But he was oh so fascinating.
All I knew about him were dates, battles, and cold historical facts, but I
sensed such fire in him. Then I researched the local legends of the foundation
of Luxembourg and found the soul of the true Sigefroi... a man torn between
love and duty, between the church and the evil my immortal heroine represented
for the people of his time.
SEDUCING SIGEFROI is book 3
in the Curse of the Lost Isle series. Books 1 and 2, Princess of Bretagne and
Pagan Queen, start this saga in ancient Scotland, with King Elinas and Pressine
the Fae, and the childhood of Melusine. Book 4, Lady of Luxembourg, to be
released in the fall, will continue the story of Sigefroi and Melusine the Fae.
Curse of the lost isle:
From history shrouded in
myths, emerges a family of immortal Celtic Ladies, who roam the medieval world
in search of salvation from a curse. For centuries, imbued with hereditary
gifts, they hide their deadly secret... but if the Church ever suspects what
they really are, they will be hunted, tortured, and burned at the stake.
SEDUCING SIGEFROI
Luxembourg - 963 AD - To
offset the curse that makes her a serpent from the waist down one day each
month, Melusine, exiled Princess of Strathclyde, must seduce and wed a mortal
knight, the shrewd and ambitious Sigefroi of Ardennes.
Sigefroi, son of the Duke of
Lorraine, suspects Melusine is not what she appears, but her beauty, her rich
dowry, and her sharp political skills serve his ambitions. He never expected
her to soften his stone-cold warrior heart.
So close to the Imperial
court, dangers and intrigue threaten Melusine. War looms on the horizon, a
Mermaid was sighted around Luxembourg, and Sigefroi’s bishop brother questions
her ancestry. If anyone ever suspects Melusine’s true nature, she will burn at
the stake...
"As always, Schartz spins a great story. It’s a
bit bloody and bloodthirsty in places... But that's part of the drama, and
Schartz certainly knows drama." Manic Readers 4.5 stars
EXCERPT:
“Is everything to your liking so far?”
Jarred by the deep male voice, Melusine snapped awake.
Sigefroi stood in front of her, one soft boot nonchalantly propped on the edge
of the wooden tub. The white of his tunic matched his teeth as he stared at her
with a wolfish grin.
Melusine glanced around in panic for something to
cover her nudity but her clothes lay too far away. She pulled up her legs in
the bath water and laced her arms around her knees. “How dare you intrude?
Can’t you see I’m taking a bath?”
Sigefroi’s bold gaze swept over her exposed body.
“It’s not as if it were the first time. You seem to like bathing in hot tubs as
well as in cold rivers.”
Shocked at his effrontery, Melusine released one arm
to point toward the door. “Get out of my chamber immediately!”
“Your chamber?” His grin widened. “This is the only
private chamber in the villa, and it happens to be mine.”
“Yours?” Melusine flushed in confusion. She knew the
villa was small but hadn’t really thought about all the details.
“I’ll share it with you, unless you want to sleep on
the hall floor with the servants.” The scowl on his brow returned. “And as the
lord of this place, I don’t take orders from my guests... or my wenches.”
Wench? Her solitary life hadn’t prepared Melusine for
such vulgarity. According to what she understood of men, however, she must not
give herself too fast but rather let Sigefroi grow hungry for her body as long
as possible. “I am no wench and demand to be treated with respect!”
He chuckled and effected a mock bow. “You certainly
have mine, my lady.”
Melusine managed a forced smile. “If you give me your
word to behave honorably, I could sleep on a pallet behind a screen at the far
side of your bedchamber.”
He rolled his eyes. “Truly?”
Melusine hoped her inaccessible proximity would work
in her favor. “There is enough space for the two of us.”
“Nay.” The candles flickered in his amber eyes. “You
don’t understand, my lady.” A slow smile spread on his sensual lips. “I intend
to take you to my bed tonight. After all, we are to be wed.”
“So soon?” Panic choked her voice. Impaired by
Sigefroi’s close proximity, Melusine couldn’t think. He wanted to consummate
their union tonight? She quickly regained her composure. “My lord, it’s not
proper. We hardly know each other and are not yet betrothed.”
He pulled up the sleeves of his tunic. “A detail
easily remedied, my lady. Do you mind if I wash my hands before dinner?”
Before she could react, he dipped his hands in her
bath, caressed her knee, brushed the skin of her thigh. Delicious heat coursed
through her entire body. He seemed to enjoy her confusion as he swept the
length of her folded arms with the back of one finger.
Lifting her chin with the crook of one finger, he bent
and softly kissed her lips.
Melusine melted into the bath water, waves of heat
swelled and washed over her. His smooth, soft lips teased hers. Her mouth
relaxed and opened under his. She let him gently probe her mouth then claim it
as his own. Dear Goddess, she was lost.
Find out about Vijaya Schartz and her books at:
2 comments:
Sounds like an interesting historical period. I like the idea of bringing a real person back to life in a story.
A great concept. Sounds intriguing. Love the cover!
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