“Easy for you to say,” Swan retorted. “You haven’t been bothered by morning sickness. It’s unfair.”
Rodrick tightened his arm around her shoulder. “Lean on me. You’ll feel better.”
She snorted, regretting it instantly as bile surged up her throat. “Tell that to your son.”
Bronson chuckled. “You look pale, sister dear, whereas my bride is the picture of health.”
She stuck out her tongue, but in her heart she was happy for him. Both his wives had struggled with pregnancy, whereas Grace had blossomed. It boded well for the birth of their child. She’d been heard to express an intuition she was carrying twins. Swan wouldn’t be surprised since Grace was a twin and Bronson and Swan’s father had a twin sister, their aunt Blythe in Germany.
At the insistent invitation of their jovial hosts in Italy, they’d remained in Rome until the end of February. It had given them a chance to rest, recuperate and spend time together before undertaking the long journey home. Swan liked Italy and would have stayed longer, but King Henry needed loyal young noblemen like Rodrick and Bronson in England.
En route, Swan had been the one indisposed in the mornings. She’d begun to doubt Grace was enceinte.
To get her mind off her roiling belly, she thought back over the almost two years since her first visit to Ellesmere. She’d arrived in a state of despair, angry at a social system that had condemned her to life in a nunnery. Now she was Countess-in-waiting of a powerful Earldom, in a kingdom with renewed hope for peace, married to a man she adored and whose child she carried.
She thanked God and his saints that she and her dear brother had both found happiness, despite the best efforts of the Church to censure their love.
She closed her eyes, chuckling at the vision she conjured of Bronson chasing red headed twins around the grounds at Shelfhoc.
Indeed, many things had turned out differently from her expectations. But she’d been right about one thing. Henry Plantagenet was King of England.
MORE ANNA MARKLAND
The saga begins. The Complete Montbryce Legacy Series begins with Ram’s story—Conquering Passion. Get all four books at considerable savings.
Hearts and Crowns is Gallien’s story. Book I of The Anarchy Series
Fatal Truths, Book II of The Anarchy Series is Alexandre’s story.
Crazy for all things medieval? You’ll love Magnificent Medieval Men, an anthology of stories from four bestselling medieval romance authors—Catherine Kean, Kathryn Le Veque, Laurel O’Donnell and yours truly.
FROM THE AUTHOR
Thank you for reading Sinful Passions. The story began as Rodrick and Suannoch’s love story, but Bronson and Grace refused to be overlooked.
If you’d like to leave a review where you purchased the book, or on Goodreads, I would appreciate it.
I’d love you to visit my newly revamped website and my Facebook page, Anna Markland Novels.
Tweet me @annamarkland.
I was born and educated in England, but I’ve lived most of my life in Canada. I was an educator for 25 years. It was a rewarding career, financially, spiritually and emotionally.
After that I worked with my husband in the management of his businesses. He’s a born entrepreneur who likes to boast he’s never had a job!
My final “career” was as Director of Administration of a global disaster relief organization.
Anyway, not content to fade away into retirement gracefully, I embarked upon writing a romance, essentially for my own satisfaction. I chose the medieval period mainly because that genre of historical romance is one I enjoy reading.
I have a keen interest in genealogy. This hobby has had a tremendous influence on my stories. My medieval romances are about family honor, ancestry, and roots. As an amateur genealogist, I cherished a dream (as do many) of tracing my own English roots back to the Norman Conquest—an impossibility since I am not descended from nobility! So I made up a family and my stories follow its members through successive generations.
One of the things I enjoy most about writing historical romance is the in-depth research necessary to provide readers with an authentic medieval experience. I based the plot of my first novel, Conquering Passion, on an incident that actually happened to a Norman noblewoman.
I hope you come to know and love my Montbryce family as much as I do.
I would like to acknowledge the invaluable assistance of my critique partners, Sylvia Blenkin, Reggi Allder, Jacquie Biggar and Helena Korin. Thank you for your help in polishing this manuscript.
