s Rose

  Fire Song

  Rhiannon

  * * *

  The Highland Brides

  The MacKinnon’s Bride

  Lyon’s Gift

  On Bended Knee

  Lion Heart

  Highland Song

  MacKinnon’s Hope

  * * *

  Guardians of the Stone

  Once Upon a Highland Legend

  Highland Fire

  Highland Steel

  Highland Storm

  Maiden of the Mist

  * * *

  The Medievals Heroes

  Once Upon a Kiss

  Angel of Fire

  Viking’s Prize

  * * *

  The Impostor Series

  The Impostor’s Kiss

  The Impostor Prince

  * * *

  Redeemable Rogues

  Happily Ever After

  Perfect In My Sight

  McKenzie’s Bride

  Kissed by a Rogue

  Mischief & Mistletoe

  A Perfectly Scandalous Proposal

  * * *

  Anthologies & Novellas

  Lady’s Man

  Married at Midnight

  The Winter Stone

  * * *

  Romantic Suspense

  Speak No Evil

  Tell No Lies

  Leave No Trace

  * * *

  Mainstream Fiction

  The Girl Who Stayed

  The Things We Leave Behind

  Redemption Song

  Everyday Lies

  About the Author

  Tanya Anne Crosby is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thirty novels. She has been featured in magazines, such as People, Romantic Times and Publisher's Weekly, and her books have been translated into eight languages. Her first novel was published in 1992 by Avon Books, where Tanya was hailed as "one of Avon's fastest rising stars." Her fourth book was chosen to launch the company's Avon Romantic Treasure imprint.

  Known for stories charged with emotion and humor and filled with flawed characters Tanya is an award-winning author, journalist, and editor, and her novels have garnered reader praise and glowing critical reviews. She and her writer husband split their time between Charleston, SC, where she was raised, and northern Michigan, where the couple make their home.

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