by Zane, Serena
The Court of Love
Serena Zane
The Court of Love
A Books to Go Now Publication
Copyright © Serena Zane 2013
Books to Go Now
For information on the cover illustration and design, contact [email protected]
First eBook Edition –February 2013
Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, any place, events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously.
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Other Stories by Serena Zane
Moonlight in a Pickup Truck
Follow the Heart
The Hunter Diaries
Acknowledgement
As always, I want to thank the ladies of the RWA for their continued support. And of
course, thanks to my family and friends who put up with my incessant writing habit.
“Forget not yet the tried intent
Of such a truth as I have meant;
My great travail so gladly spent,
Forget not yet!
Forget not yet when first began
The weary life ye know, since when
The suit, the service, none tell can;
Forget not yet!
Forget not yet the great assays,
The cruel wrong, the scornful ways,
The painful patience in denies,
Forget not yet!
Forget not, yet forget not this—
How long ago hath been, and is,
The mind that never meant amiss –
Forget not yet!
Forget not then thine own approved,
The which so long hath thee so loved,
Whose steadfast faith yet never moved:
Forget not yet!”
Sir Thomas Wyatt
Chapter One
The Court of Love, a place where anything could happen. Ha! Katerina stifled the scoff that tried to escape from her mouth. Her heart broken into tiny little shards, she didn’t know why she’d let Magdalena talk her into coming. Admittedly, she did love her dress. The clothes were always a bonus, and she felt a soothing balm overtake her as she stroked the rich burgundy velvet fabric.
Magdalena rested a hand against Kat’s arm. “I have something for you. A little gift.”
Kat raised her eyebrow, “A gift? From you? It’s not enchanted is it?”
Magdalena looked at Kat innocently and blinked her overly large eyes. “I would never dream of enchanting a gift meant for you.” A small pout appeared on her lower lip. “You’ve made it perfectly clear how you feel about my craft.”
“More like craftiness.” They both laughed.
Magdalena held out her tiny hand. A velvet box that matched the color of Kat’s dress sat in her palm. “Go on. Take it.”
Kat hesitated for only a moment.
“Come on Kat! We haven’t got all day.” She shoved the box towards Kat.
Reaching out, Kat closed her hand over the case and slowly opened the top. Her eye caught the glint of sunlight through the heart-shaped pendant. The rays illuminated small garnet gems that had been inset. Kat’s heart sped up as her fingers brushed over the gold filigree. “It’s lovely.”
“And very old. Trust me on this one, you don’t want to lose it.” Magdalena reached across the seat and lifted the pendant out of the box. “Turn around.”
Kat twisted and lifted the heavy weight of her hair from her neck. Magdalena clasped the necklace chain and smoothed Kat’s hair back into place.
“There, now we are ready.”
The heart-shaped pendant glistened just above the swell of her breasts. Kat waited for a moment, but nothing else seemed to happen. It was just a pretty necklace. Good, Kat thought. She didn’t need her witchy friend trying to fix her. She didn’t need fixing. Things were just fine. She swiped at the water that had gathered on the corner of her eye and pasted on a smile. “Thanks. Let’s go.”
The Court of Love was already in full swing, and Kat’s eyes took in the visual feast before her. She loved indoor events. The weather had cooperated with them, and it appeared that the fencing tournament was well underway. Eight erics had been laid out, fighting arenas, where the fencers were paired off into each one dressed in their Sixteenth Century finery of doublets and poufy shirts which made flashes of blue, red, gold, and green as they parried and thrust their weapons. The entryway to the building was located next to where they fought, and Kat couldn’t help the real smile that spread across her face. She loved to watch them. She took Magdalena’s arm in excitement as they approached the pathway next to the erics.
“Where’s the feast?”
“Below.” Magdalena gestured to the path where it veered off down a ramp to the lower section of the building.
Kat had a strange desire to stay and watch the fencers, but Magdalena tugged on her arm and they started to head down the ramp.
“Hold!” The cry went up to all the fighters signaling that something had happened and they were to take a knee until “lay on” was called again signaling all was safe. Kat and Magdalena both glanced up to the fighting erics curious as to what had happened. Together they watched a lone fencer strode over to the fence line where they stood. He glanced down at them for a moment. His dark green eyes lit with some emotion Kat couldn’t quite identify, his gaze met hers.
With a leap, he cleared the high fence and landed on the path in front of them. Kat’s hand flew to her chest where the pendant rested and her fingers curled around the gold heart. The man’s full mouth rose in a charming, wolf-like grin. He sank down on one knee in front of her and held up his hand. Kat reached out gingerly and placed her palm in his. The warmth of his bare skin closed around hers. He continued to meet her gaze and Kat felt warmth spread throughout her body.
