One Enchanted Evening
Page 1
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
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
Also from New York Times bestselling author
ALSO FROM NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR
Praise for the novels of New York Times bestselling author Lynn Kurland
Till There Was You
“One of those feel-good romances that expertly mixes past with present to prove that love endures all things and outlasts almost everything, including time itself. With an eye to detail and deliciously vivid imagery, this paranormal tale of matchmaking comes fully to life . . . Spellbinding and lovely, this is one story readers won’t want to miss.”
—Romance Reader at Heart
“A fantastic story that will delight both readers who are familiar with the families and those who aren’t.”
—Romance Reviews Today (Perfect 10 Award)
“This is an amusing time-travel romance starring a terrific, fully developed hero whose good intentions, present and past, are devastated by love . . . fast-paced.”
—Midwest Book Review
“Enjoyable . . . a strong romance.”
—All About Romance
With Every Breath
“As always, [Kurland] delivers a delightful read!”
—Romantic Times
“Kurland is a skilled enchantress . . . With Every Breath is breathtaking in its magnificent scope, a true invitation to the delights of romance.”
—Night Owl Romance
When I Fall in Love
“Kurland infuses her polished writing with a deliciously dry wit, and her latest time-travel love story is sweetly romantic and thoroughly satisfying.”
—Booklist
“The continuation of a wonderful series, this story can also be read alone. It’s an extremely good book.”
—Affaire de Coeur
Much Ado in the Moonlight
“A pure delight.”
—Huntress Book Reviews
“A consummate storyteller . . . will keep the reader on the edge of their seat, unable to put the book down until the very last word.”
—ParaNormalRomance
“No one melds ghosts and time travel better than the awesome Kurland.”
—Romantic Times
Dreams of Stardust
“Kurland weaves another fabulous read with just the right amounts of laughter, romance, and fantasy.”
—Affaire de Coeur
“Kurland crafts some of the most ingenious time-travel romances readers can find . . . wonderfully clever and completely enchanting.”
—Romantic Times
A Garden in the Rain
“Kurland laces her exquisitely romantic, utterly bewitching blend of contemporary romance and time travel with a delectable touch of tart wit, leaving readers savoring every word of this superbly written romance.”
—Booklist
“Kurland is clearly one of romance’s finest writers—she consistently delivers the kind of stories readers dream about. Don’t miss this one.”
—The Oakland Press
From This Moment On
“A disarming blend of romance, suspense, and heartwarming humor, this book is romantic comedy at its best.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A deftly plotted delight, seasoned with a wonderfully wry sense of humor and graced with endearing, unforgettable characters.”
—Booklist
My Heart Stood Still
“Written with poetic grace and a wickedly subtle sense of humor . . . the essence of pure romance. Sweet, poignant, and truly magical, this is a rare treat: romance with characters readers will come to care about and a love story they will cherish.”
—Booklist
“A totally enchanting tale, sensual and breathtaking . . . an absolute must-read.”
—Rendezvous
If I Had You
“Kurland brings history to life . . . in this tender medieval romance.”
—Booklist
“A passionate story filled with danger, intrigue, and sparkling dialogue.”
—Rendezvous
The More I See You
“The superlative Ms. Kurland once again wows her readers with her formidable talent as she weaves a tale of enchantment that blends history with spellbinding passion and impressive characterization, not to mention a magnificent plot.”
—Rendezvous
Another Chance to Dream
“Kurland creates a special romance between a memorable knight and his lady.”
—Publishers Weekly
The Very Thought of You
“A masterpiece . . . this fabulous tale will enchant anyone who reads it.”
—Painted Rock Reviews
This Is All I Ask
“An exceptional read.”
—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Both powerful and sensitive . . . a wonderfully rich and rewarding book.”
