Haunted Knights (Montbryce~The Next Generation Historical Romance)

by Anna Markland

  She pulled away and looked into his eyes. “Will we love them any less if they are?”

  How could he have been so blind? This woman who had never known love from her own parents would of course cherish children. He had thought to deny her and himself that joy.

  He kissed the top of her head, then broke them apart and lay back on the bed, patting the space beside him. “Come here and lay with me. Let’s make a baby.”

  EPILOGUE

  Alphonse Revandel seemed to lose his wits after his daughter’s disappearance and his sons’ incarceration. When news was brought to him that Winrod and Dareau had been murdered in prison, apparently by someone to whom they owed a great deal of money, he wandered off into the South Downs and was never seen again.

  Antoine deeded Poling Manor to Denis with the proviso he never sell it. Denis spent summers there with his wife and children. Adam and Rosamunda and their brood usually accompanied them on the journey, the Montbryces staying at nearby East Preston.

  Vincent Lallement became Master of a rebuilt and refurbished Kingston Gorse. Lucien married a wealthy heiress who brought him a sizable house in Hastings as part of her dowry.

  King Henry continued to spend time, effort, and money increasing the size and grandeur of Arundel Castle. Adam and Denis and their families often spent time there as His Majesty’s guests. The two men were fond of boasting to Henry’s court that the Giant and the Dwarf would be boon companions to the end. However, they made sure to return to Belisle Castle months before the King turned his thoughts to the annual celebrations of the Hallowmas Triduum.

  Whenever he was in England, Adam took time to kneel in thanksgiving before the altar of Saint Alban. He became known as one of the abbey’s most generous benefactors.

  FAMILY TREE

  THE NEXT GENERATION SERIES

  (AKA WOUNDED WARRIORS)

  Dark Irish Knight~Ronan MacLachlainn has been cruelly tortured, resulting in the blinding of one eye. He burns to avenge the loss of his Irish estates and the murder of his wife. Nothing can stand in his way, not even love.

  Dance of Love~Arthritis has gnarled Izzy de Montbryce’s hands so badly he can hardly wield a sword. Can the ancient wisdom Farah has learned in captivity heal his heart as well as his hands?

  If you are curious to read the story of Hugh, Devona, Antoine and Sybilla that so enthralled Rosamunda, If Love Dares Enough is the book for you!

  About the Author

  Anna Markland is a Canadian author with a keen interest in genealogy. She writes medieval romance about family honour, ancestry and roots. Her novels are intimate love stories filled with passion and adventure. Following a fruitful career in teaching, Anna transformed her love of writing and history into engaging works of fiction. Prior to tackling fiction, she published numerous family histories. One of the things she enjoys most about writing historical romance is the in-depth research required to provide the reader with an authentic medieval experience.

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  DWARFISM AND OTHER SKELETAL DISPLASIAS

  (Information provided by Little People of America)

  There are over 200 distinct types of dwarfism. The most common type is achondroplasia.

  Over 80% of people with dwarfism have average height parents, siblings and children

  It is very rare to have any type of mental impairment with dwarfism.

  Preferred terminology for someone with dwarfism is “short stature”, “having dwarfism”, “little person”, or “dwarf”. The term “midget” is antiquated and can be perceived by some as a rude slang word.

  People with dwarfism are able to do everything an average height person can—they can ride bikes, play sports, drive cars, travel, have fulfilling careers and families; they just may need a stool or a simple accommodation.

  For more information contact the Little People of America organization. www.lpaonline.org

  Author’s Note:

  In my story, Paulina suffers from Pituitary dwarfism, a condition of growth retardation characterized by people who are very short in stature but have normal body proportions. It is caused by a dysfunction of the pituitary gland, the pea-sized mass of tissue located at the base of the brain.

  Denis is an achondroplastic dwarf.

  Of course, none of these medical terms existed in medieval times.

  Elements of my story were inspired by actor Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones). At the 2013 Golden Globe Awards he spoke of Martin Henderson, a British dwarf facing life in a wheel chair after being “tossed” by a modern day medieval thinker.

  His attacker may have been inspired by a “dwarf tossing” incident involving members of the English Rugby squad during a tour of New Zealand.

  GLOSSARY

  If you like stories with medieval breeds of dogs, you’ll enjoy If Love Dares Enough, Carried Away, and Wild Viking Princess. If you have a soft spot for cats, read Passion in the Blood and Haunted Knights.

  Looking for historical fiction centred on a certain region?

