It is with the greatest of pleasure that I can finally reveal the cover of The Du Lac Princess (Book 3 of The Du Lac Chronicles). The Du Lac Princess has been an absolute joy to write, and I can not wait to share the next instalment to my award winning series, The Du Lac Chronicles, with you!
Briton 500 AD
The ink has dried on Amandine’s death warrant.
Her crime? She is a du Lac.
All that stands in the way of a grisly death on a pyre is the King of Brittany. However, King Philippe is a fickle friend, and if her death is profitable to him, then she has no doubt that he would light the pyre himself.
Alan, the only man Amandine trusts, has a secret and must make an impossible choice, which could have far-reaching consequences — not only for Amandine, but for the whole of Briton.
Book Extract:
“Soon
I will be entertaining some very important guests. I am celebrating my victory
over Budic and his broth—”
“I
need to know this because…?” Amandine queried, interrupting him. “Do you expect
me to take part in the celebrations? Do you want me to dance on Merton’s grave?
Will that satisfy the masses?”
“Oh,
for goodness’ sake,” Philippe scoffed. “You are not invited. It is your skill I
desire. You were married to Garren. You know how such celebrations are
organised.”
“You
want me to plan it? Go to Hell.”
“I
saved your life,” Philippe reminded her again.
“No
you didn’t,” Amandine disagreed. “Don’t you understand? I died the same day he
did.”
“I
know that you are an exceptional seamstress, and you can make even the mundane
look beautiful,” he continued as if he had not heard her.
“You
are out of your depth, aren’t you?” Amandine realised, and a smile pulled at
her lips. “You don’t know how to be a king, do you? You don’t know how to act,
or how to entertain such influential people. You have no idea about the proper
etiquette.”
Philippe
raised his head and looked calmly into her face. “If you don’t help me then I
am sure the Church would love to take you back under their wing,” he
threatened.
But
the threat did nothing to dampen Amandine’s amusement. “There are others you
should ask. I am not the only one who knows how such things are organised and
besides, no one would listen to me. You forget…I am damned,” she continued to
giggle at the irony.
“I
wasn’t expecting you to leave this room.”
“I
see,” Amandine scoffed.
Philippe
surprised her by kneeling down on the floor in front of her. Everyone knew that
Philippe had a thing about cleanliness. He was obsessed with it. Kneeling on
the floor was surely a no no, up
there with petting the castle’s dogs. He must be truly desperate, Amandine
thought but did not say.
Philippe’s
hand reached for hers and then he paused, thought better of it, and his hand
dropped away. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but Merton was a cruel, evil
man and with time, you will come to see that. I saved you from him. I saved you
from the consequences of loving him. I need your help. I have invited many
dignitaries. I have to impress. Please, show me how and I swear,” he placed his
hand on his chest, where his heart rested, “I will protect you forever.”
“Protect
me?” Amandine laughed, although there was little humour in it. She watched as
Philippe rose back to his feet. “I am a du Lac. You and I, we will always be
enemies.”
Copyright
© 2017 Mary Anne Yarde
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Born in Bath, England, Mary Anne Yarde grew up in the southwest of England, surrounded and influenced by centuries of history and mythology. Glastonbury — the fabled Isle of Avalon — was a mere fifteen-minute drive from her home, and tales of King Arthur and his knights were part of her childhood.