—Susan Wiggs
Titles by Lynn Kurland
STARDUST OF YESTERDAY
A DANCE THROUGH TIME
THIS IS ALL I ASK
THE VERY THOUGHT OF YOU
ANOTHER CHANCE TO DREAM
THE MORE I SEE YOU
IF I HAD YOU
MY HEART STOOD STILL
FROM THIS MOMENT ON
A GARDEN IN THE RAIN
DREAMS OF STARDUST
MUCH ADO IN THE MOONLIGHT
WHEN I FALL IN LOVE
WITH EVERY BREATH
TILL THERE WAS YOU
ONE ENCHANTED EVENING
The Novels of the Nine Kingdoms
STAR OF THE MORNING
THE MAGE’S DAUGHTER
PRINCESS OF THE SWORD
A TAPESTRY OF SPELLS
Anthologies
THE CHRISTMAS CAT
(with Julie Beard, Barbara Bretton, and Jo Beverley)
CHRISTMAS SPIRITS
(with Casey Claybourne, Elizabeth Bevarly, and Jenny Lykins)
VEILS OF TIME
(with Maggie Shayne, Angie Ray, and Ingrid Weaver)
OPPOSITES ATTRACT
(with Elizabeth Bevarly, Emily Carmichael, and Elda Minger)
LOVE CAME JUST IN TIME
A KNIGHT’S VOW
(with Patricia Potter, Deborah Simmons, and Glynnis Campbell)
TAPESTRY
(with Madeline Hunter, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Karen Marie Moning)
TO WEAVE A WEB OF MAGIC
(with Patricia A. McKillip, Sharon Shinn, and Claire Delacroix)
THE QUEEN IN WINTER
(with Sharon Shinn, Claire Delacroix, and Sarah Monette)
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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
ONE ENCHANTED EVENING
A Jove Book / published by arrangement with the author
PRINTING HISTORY
Jove mass-market edition / May 2010
Copyright © 2010 by Lynn Curland.
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
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eISBN: 9781101428337
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Prologue
ARTANE CASTLE, ENGLAND FALL, 1229
Montgomery de Piaget believed in faeries.
He had good reason to. He had, over the past ten-and-seven years of his life, seen things of a most mysterious and faerylike nature that no lad with any sense at all could possibly have dismissed as a trick of light or the aftereffects of too much wine at supper.
Indeed, hadn’t he as recently as the past spring seen his sister-in-law Jennifer spring up from the grass to bring her lovely and magical self to delight them all with her music and her beauty? Hadn’t he been standing not fifty paces away from his current location when he’d seen his brother-in-law Jackson stride from the bejeweled courts below, as if he’d simply walked through a gate that no mortal eyes could see?
He had supposed that at some point in the distant future he might be able to discount what he’d seen and perhaps learn to ignore the things about his siblings-in-law that puzzled him.
That day, he imagined, wouldn’t be today.
He stood still, as still as if he’d been frozen there, on a spot near his father’s keep, looking at something shimmering in the air in front of him.
The ground was nothing out of the ordinary. It was the last of the summer grasses, likely rather tasty to whatever animals were allowed to graze there, but in all other aspects quite unremarkable. If he’d walked over the spot another day, he wouldn’t have marked it at all.
Today, however, things were different. Not only did the grass bear the sheen of something magical, the air was full of a strange and marvelous light that had nothing at all to do with the sun that had risen but an hour before. He would have suspected he was dreaming, but he had enough wit left to know he wasn’t.
He knew one other thing as well.
He was looking at a faery.
There was no denying it. She had simply appeared, standing not twenty paces away from him, staring off into the distance as if she saw things he couldn’t. Her clothing he dismissed immediately. It was very fine but unremarkable. What held his attention was the fairness of her visage and the marvelous cascade of dark curls that fell over her shoulders like a tumbling waterfall.
Well, that and her wings.
They were a gossamer bit of business that shimmered and fluttered as she breathed in and out. He knew he was gaping, but he couldn’t manage anything else. He had never in his life seen anything so lovely, so wistful, so full of things he could not name but knew he was very interested in discovering. Aye, now, there was a gel worth snatching from the greedy clutches of the Faery Queen.