His hair was black and cut short, as though he might be in the military. Her eyes made a full inventory. Broad shoulders, and great arms - Kat had a thing for strong arms, and emerald-colored eyes that glinted with promise.
He leaned forward and brushed his lips gently over her knuckles. “Milady, if I may be so bold. Your beauty outshines the stars.” He rose in place, and only then slowly relinquished her hand. He turned and leapt back over the barricade. With a quick glance back over his shoulder, he flashed Kat a grin and called, “Lay on!”
His opponent didn’t waste any time, and the bout continued. Kat sucked in a deep breath.
“That gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, ‘a heaving bosom,’” Magdalena giggled beside her with a glance toward Kat’s chest.
A laugh escaped her lips. “I suppose you’re right.”
Magdalena tugged on her arm. “Come on. It’s freezing out here.”
The bite of February licked at their exposed skin above the squared necklines of their gowns. Snow had fallen earlier that day, and Kat had the strange thought that nature was covering old wounds. Perh
aps in a way, she was right. Mother Nature had a way of taking care of its own. The ground was covered in a blanket of white pure and unblemished. It would be nice to go back to a time when she was unblemished. Kat sucked in another deep breath and started down the ramp. As her foot came down, her shoe slipped and she felt herself fall.
Chapter Two
“Do you think she’s okay?” A concerned voice that Kat didn’t recognize whispered above her.
“I don’t know. Let’s take her inside, and the physician can look her over.” The voice above her was deep and laced with curiosity. She felt herself lifted in strong arms. Kat tried to lift her eyelids, but they were heavy and she couldn’t seem to pry them open.
“Where did she come from?” The other person asked, as they walked beside them.
“Don’t know. It is strange.”
“I’ll get the physician.” She heard footsteps running away.
They must be inside. Kat felt the stillness of the air around them. The man lowered her onto a soft surface, and her eyelids fluttered open as he ran a finger down her cheek.
“Well, hello.” A grin lifted the corner of his mouth and a dimple appeared. She knew this man, but she couldn’t remember why. Her head ached when she tried to sit up. “Don’t try to move. You’ve had a nasty fall.”
Kat closed her eyes and lifted her hand to her head. She winced as her fingers brushed over a large goose-egg on the back of her scalp. A large hand enclosed hers and her eyes opened to meet his. She felt her heart speed up as he leaned close.
“Where did you come from?” His thumb rubbed circles on her palm, and she felt dizzy.
She must still be at the event. Where was Magdalena? “Seattle.”
His hand tightened on hers for the briefest of moments and her eyes snapped open to meet his skeptical gaze. He’d sat back and looked her over. “I have never heard of such a place.”
Great, the man was in character. She must have hit her head harder than she thought. “Look, do you know where my friend is? I think I should go.”
As she tried to rise, his other hand pressed her back onto the settee where she lay. The movement put him leaning over her. She felt the attraction between them as a tangible string that was about to snap. The feeling rubbed against her and she felt defiant and restless. She didn’t want to spend the whole event laying down. His gaze drifted to her lips and then back to her eyes.
“You’re injured, and obviously confused. You will stay here.” He was obviously used to being obeyed. “Who is this friend you speak of?”
“Magdalena. She should be here somewhere.” Kat’s eyes searched the room. It appeared to be an anti-chamber, or a private meeting room. She didn’t recall seeing any side rooms like this one on the building where they were. Confusion started to set in.
“You mean the witch? You’re friends with the witch?” He dropped her hand as though it burned him and stood up.
“She’s not a witch, she’s my friend. What are you talking about?”
His gaze had turned assessing as he watched her, and Kat felt cold inside as though she had lost something important before she knew what it was.
“The only Magdalena around here is the witch, Magdalena Valagytha.”
Kat’s mind spun. She tried to think. The last thing she remembered was her foot slipping on the ice. “What day is it?”
One of his dark eyebrows rose slashing across his forehead. “St. Valentine’s Day. February 14th.”
She waived a dismissive hand. “Yes, I know that part. I meant what year?”
“It is the year of our lord, fifteen hundred forty-seven.”
Kat wiped a hand across her face. Time-travel, just great. She was going to kill Magdalena. Again, she tried to rise. Her head ached, but she made it into a sitting position. “I have to see her.”
“You can’t.”
“Why not?” Kat met his gaze defiantly. Her head might be spinning, but she needed to have words with her old friend.
“Because she is imprisoned below stairs.”
“What do you mean imprisoned?”
