THE TARNISHED LADY By Sandra Hill

THE TARNISHED LADY By Sandra Hill

THE TARNISHED LADY By Sandra Hill

CONTENTS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

The Tarnished Lady

Sandra Hill

Leisure Books

ISBN=”0-7408-1384-6″

Copyright 1995

The Tarnished Lady

Sandra Hill

LEISURE BOOKS

NEW YORK CITY

PRAISE FOR SANDRA HILL

Winner of the HOLT Medallion and the Georgia Romance Writers Maggie Award for Best Historical Novel!

Sandra Hill’s romances are “delicious, witty, and funny!”

—Romantic Times

THE TARNISHED LADY

“Sandra Hill has written a sensual, vibrant, fast-paced tale of two proud lovers, their entertaining battle of wills and the steamy passion that overcomes them.”

—Romantic Times

“Filled with engaging humor, poignant emotions, lusty romance and stirring adventure;

The Tarnished Lady is a jewel of a read.” 5 Stars!

—Affaire de Coeur

THE RELUCTANT VIKING

“I really enjoyed Ruby’s story. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all have these sorts of second chances when we are at risk of losing something as precious as love.”

—Affaire de Coeur

“The Reluctant Viking is a wonderfully in-depth, ambitious challenge for a first-time author, and Ms. Hill pulls it off with style!”

—The Literary Times

THE LAST VIKING

“A fun, fast-paced page turner.”

—Romantic Times

“The humor is delicious. Ms. Hill’s Viking stories are always a thrill to read, and The Last Viking is no exception.”

—Rendezvous

ROGUE’S DELIGHT

Eirik scooped Eadyth up in his arms before she had a chance to protest and started to carry her off.

“You are truly a loathsome lout.”

“Yea, I am.”

“A lecherous libertine.”

“Most definitely.”

“And a… a….”

“Do not forget horny toad.”

Eadyth tried to push out of his embrace, but he held her arms firmly. Then he called out over his shoulder, “Good Eventide, everyone. We will see you on the morrow.”

“The morrow!” Eadyth squeaked, giving up on her struggles and burying her hot face in his neck. ” ‘Tis only past noon now.”

“Yea,” he said, smiling with supreme male satisfaction. Then he added in a voice of silky promise, “I have twelve ‘peaks’ to climb afore then, and I want to get an early start.”

“Twel… twelve! Oh, you are outrageous.”

“Yea. That is one of the things women love about me.”

Other Leisure and Love Spell books by Sandra Hill:

THE BEWITCHED VIKING

THE RELUCTANT VIKING

LOVE ME TENDER

THE OUTLAW VIKING

THE LAST VIKING

SWEETER SAVAGE LOVE

DESPERADO

FRANKLY, MY DEAR…

Chapter One

Ravenshire Castle, Northumbria, 946 A.D

“Bloody Hell! What is she doing here?”

Eirik quickly quaffed down the remainder of ale in his Wooden goblet, then slammed it down on the high table. All the time, he watched with annoyance as the tall, reedlike figure daintily lifted the hem of her voluminous gown and stepped gingerly toward him through the filthy rushes.

“It must be Lady Eadyth of Hawks’ Lair,” Wilfrid, his seneschal and longtime friend, remarked.

“I thought I told the guard to turn her away at the gate if she should arrive unexpectedly.”

” ‘Twould seem the maid finally caught up with you,” Wilfrid said with a chuckle. “Surely, her persistence is commendable.”

“Hah! I have seen more than enough of persistent ladies and overzealous mothers these two years I have been gone from Ravenshire. All I want is a little blessed peace to—”

Their conversation ended abruptly at the wild yelping of a dog. Eirik’s eyes widened in surprise as he watched Eadyth give the animal another swift nudge of her soft-toed leather shoe as it spread its hind legs and squatted on the floor near her feet. Even through the smoky dimness of the great hall, Eirik could see her lips curl distastefully as she eyed the loathsome “gift” left by the large hound. With her hands on her hips, the impudent wench glared at the whimpering hound until it sheepishly scurried out of her sight.

Eirik and Wilfrid burst into laughter, along with the scruffy knights who lounged below them in the hall. There were no ladies present, other than the serving wenches. Thank the Lord! He hoped to keep it that way.