The air began to tremble, as if the gates to the netherworld had sensed his intention and were determined to thwart him before he could stop them. He started forward to take hold of the faery, but before he could touch her, he was jerked backward, almost off his feet. He spun around, curses halfway out of his mouth, to find his eldest brother standing there wearing an expression of the utmost gravity.
“Don’t,” Robin said quietly.
“Are you mad?” Montgomery demanded, trying to pull his arm free. “Let me go.”
“Do not step on that patch of ground, Montgomery.”
He had every intention of doing just that, but he had other business to see to first. He stepped away from his brother and drew his sword, fully prepared to teach his brother not to meddle in affairs that were not his.
He was surprised enough to see Robin not do the same that he lowered the blade. Robin was never one to back away from a fight, especially one he could have fought whilst half asleep. That he merely stood there with his hands down by his sides and an expression of gravity on his face that bespoke truly dire things was remarkable enough that Montgomery resheathed his blade before he thought better of it.
“What are you talking about?” Montgomery asked.
Robin paused, considered, then dug his heels in and said nothing. Montgomery cursed his brother silently—no sense in provoking him unnecessarily—he then turned back around to get back to the business of capturing—er, rescuing, rather—the lass who had appeared in front of him as if from a dream.
Only to find her, and the magic that had accompanied her, gone.
Montgomery knew he shouldn’t have been surprised, but he found himself gaping just the same. Unfortunately, all the protesting he could muster wasn’t going to change the fact that the ground before him was now nothing more than what it should have been. The sparkling air that had hovered over it had dissipated. Of the beauty he’d seen, there was no sign.
Obviously, Faery had reclaimed her own.
He shivered in spite of himself.
“Montgomery, let us return home.”
Montgomery took a moment to suppress the urge to run his brother through for interrupting what he was quite certain had been a singular opportunity to have a Faery for himself, unclenched his hands lest he be overly tempted to use them instead of his sword to teach his brother manners, then took a deep breath. Obviously, Robin knew more than he was letting on. The least he could do was divulge a few of those secrets. Montgomery turned around and looked at his brother.
“What lies there in that spot?”
“Nothing,” Robin said with a shrug.
“Robin, I am no longer a child.”
“I never said you were.” He nodded toward the keep. “Let’s be off. There are surely things enough inside to hold our interest.”
“You’re not answering my question.”
“I’m not,” Robin agreed seriously. “I have nothing at all to do with that spot of ground, so on its particulars I will remain prudently silent.”
“Should I ask—?”
“Cease,” Robin interrupted sharply. He chewed on his words for a moment or two, then shook his head, as if he found the thought of uttering them unpalatable. He slung his
arm around Montgomery’s shoulders. “I am not the one to be asking, brother, and if you want my advice, you’ll not look for others to pose your questions to. Bide your time and keep your mouth shut.” He nodded knowingly. “ ’Tis what a virtuous knight would do.”
Montgomery started to protest, then reconsidered. The truth was, what he wanted more than anything was to be a virtuous knight, the sort of lad who would meet with the approval of not only his father but his four elder brothers. No matter the difficulty of the task set before him.
He supposed he might spend a moment or two now and again regretting that.
“Let’s go train,” Robin suggested. “That will occupy our morning quite well, don’t you think?”
Montgomery nodded, for the second thing he wanted, after being considered the sort of honorable knight his father would admire, was to be the same sort of swordsman his eldest brothers were. If Robin was willing to indulge him now in the lists, he wasn’t going to refuse.
“In fact,” Robin added, “I think you might be worth my full attention and scrutiny for the next few months. Especially if you can keep your mouth shut about things I’m certain you didn’t just see. What think you?”
Montgomery stifled the urge to drop to his knees and kiss Robin’s dung-encrusted boots. Robin was notoriously choosey about the lads he trained, so to be thus singled out was indeed an honor worthy of a bit of discretion.
Though he couldn’t help one final foray into things likely better left alone. That gel with the long, trailing mass of relentlessly curling dark hair and the wings . . . if he could just have even a fraction of an answer, simply to put his mind at rest about her. He took a deep breath, then looked at his brother.