LAWLESS
Book Seven: Age of Conquest
Tamara Leigh
Tamara Leigh
THE WULFRITHS. IT ALL BEGAN WITH A WOMAN.
A battle. A crown. The conqueror. The conquered. Medieval England—forever changed by the Battle of Hastings. And the rise of the formidable Wulfriths.
THE CONQUEROR’S MAN
Having lost all—the woman he loved, great friendship, and lands—Sir Guy wants only to end the insurrection plaguing England. But being the conqueror’s man puts him at odds with his conscience when a disastrous siege against the resistance yields only one thing of value—his capture of a Saxon rebel known as the virgin widow. As Norman forces regroup, Guy finds himself drawn to one who could not be more different from the love he lost. Though he assures himself it is only admiration for her strength, it proves more when his defense of her leads to a kiss. Though he assures himself it is only attraction, it proves more when the pawn his king makes of her nearly sees her lost to him. Is it possible this lady was his story all along? If so, will all that conspires against them leave him more empty-handed than before?
A LAWLESS LADY
Cousin to one whom Normans name Hereward the Outlaw and Saxons hail as the Last Great Englishman, Lady Vilda is determined to support the resistance even if it costs her life. And it nearly does. Pulled from the marsh half-drowned by the chevalier she escaped months earlier, she discovers he is a rare Norman when he shields her from his king’s wrath. Still, William the Conqueror has games to play, and as she has nothing left to lose, she decides to move her pieces well even if it offends. Surprisingly, she earns her greatest enemy’s admiration. More surprisingly, she finds her heart turning toward Sir Guy. But though his embrace tempts her to believe he is not beyond her reach, she knows gaining his love is as impossible as counting the stars. And that the still inside her that waits on him will wait forever.
Set in the Fenlands during the English resistance’s last great stand against the conquerors, the seventh book in the AGE OF CONQUEST series delivers the long-awaited tale of Sir Guy and the lady who became his story. Watch for DAUNTLESS, the eighth and final book, in Autumn 2021.
For new releases and special promotions, subscribe to Tamara Leigh’s mailing list: www.tamaraleigh.com
LAWLESS: Book Seven (Age of Conquest) Copyright © 2021 by Tammy Schmanski, P.O. Box 1298 Goodlettsville, TN 37070 [email protected]
This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, incidents, and dialogues are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author.
All rights reserved. This book is a copyrighted work and no part of it may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photographic, audio recording, or any information storage and retrieval system) without permission in writing from the author. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or any other means without the author’s permission is illegal and punishable by law. Thank you for supporting authors’ rights by purchasing only authorized editions.
Cover Design: Ravven
Ebook ISBN-13: 978-1-942326-52-6
Paperback ISBN-13: 978-1-942326-53-3
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Epilogue
Author’s Note
Dauntless Excerpt
Pronunciation Guide
Glossary
Also by Tamara Leigh
About the Author
The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. ~ Proverbs 21:1-3
Prologue
The Fenlands, England
Late Spring, 1071
Could she stick a blade in a man? This time do what she failed to do four years past? This time be the one who did not hesitate to take life? This time not be the one responsible for the death of a loved one?
Holding a whimper behind her lips, one hand convulsing on the dagger at her hip, the other gripping the rail of the boat alongside which she knelt in mud, Vilda peered across fairly level ground at the northernmost camp whose position remained known only by the glow of the Norman invaders’ warming fires—as it ought not.
Though under attack, the bursts of fire on all sides of the camp had yet to be seen and, she feared, were not forthcoming. More frightening, the foray was not to have lasted this long. As with most night raids, this one’s purpose was to harass the enemy by slipping past their patrol and putting down those who caught sight of rebels who excelled at setting alight supplies and disrupting the sleep of warriors already disheartened by the inhospitable Fens.
Most frightening of all was the defenders’ shouts and cries were punctuated by the clash of blades, evidencing some of the voices belonged to rebels who should be here now, sending the flat-bottomed boat gliding back across the river toward their refuge, the Isle of Ely.
Hand quaking on her dagger, Vilda beseeched the Lord to give strength and discernment to her countrymen, ensuring they prevail over the forces of he who had crowned himself King of England—William the Conqueror, better known to the conquered as Le Bâtard.
Whether or not in answer to prayer, there was a shift in the battle between Saxons and Normans. Though shouts continued to sweep across the night to where she shivered in water lapping at her waist, no longer were they accompanied by the clang of steel.
Holding her breath, she searched for figures moving her direction, which would be more easily seen
