The Baron's Bride

Joanna Makepeace

Gisela of Brinkhurst enjoyed managing her father's keep and had never thought much about marriage. Little did she foresee the threats to her father's lands and how marriage would ensure their survival.Sir Alain de Treville needed a wife, and there was no better time than when the king placed him in Allestone Castle to protect the area from daring marauders. When nearby Brinkhurst was attacked, and Lady Gisela's family suffered great losses, it was time for him to insist on their union, despite the beautiful maiden's indifference to marriage.Would the brave Gisela give in to her growing love for Alain–a man who showed her every day how much he adored her?

She rose and made for the curtained doorway

But, with a hand upon her shoulder, Alain turned her gently but firmly to face him.

“Am I not entitled to the customary kiss to seal our betrothal?”

He drew her close, his arms reaching up behind her waist, pressing her to him. Gisela had expected him to kiss her brow or cheek formally, but his lips suddenly closed upon hers, gently at first, then demandingly, so that she was forced to open her own and respond.

“You must not be afraid of me.”

“I am not,” she said huskily. “I—”

“Good. I shall not expect too much of you—at first.”

The Baron’s Bride

Joanna Makepeace

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

JOANNA MAKEPEACE

taught as head of English in a comprehensive school, before leaving full-time work to write. She lives in Leicester with her mother and a Jack Russell terrier called Dickon, and has written over thirty books under different pseudonyms. She loves the old romantic historical films, which she still finds more exciting and relaxing than newer ones.

Contents

Chapter One (#u37918835-8e64-551a-b2e4-802086411eba)

Chapter Two (#u6e2ddfe2-10ec-57bb-8cda-2e37c0ba657c)

Chapter Three (#ua065d018-4365-536e-8617-d65fa0d9d5c5)

Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter One

1152

Gisela could hear the sound of angry voices as she rode through the forest towards Aldith’s assart cottage. She glanced worriedly towards Oswin who was riding with her. In this troubled year of 1152, when every man feared attacks upon his property from both known enemies and suspected ones, Walter of Brinkhurst had always insisted that Gisela ride accompanied. Her father’s reeve had been inspecting the autumn work on the field strips and was now escorting her on a visit to her former nurse.

Aldith’s husband had cut the small assart clearing, but he had died two years ago and Aldith had continued to live in the snug little cottage he’d built for her with her fifteen-year-old-son, Sigurd. Her older son, who had died within the first month of his life, had provided her with the milk to feed Gisela, whose own mother had died soon after the birth, and Aldith had given all of her hungry love for her dead child to her master’s daughter.

Though she no longer lived at Brinkhurst Manor, there was still deep affection between them and Gisela visited her nurse frequently.

Gisela put spurs to her palfrey and urged on Oswin, whose usual speed was slow and dignified.

“That sounds as if it is coming from Aldith’s cottage. She has always insisted that she is safe there, but Father has been urging her to come to live at Brinkhurst for some time now.”

Within minutes Gisela and her mount burst into the clearing to find Aldith at the gate of her rough wattle fence, facing two men-at-arms and struggling to hold back Sigurd, who was intent on doing one of them some mischief.

Gisela saw by the blue chevron device on their boiled leather coats they were Allestone men. She kicked her feet free of the stirrups, leaped down easily without Oswin’s assistance and hastened to reach her frightened nurse, with Oswin puffing more slowly in her wake.

“What is it,