  English History—all books

  Norman French History—all books

  Crusades—A Man of Value

  Welsh History—Conquering Passion, Defiant Passion, Dark and Bright, The Winds of the Heavens

  Scottish History—Conquering Passion, A Man of Value, Sweet Taste of Love

  European History (Holy Roman Empire)—Carried Away

  Danish History—Wild Viking Princess

  Spanish History—Dance of Love

  Ireland—Dark Irish Knight

  If you like to read about historical characters:

  William the Conqueror—Conquering Passion, If Love Dares Enough, Defiant Passion

  William Rufus—A Man of Value

  Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy—Passion in the Blood

  Henry I of England—Passion in the Blood, Sweet Taste of Love

  Heinrich V, Holy Roman Emperor—Carried Away

  Vikings—Wild Viking Princess

  Kings of Aragon (Spain)—Dance of Love

  CP=Conquering Passion

  AMOV=A Man of Value

  ILDE=If Love Dares Enough

  PIB=Passion in the Blood

  DP=Defiant Passion

  DB=Dark and Bright

  WTH=The Winds of the Heavens

  CA=Carried Away

  STL=Sweet Taste of Love

  WVP=Wild Viking Princess

  DOL=Dance of Love

  DIK=Dark Irish Knight

  HK=Haunted Knights

  Abbaye aux Dames—An abbey for women built in Caen by William the Conqueror ILDE, PIB

  Abbaye aux Hommes—An abbey for men built in Caen by William the Conqueror ILDE, PIB

  Abbey—Agneta’s mare in AMOV

  Abbot—Caedmon’s roan stallion in AMOV

  Abertawe—Welsh name of Swansea in south Wales DB

  Adam de Montbryce—Son of Antoine and Sybilla PIB; hero of Haunted Knight

  Adelaide—Daughter of King Henry I; married Holy Roman Emperor, Henry V CA

  Aediva Melton—Sister of the Saxon heroine in ILDE

  Aegir—Norse god of the sea DOL

  Agnes—Norman scullery maid at Domfort Castle ILDE

  Agnès—maidservant of Maudine in HK

  Agneta Kirkthwaite—English Heroine of Danish and Saxon descent in AMOV

  Aidan Branton FitzRam—Son of Caedmon and Agne
ta, twin of Blythe; named for Agneta’s brothers slain at Bolton. AMOV, CA; hero of STL

  Aiweeda—elderly nun in DIK

  Alain Cormant—steward at East Preston HK

  Alban—first English martyr; the city of St. Albans grew around his shrine HK

  Alexandre de Montbryce—Eldest son of Robert and Dorianne. Heir to the title Comte de Montbryce. Born in Caen during his father’s incarceration PIB

  Alfonso Sánchez—King of Aragón DOL

  al-Kindi—historical figure born in Basra; medieval Islamic physician; DOL

  Alnwick—in Northumbria. Site of a battle in 1093 between Roger de Mowbray, Earl of Northumbria, and Malcolm, King of Scotland. Malcolm and his son were killed. Agneta rescues Caedmon from the battlefield and tends his injuries. AMOV

  Alphonse Revandel— father of Letyce HK

  Álvar Fáñez—historical figure; Spanish hero of the Reconquista, cousin of El Cid

  Amadour de Vignoles—Norman comrade of Caedmon during Crusade; hero of Civitote AMOV; DOL

  Andras ap Rhys—Welshman—Friend and comrade of Rhodri ap Owain in CP and DP

  Aneurin ap Norweg—Welshman—Friend and comrade of Rhodri ap Owain in CP and DP

  Angeline Hugo—Norman peasant, rape victim of Arnulf de Valtesse CP

  Anjou—Geographic area of France south of Normandy. Its people are called Angevins. Normans and Angevins were traditional enemies. ILDE

  Anna—Dieter’s housekeeper, CA

  Annalise de Vymont—Heroine of DB. Niece of the Earl of Chester.

  Antoine de Montbryce—Norman hero of ILDE; brother of Rambaud and Hugh

  Apollo—Izzy de Montbryce’s horse DOL

  ap Owain—Welsh patronymic—son of Owain

  Aragón—Medieval kingdom in northeastern Spain DOL

  Ariel—Rhodri’s Welsh pony DP

  Arnulf de Valtesse—Norman half brother of Mabelle de Montbryce, heroine of CP. Bastard son of Guillaume de Valtesse. Murdered in CP by Simon Hugo

  Artus Aubin—Norman steward of Giroux Castle DOL

  Arundel Castle—famous Norman castle in Sussex HK

  Ascha (Bronson) Woolgar—Saxon mother of Caedmon; in CP and AMOV

  Badajoz—city in Spain DOL

  Barat Cormant—Norman steward brought to England by the Montbryces for Sussex properties; ILDE; son of Michel, brother of Théo.