MARKLAND’S MEDIEVAL WORLD
Cast of Characters
CP=Conquering Passion
AMOV=A Man of Value
ILDE=If Love Dares Enough
PIB=Passion in the Blood
DP=Defiant Passion
DB=Dark and Bright
WTH=The Winds of the Heavens
CA=Carried Away
STL=Sweet Taste of Love
WVP=Wild Viking Princess
DOL=Dance of Love
DIK=Dark Irish Knight
HK=Haunted Knights
HC=Hearts and Crowns
FT=Fatal Truths
SP=Sinful Passions
Aediva Melton—Sister of the Saxon heroine of ILDE
Agnes—Norman scullery maid at Domfort Castle ILDE
Agnès—maidservant of Maudine in HK
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 slain at Bolton. AMOV, CA; hero of STL
Aiweeda—elderly nun in DIK
Alain Cormant—steward at East Preston HK
Alphonse Revandel— father of Letyce HK
Álvar Fáñez—historical figure; Spanish hero of the Reconquista, cousin of El Cid
Alys—maidservant of Peridotte HC
Amadour de Vignoles—Norman comrade of Caedmon during Crusade; hero of Civitote AMOV; DOL
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
Anna—Dieter’s housekeeper, CA
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
Artus Aubin—Norman steward of Giroux Castle DOL
Ascha (Bronson) Woolgar—Saxon mother of Caedmon; in CP and AMOV
Aurore de Pontrouge-mother of Peridotte HC
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.
Beathan—Elayne’s brother FT
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.
Bernadine de Montbryce—daughter of Antoine and Sybilla
Bernhardt—Dieter’s valet, CA
Berthold de Quincy—Hospitaller Knight DOL
Bertrand de Poitou—herald of King Henry HK
Bileaud—Norman steward at Domfort Castle ILDE
Blythe Lacey FitzRam—Daughter of Caedmon and Agneta, twin of Aidan. Born in AMOV. Heroine of CA
Bonhomme—Normans; family name of the stewards of Montbryce and Ellesmere.
Bradick Ronan MacLaichlainn—name handed down through generations of descendants of Ronan, hero of DIK; FT
Bravecoeur—Gallien’s captain SP
Brémonde—Norman; one of Ram’s commanders at Ellesmere CP
Bronson FitzRam—son of Aidan, hero of SP
Brother Christian—religious name given to Aidan when he enters the monastery STL
Brother Tristan—Cellarer in charge of mead making at Lindisfarne STL
Caedmon Brice (Woolgar) FitzRam—Illegitimate son of Ram de Montbryce and Ascha Woolgar. Appears in CP, PIB, CA & STL; 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
Claricia Dunkeld—daughter of heroine of FT
Conall MacCathail—steward’s son DIK; helps Ronan escape
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
Daegal—Saxon brigand DIK
Dagfinn Alfredsen—Dane; ally of Reider in WVP
Dagfrid—Dane; cousin of Kjartan in WVP
Dareau Revandel— brother of Letyce HK
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; hero of HK
Devlin de Villiers—villain of HC
Devona Melton—Saxon; heroine of ILDE; marries Hugh de Montbryce
Dieter Von Wolfenberg—German hero of CA; marries Blythe FitzRam; appears in WVP
Dominguez—Aragonese; King Alfonso’s lieutenant DOL
Dorianne de Giroux—Norman heroine of PIB; marries Robert de Montbryce
Dugald Dunkeld—illegitimate son of King David of Scotland; 1st husband of heroine of FT
Edwin FitzRam—brother of Blythe, Aidan & Ragna; son of Caedmon & Agneta STL
Elayne Douenald—Scottish noblemwoman, heroine of FT
Eldwyn—Saxon brigand DIK
Elenor de Giroux—Norman; mother of Dorianne de Giroux; wife of Francois. PIB
Emrys—Cook at llys Powwydd. DB
Emyle Bossuet—Norman commander of mercenaries in Ireland DIK
Enid—Saxon maid of Ascha Woolgar. CP & AMOV
Ermintrude de Calumette—Empress Maud’s confidant HC
Étienne Robert de Montbryce—Second son of Baudoin and Carys; DB,STL; HC
Farah—Aragonese; heroine (María Sancha Tarazona) Arabic word meaning ‘joy’DOL
Felicité—Gallien’s treacherous first wife HC
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 & Carys. Her mother almost dies giving birth to her. DB
Florymonde de Montbryce—daughter of Antoine and Sybilla
Fothud MacFintain—villain DIK
Francine Beaujoie—lady-in-waiting to Empress Maud; friend of heroine HC
François de Giroux—Norman father of Dorianne and Pierre PIB; sworn enemy of the Montbryces ILDE
Frederika—Dieter’s first wife, CA
Gabriel Duquesne—Norman Captain of Rhoni’s bodyguard DIK
Gallien Rambaud de Montbryce—Eldest son of Baudoin and Carys DB, STL; hero of HC; FT; SP
