England, 1192:
He looked at Powell. “Do you blame me for wanting her?”
She pursed her lips at that.
“No, my lord. She’s not only the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, all respect,” he ducked his head to her, “but I suspect her sons will be as fierce as she is.”
She plopped down in the chair behind the desk with a sigh. “Men,” she muttered. “Already you speak of sons.”
“He jests, Jennifer,” Matthew said. “But it’s too late anyway.” He lifted his brows at her. Yes, he had proof of her broken maidenhead, not only in the sheet but Lizzy’s witness of their cohabitation too.
“Then…” She hated to say it because in truth she wanted more, but if it would save his life then it would be worth it. “Keep me as your mistress.” She winced.
Sighing, Matthew turned to Powell. “Give us a moment.”
Nodding, the young man left the solar, closing the door behind himself. Jennifer refused to look at Matthew as he came around the desk, leaning back against it next to her. She saw him reaching to her in her peripheral vison. His fingers smoothed gently over the top of her head.
“I’ll need an heir, and while I could still claim our son it isn’t as certain if you aren’t my wife.”
She shrugged. “It isn’t as if you’ll take a legitimate wife if I don’t sign the paper.” She hoped that much anyway. She was bluffing though, because she didn’t really know that he would never do that—that he wouldn’t do it even just to get the girl with child for an heir. He had a lot at stake, both everything he’d ever built in his life, as well as the legacy of his forbearers…
(This takes place in the same fictional world as Enduringly Yours and Worthy Opponent.)
Darcy Branwyn 
Leave a comment