And this is the time of year to do it. The weather is cooler, nights are longer, and it’s nice to cuddle in front of the fire.

So what’s in store?

I have a new book coming out in December under a pen name–Sultonna Nadine. I’ve decided to use Mellie Miller for my series, but Sultonna for the stand-alones. So watch for Master of the Fleet.

http://bit.ly/MasteroftheFleet_SW

How about a little excerpt?

“Milord, are you Lord Sir Richard of Côte d’Or?” the lad asked nervously.

“I am.”

“There is a priest to see you and your lady, sir. If you’ll follow me.”

Looking at Anne-Marie, he saw true fear in her eyes. That was too damned bad. She had made her bed, now she would lie in it and please him. How many times had she played this game?

He rose from the table and motioned for Anne-Marie. The lad led them out of the banquet hall and into a small guest room

“Lord Richard? I’m Père Michel. His Excellency sent for me,” the priest began.

“I’m sorry to have called you out on such short notice, Père,” Richard told the man.

“This is all very unusual, milord. Perhaps you would enlighten me as to the circumstances surrounding this event.”

Sighing deeply, Richard gave his account of the trip, the festival, and the evening, as concisely as possible. He tried not to show prejudice. After all, the mere facts of the matter were enough.

Père Michel stood silently for a moment after he had finished, digesting the information. With a nod of his head, he turned to Anne-Marie.

“Is there anything you would like to add, refute, deny, or show differently?” he asked.

Anne-Marie was quiet for so long Richard thought she would deny everything. But looking from him to the priest, she shook her head, and in a small but clear voice said, “No, Père. Nothing to add or refute. I wish I had held my temper. Truly I do. I don’t think I would have killed him. But aside from that, the facts are much as he stated them.”

“Do you have regrets?” he asked.

“I regret my actions earlier this evening, yes,” she said.

“Milord Richard, you have had some time to think this through and calm yourself. Are you certain this is what you desire?”

“Yes, it is,” Richard answered flatly.

“Milady, will you marry willingly? If you will not, speak now. I will not bind you unless you are willing, no matter the cause.”

Again she was quiet for a moment.

“Considering the alternatives to marriage, I wed willingly. Had events not transpired as they had, I would answer differently. But I will wed Lord Richard, if he wills it.”

“Is there anything else I should know before we begin? If not, bring out your witnesses and we will conduct the ceremony.”

Richard had nothing else to say and apparently Anne-Marie didn’t either. Once the witnesses were present, the ceremony began. The group passed through the front gates into the courtyard, to stand in the presence of the heavens.

Those in the wedding party removed their shoes to stand on earth. With hands raised, eyes to the heavens, the priest began to intone the opening words of the marriage oath.

“In the presence of God, I call upon heaven and earth, water and fire, wind and spirit, to witness the union of Lord Richard LeMarnier and Anne-Marie Desplaines…”

They made it through the ceremony without complications. He used the ring he’d bought for their betrothal for her wedding ring. She used his signet ring for his. These represented Earth, the metal having come from the ground. Candles lit during the ceremony represented fire, the couple was sprinkled with water, and the kiss represented an exchange of spirit. As the ceremony continued under the stars, the evening breeze swept around them, caressing them and adding its seal to the union. Arcane symbols bound their vows to each of the elements.

Bound by God and the six elements of creation, their human representatives bearing witness and completing the perfect ring of seven, the marriage was sealed by the priest, and recorded.

As their wedding had been unplanned, Richard was startled when a fanfare blared and their union was announced as they returned to the banquet. Anne-Marie must have been as shocked as he was. His arm around her waist kept her from falling, as she stumbled through the entrance.

Don’t Forget…

     ….to Share the Romance…