Gareth Bronson—Saxon brother of Ascha Woolgar; takes Ascha to Scotland. CP & AMOV
Gawain Bronson—Saxon nephew of Ascha Woolgar; CP & AMOV
Georges de Giroux—Norman, Crusader. Reappears in DOL
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, Jubert. Prefers to be called Izzy.PIB; Hero of DOL
Gerwint Melton—ILDE Saxon grandfather of heroine
Gicotte—Norman soldier at Montbryce Castle; PIB
Giroux—Norman surname of the family sworn to avenge 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
Godefroy de Cullène—villain of SP
Gorm—villain of WVP; step brother of Reider
Grace Mabelle Carys de Montbryce—daughter of Gallien and Peridotte; twin of Rodrick HC; heroine of SP
Grouchet—Anglo-Norman baron, villain of STL
Guillaume de Terrence—champion supposed to guard heroines in HK
Guillaume de Valtesse—Norman father of Mabelle; his cruelty begins the feud between the Valtesses and the Giroux family; CP
Hélène de Fleury—Norman wife of friend of Montbryce brothers killed at Hastings. CP
Henry Dunkeld—son of heroine of FT
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; heroine of DIK
Ingram Maknab—Scot; son of Neyll. STL
Isembart Jubert—Rat catcher from Montbryce; instrumental in saving the lives of Hugh and Devona; ILDE
Isolda verch Llewelyn—Welsh healer, heroine of WTH
Ivar Sigurdsen—Dane; captain in WVP
Jacquelle—Rhoni’s maid DIK
Jean Venestre—husband of Marguerite de Montbryce FT
Jennet—Northumbrian peasant woman STL
Johann Dieter Marius von Wolfenberg—Dieter’s son by his first marriage, CA
Johara—Arabic name given to María Catalina; means ‘jewel’ DOL
Joleyne—Norman mistress of Ram de Montbryce before he meets Mabelle; CP
Jolly—cook at Shelfhoc SP
Kirkthwaite—Surname of Agneta’s family AMOV
Kjartan Eldarsen—Danish; comrade of Reider in WVP
La Cuisinière—Legendary Norman cook at Montbryce Castle; her name simply means ‘The Cook’ CP
Laurent de Montbryce—son of Robert; brother of Alexandre FT
Laurent Deschamps—military commander at Montbryce in Ram’s absence CP
Leofric Deacon—Saxon friend of Caedmon AMOV; badly injured at Alnwick; marries Coventina Brightmore; appears in STL
Letyce Revandel—villainess HK
Lope Velasco—known as The Wolf; looks like a crow; henchman of Vermudo Díaz DOL
Lorcan MacFintain—villain DIK
Lucia—Grace’s maidservant SP
Lucien Lallement— brother of heroines of HK
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
Magnus Braunschweig—Dieter’s comrade, CA
Malraux de Carnac—Breton, villain HK
Marc Lallement—father of heroines of HK
Margit Hansdatter—Dane; villain of WVP
Marguerite de Montbryce—Daughter of Robert and Dorianne; sister of Alexandre FT
María Catalina Tarazon—Aragonese mother of Farah; DOL
María Sancha Tarazona—Farah; DOL
Martin Bonhomme—Norman steward at Ellesmere; son of Mathieu
Mathieu Bonhomme—Son of Fernand; goes to England to be steward at Ellesmere, father of Mart
in Bonhomme
Mathieu de Montbryce—Son of Antoine and Sybilla. PIB; HK
Maudine Lallement—mother of heroines of HK
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
Micheline—maidservant at Montbryce FT
Montbryce—Noble Norman family at the heart of the Legacy
Morwenna verch Morgan—Welsh; betrothed to Rhodri; villain; mistress of Phillippe de Giroux; CP, DP
Moyra—maidservant DIK
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
Neyll Maknab— villain of STL: stepfather of Nolana Kyncade
Nolana Kyncade—Scot; heroine of STL
Oda—maidservant to Sybilla ILDE
Olve—Danish thrall saves Ragna’s life WVP
Orlaith MacLachlainn—Ronan’s mother, reputed to be a selkie DIK
Padre Benito—Abbot of San Juan de la Peña DOL
Pascal Bonhomme—steward at Ellesmere; son of Martin. 4th generation to serve the Montbryces HC
Paul Cormant—Norman steward (Alensonne)
Paulina Lallement—heroine HK
Peridotte de Pontrouge—Angevin; marries Gallien de Montbryce; becomes Third Countess of Ellesmere HC; SP
Philippa de Grosmont—haughty lady-in-waiting; spy for Ermintrude HC
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
Quique Raúl—bandit leader DOL
Ragna FitzRam—English daughter of Caedmon and Agneta; holy terror; heroine of WVP STL
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, ILDE, PIB, DIK & DP
Reider Torfinnsen—Danish hero of Wild Viking Princess WVP
Renouf de Maubadon—Norman (Angevin) villain of PIB