  Baudoin de Montbryce—Norman born in England; second son of Ram and Mabelle de Montbryce; becomes 2nd Earl of Ellesmere; marries Carys verch Rhodri; appears in CP, AMOV, DP and PIB.

  Beal—coastal village in Northumbria close to Holy Island STL

  Belisle Castle—Antoine’s castle in Normandie

  Bemia Melton—Saxon sister of heroine of ILDE

  Bernard Chauvelin—Norman soldier at Montbryce Castle PIB

  Bernard de Montbryce—Father of Ram, Antoine and Hugh. Dies in 1066 while his sons are fighting in England.

  Bernadine de Montbryce—daughter of Antoine and Sybilla

  Bernhardt—Dieter’s valet, CA

  Berthold de Quincy—Hospitaller Knight DOL

  Bertrand de Poitou—herald of King Henry HK

  Bileaud—Norman steward at Domfort Castle ILDE

  Blythe Lacey FitzRam—Daughter of Caedmon and Agneta, twin of Aidan. Born in AMOV. Heroine of CA

  Boadicea—warrior queen in ancient Briton; also Boudicca HK

  Boden—English mastiff in ILDE

  Bolton—Village in Northumbria; location of Kirkthwaite Hall AMOV;STL

  Bonhomme—Normans; family name of the stewards of Montbryce and Ellesmere.

  Brémonde—Norman; one of Ram’s commanders at Ellesmere CP

  Brevis—Denis’ horse HK

  Brigantia—English mastiff in ILDE

  Brindis—Ram de Montbryce’s horse in CP

  Brother Christian—religious name given to Aidan when he enters the monastery STL

  Brother Tristan—Cellarer in charge of mead making at Lindisfarne STL

  Caedmon Brice (Woolgar) FitzRam—Illegitimate son of Ram de Montbryce and Ascha Woolgar. Appears in CP, PIB & CA; hero of AMOV

  Cairdis—Ronan’s sword, a gift from Rhodri, means Friendship DIK

  Cantabrian Sea—today known as the Bay of Biscay DOL

  Carnac—village in Brittany; site of ancient monoliths HK

  Capilla del Relicario—Reliquary chapel, Santiago de Compostella cathedral DOL

  Caryl Penarth—Welsh healer; appears in CP and DP

  Carys verch Rhodri—Welsh; healer; daughter of Rhodri and wife of Baudoin de Montbryce. Becomes 2nd Countess of Ellesmere. Appears in PIB, DP and DB

  Catherine de Montbryce—Daughter of Robert and Dorianne PIB

  Chaca—Aragonese name for the ancient town of Jaca DOL

  Civitote—site of the heroic rescue of thousands of crusaders by Caedmon and Amadour AMOV

  Coll de Lladrones—Hill of Thieves DOL

  Commote—A Welsh area of administration, similar to a county.

  Conall MacCathail—steward’s son DIK; helps Ronan escape

  Cormant—Normans; family name of stewards at Alensonne in CP and at East Preston in ILDE

  Coventina Brightmore—Saxon; friend of hero and heroine in AMOV; marries Leofric Deacon

  Curia regis—Latin for King’s Court ILDE

  Daegal—Saxon brigand DIK

  Dagfinn Alfredsen—Dane; ally of Reider in WVP

  Dagfrid—Dane; cousin of Kjartan in WVP

  Dareau Revandel— brother of Letyce HK

  Dda—Welsh surname of Rhonwen and Myfanwy; CP and DP and DB

  de Valtesse—Maiden surname of heroine of CP

  Denis de Sancerre—Angevin; son of Sybilla and adopted son of Antoine de Montbryce; dwarf ILDE & PIB; hero of HK

  Devona Melton—Saxon; heroine of ILDE; marries Hugh de Montbryce

  Dieter Von Wolfenberg—German hero of CA; marries Blythe FitzRam; appears in WVP

  Dominguez—Aragonese; King Alfonso’s lieutenant DOL

  Dorianne de Giroux—Norman heroine of PIB; marries Robert de Montbryce

  Dubh Linn (or Dyflin)—Dublin DIK

  Earl of Chester—Hugh d’Avranches. Historical figure. Known by the Welsh as Hugh Vras (the Fat) PIB, DIK