“Just that. She is a heretic, and unless she renounces her claims to the dark arts, she will burn. I hope you are not in league with her.”
Kat felt the first vestiges of panic set in. Her palms felt damp and she brushed them against her dress. She still wore the same clothes as before. At least she would fit in. She needed a plan that would rescue her friend from being burned alive as a witch.
First, she would have to reassure the man in front of her. “Of course not.” She raised a hand to the necklace she wore and wrapped her hand around the warm metal.
“Good. I would hate to see one such as you meet with the same fate. Now, what is your name?”
“Katerina Heart. My friends just call me Kat.”
He strode forward and took her hand. Kat felt a small charge course through them as their skin touched. He leaned down and brushed his lips over her knuckles. “Well met Lady Kat. I am Lord Michael Guthrie.”
“I have him! I brought the doctor!” A voice sounded from the doorway. Two men walked in, and Kat knew she was no longer in her own time. This confirmed it. The doctor walked forward carrying a satchel which he set on the little table beside the settee.
Kat quickly rose and immediately swayed in place. Her hand reached out and met with solid muscle as Michael caught her. She let her arms go around his waist to support her. “Please.” She looked up into his eyes. “No doctors. I’ll be fine.”
Humor lit Michael’s eyes. “Why don’t I believe you?” He started to seat her back onto the settee.
She gripped his strong arms in her hands and felt his muscles bunch under her palms. “Please.”
Michael and the doctor exchanged a glance. “He will not do anything unless you tell him it is okay. Will that be all right?”
She didn’t want this doctor with his leeches and medieval practices to come anywhere near her, but she didn’t see where she had much of a choice. “Fine.” She sat back down, reluctantly letting go of Michael.
The doctor stepped closer. “Young lady, I understand you had a bit of a fall.”
“You could say that…” Right into another time.
“Let’s see your head.” He began to prod around the back of her scalp. Kat winced when his fingers came into contact with the goose-egg she’d found earlier. “Hmmm, that is a rather nasty bump.”
“Will she be all right?” Michael asked.
“She’ll be fine in a few days. Until then, I recommend rest.” He stepped away from her and Kat breathed a sigh of relief. No leeches, yay!
“Thank you Doctor. We appreciate your time.”
“Anything for a family friend.” The doctor left the room and they were once again alone together.
“Now, can I see you home?”
“Ummm…” Kat stumbled over her words. She didn’t know what to say. He didn’t know her, and she couldn’t very well tell him she was from the future. “I’m here for the feast?” She was taking a giant stab in the dark that they would be holding a Valentine’s Day feast.
His smile grew. “Of course you are. And we wouldn’t want you to miss out.”
“No.” She grinned back. She would need to get to the basement to find her friend and return to the future.
“The festivities are well underway. However, the doctor ordered rest. Would you like to come and watch the tournaments?”
“I think I’ll just rest for a while, and then come out. Is that okay?” She gave him a beseeching smile.
He looked slightly disappointed that she had turned down his offer to watch him fight, “That will be fine. You can use this room. I will be on the tournament field. Should you need anything you have only to send one of my pages and I will get it for you.”
“Thank you.”
He turned and left the room. Kat tried not to feel sorry that he had gone. There was a connection between them that she would have liked to explore further, but now was not the time. If Magdalena was indeed trapped in the dungeon, then it would be up to Kat to rescue her. Kat’s head throbbed as she stood and walked to the doorway. It had been several minutes and she made sure Michael had plenty of time to leave before she made her move. The door squeaked as she opened the heavy wood, and a young man stepped in front of the opening as she moved to leave.
“I am here to serve you Lady Katerina. What might I do for you?”
Kat was a modern girl, and she tried not to snicker as all sorts of naughty things ran through her head; the man was perfectly serious as he asked the question and she needed to get rid of him. “Actually, I am quite hungry. Could you please retrieve me some bread and cheese. Perhaps some wine as well.”
“At once, my Lady.” He scurried off, in what she could only presume was the direction of the kitchen.
Now, to find the stairs.
Chapter Three
Kat made her way down the hall. Stone walls hung with tapestries caught her attention as she moved past. She briefly wondered where they were. Perhaps somewhere in England? The men definitely had a British accent. Sexy.
Sounds of laughter and gaiety came down the hall toward her. A snickering couple stepped into the hall, and Kat stood frozen like a deer in headlights. They must have thought they were alone. The woman’s bodice had been worked loose and the man had his fingers down the front of her gown. His other hand fished underneath the woman’s skirts. He popped out her breast and bent to take a nipple into his mouth as the woman worked the door handle to the room behind them. The door flung open and they fell into the room in a gaggle of laughter.