Lady Eadyth of Hawk's Lair had a son out of wedlock, but her
reputation is the least of her worries. The boy's nasty
father is now attempting to claim him, and Lady Eadyth's
lands along with the child. Her only recourse is to find a
man willing to stand as her husband as well as father to her
son, but a wife's physical duty to her husband is something
to be avoided at all cost. If she has her way there shall be
no nasty copulation. When Eirick of Ravenshire mistakes her
for an older woman she allows the misconception to stand,
knowing it will help keep his prurient desires under
control. The addition of her lands to his properties should
and must be enough to seduce him into marriage, thus giving
his protection to her sun.
Eirick of Ravenshire doesn't understand the odd behavior of
his new ladywife. Yes, her lands are a welcome addition but
the true reason he was at last eager to marry her was to
strike a blow against Steven of Gravely, a mortal enemy and
detestable man. Marrying Eadyth and naming her son as his
will be a fine start on revenge.
In this reprint from 1995 Sandra Hill's trademark humor is
alive and well. She uses language as well as medieval
craftsmanship to plunge the reader into the past, while
creating two main characters with strong and vibrant
personalities that transcend time periods. THE TARNISHED
LADY is a jolly good read.
Disgraced!
Banished from polite society for bearing a child out of
wedlock, Lady Eadyth of Hawks' Lair spends her days hidden
under a voluminous veil, tending her bees. But when her
son's detested father threatens to reveal the boy's true
paternity and seize her beloved lands, Lady Eadyth seeks a
husband willing to claim the child as his own.
Eirik of Ravenshire is England's most virile bachelor,
notorious for loving—and leaving— the most beautiful damsels
in the land. Now a mysterious lady is offering him a vow of
chaste matrimony in exchange for revenge against his most
hated enemy, and Eirik simply cannot refuse. But the lusty
knight's plans go awry when he finds himself unable to
resist Eadyth's myriad charms . . . and he succumbs to the
sweet sting of the tarnished lady's love.