  East Preston—Sussex village; sight of fictitious manor deeded to Antoine HK

  Edgar the Aetheling—Saxon; historical figure. Claimant to throne of England taken by William the Conqueror. Aetheling is a Saxon term for “next in line”; appears in CP and AMOV

  Edwin FitzRam—English; brother of Blythe, Aidan and Ragna; son of Caedmon and Agneta STL

  El Batallador—nickname given to King Alfonso, means “The Battler” earned because he fought the Moors DOL

  El Cid—historical figure; Spanish hero of the Reconquista DOL

  Eldwyn—Saxon brigand DIK

  Elenor de Giroux—Norman; mother of Dorianne de Giroux; wife of Francois. PIB

  Ellesmere—Location of castle given to Ram as a reward by William the Conqueror. Ram and Mabelle eventually turn a derelict Anglo-Saxon earthwork into a vibrant, thriving castle.

  Emrys—Cook at llys Powwydd. DB

  Emyle Bossuet—Norman commander of mercenaries in Ireland DIK

  Enid—Saxon maid of Ascha Woolgar. CP & AMOV

  Espérance—Cat who brings solace to Robert during his imprisonment. The word means ‘hope’. PIB

  Étienne Robert de Montbryce—Second son of Baudoin and Carys; DB,STL

  Farah—Aragonese; heroine (María Sancha Tarazona) Arabic word meaning ‘joy’DOL

  Felicia de Roucy—historical figure; mother of King Alfonso of Aragón DOL

  Fernand Bonhomme—Norman; second generation of his family to be steward of Montbryce Castle. Father of Mathieu and Honore. Married to Vangeline.

  FitzRam—Norman patronymic surname bestowed on Caedmon by Ram. AMOV

  Fleurie Mabelle de Montbryce—Daughter of Baudoin & Carys. Her mother almost dies giving birth to her. DB

  Florymonde de Montbryce—daug
hter of Antoine and Sybilla

  Fortis—Black stallion; Ram’s favourite mount; saves his life at Hastings CP

  Fortissima—Rhoni’s mare, descended from Fortis DIK

  Fothud MacFintain—villain DIK

  François de Giroux—Norman father of Dorianne and Pierre PIB; sworn enemy of the Montbryces ILDE

  Frederika—Dieter’s first wife, CA

  Freyja—Norse goddess of fertility;WVP

  Gabriel Duquesne—Norman Captain of Rhoni’s bodyguard DIK

  Galicia—kingdom/region in the west of Spain DOL

  Gallien Rambaud de Montbryce—Eldest son of Baudoin and Carys DB, STL

  Gareth Bronson—Saxon brother of Ascha Woolgar; takes Ascha to Scotland. CP & AMOV

  Gawain Bronson—Saxon nephew of Ascha Woolgar; CP & AMOV

  Georges de Giroux—Norman, Crusader. Reappears in DOL

  Gervais—Norman soldier; Ram’s second in command; CP & DP

  Gerwint Isembart de Montbryce (Izzy)—Second son of Hugh and Devona. Named for his grandfather and great grandfather, and the rat catcher, Jubert. Prefers to be called Izzy.PIB; Hero of DOL

  Gerwint Melton—ILDE Saxon grandfather of heroine

  Gicotte—Norman soldier at Montbryce Castle; PIB

  Giroux—Norman surname of the family sworn to avenge Valtesse's cruelty to their ancestor; CP, ILDE & PIB

  Giselle—Norman maidservant who accompanies Mabelle to England and becomes chatelaine of Ellesmere; kidnapped with Mabelle; CP

  Glain verch Llewelyn—Welsh bonesetter in DB

  Gorm—villain of WVP; step brother of Reider

  Grouchet—Anglo-Norman baron, villain of STL

  Guillaume de Terrence—champion supposed to guard heroines in HK

  Guillaume de Valtesse—Norman father of Mabelle; his cruelty begins the feud between the Valtesses and the Giroux family; CP

  Hastings—Site of a historic battle in 1066 that changed the history of England and Normandy CP

  Heinrich—Historical figure; Holy Roman Emperor; CA

  Hel—Norse word for Hell WVP

  Hélène de Fleury—Norman wife of friend of Montbryce brothers killed at Hastings. CP