His Castilian Hawk

His Castilian Hawk

For bastard-born Robert FitzStephan, being given Eleanor d’Outremer in marriage is an honour he never aspired to. For Eleanor, this forced wedding is not much of a fairy tale. Not that she has any choice: in this the year 1282, King Edward I rules absolute and he has other concerns than the fate of one young woman—he has the conquest of Wales to plan.

Robert FitzStephan has served Edward Longshanks since the age of twelve. A loyal and trusted captain, he has ridden with Edward to the Holy Land and back, fought at his side in innumerable skirmishes. Now he is riding with his king to once and for all bring Wales under English control.

Eleanor d’Outremer—Noor to family and friends—lost her Castilian mother as a child. When a messenger arrives to tell her both her father and her only brother are dead and that she is ordered to wed an unknown upstart named Robert FitzStephan, she has no choice but to comply. After all, it seems her kin were riding against the king when they died.

Robert is not immediately taken by his plump little wife. Things are not made easier by Noor’s blood-ties to the Welsh princes or by the willowy Edith who has warmed Robert’s bed for years. But Noor surprises Robert: he is soon to discover that his little wife is not only spirited and proud, but also brave. Because when Wales lies gasping and Edward I exacts terrible justice on the last prince and his young children, Noor decides to do whatever it takes to save at least one member of the House of Aberffraw from the English king.

Robert finds himself navigating a world in which things are no longer black or white. Will years of ingrained service have him standing with his king or will he follow his heart and protect his wife, his beautiful and fierce Castilian hawk?