One Knight Enchanted Read online

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  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

  Epilogue

  One Knight Enchanted

  A Medieval Romance

  Claire Delacroix

  Deborah A. Cooke

  One Knight Enchanted

  by Claire Delacroix

  Copyright ©2018 Deborah A. Cooke.

  An earlier version of this story was published under the title Enchanted by Claire Delacroix

  Copyright ©1997 by Deborah A. Cooke.

  All Rights Reserved.

  Cover by Kim Killion.

  Without limiting the rights under copyright preserved above, no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright holder and the publisher of this book.

  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 scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

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  Contents

  One Knight Enchanted

  Rogues & Angels

  Dear Reader

  Prologue

  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

  Epilogue

  Author’s Note

  Thank you!

  One Knight’s Return

  About the Author

  More Books by the Author

  One Knight Enchanted

  #1 of Rogues & Angels

  By Claire Delacroix

  Cursed to take the form of the wolf by day, Rolfe de Viandin is skeptical that love can save him. All he wants is to return home from crusade by the Yule and even the pleasures of a magical palace cannot console him...until a beautiful and bold maiden arrives at his gates, seeking sanctuary, and Rolfe’s hope is restored.

  Hunted in the forest, Annelise de Sayerne has to surrender her desire to wed for love, as the price of entering the only refuge is marriage to its enigmatic lord. She fears he must be a monster, but once she experiences his kindness, Annelise resolves to find love with her new husband—if she can just claim his heart.

  Even as Rolfe is beguiled by his bride and Annelise unravels his secrets, a spurned suitor pursues Annelise, determined to claim her legacy at any price. If Rolfe’s curse is not broken, how can he defend his beloved wife from the villain? Will their future be lost before it is truly won—or will Rolfe be convinced of the power of love in time?

  An earlier version of this story was published under the title Enchanted.

  Rogues & Angels

  Medieval Romance Series

  1. One Knight Enchanted

  Dear Reader

  One Knight Enchanted is a medieval fantasy romance, featuring a knight cursed to become a wolf by day and the maiden who breaks the spell with her love. An earlier version of this story was published under the title Enchanted in 1997. I’ve always liked this medieval romance, partly because of the fairy-tale feel to it and partly because I just love Rolfe and Annelise. Many readers have written to me over the years to tell me how much they loved the story, too. I was excited to have the chance to publish it in a new edition and make it available again.

  My original plan had been to simply re-publish the book, but when I read through it, there were things I wanted to revise. Once I started to make changes, the project snowballed into a much bigger job. My challenge was to create a version of the story that made me happy, but not to sacrifice anything that readers liked about the original. Although the basic story is the same, the telling is so different that the book’s been given a new title to distinguish it from the older version.

  One Knight Enchanted is also the launch title of a new series, which will include both revised books and new ones. In this new version, Rolfe is part of a company of knights who fought together in the First Crusade and who call themselves Rogues & Angels. That’s the new name of the series—all eight of these knights will have their stories told and find their HEAs back in Europe. In Enchanted, Rolfe had purchased the mysterious bottle as a gift for his brother: in Rogues & Angels, all of the knights receive parting gifts from an ally in Jerusalem. The gifts are a bit enigmatic and challenge the knights’ various expectations. There are also connections between the knights of this company and my other medieval romance series: many of them are the forebears of later protagonists, and I’ll tell you more about that in each book. On my website, these stories are all under the Sayerne tab, because that’s the world they share.

  The next story in the series will be One Knight’s Return, a revision of My Lady’s Champion. In this book, both Quinn and Bayard find their happy endings. There’s an excerpt from the new version of Quinn’s story at the end of this book.

  I also continue to write paranormal romance featuring dragon shifters as Deborah Cooke: the Dragons of Incendium is my current paranormal romance series, which features dragon shifter princesses from space. My current romantic comedy and contemporary romance series is Flatiron Five, featuring five friends and partners who own a successful gym in Manhattan.

  To learn about my new releases and get additional content available only to subscribers, please sign up for one (or all) of my newsletters:

  • Dragons & Angels is the newsletter for my Deborah Cooke paranormal romances.

  • Heroes & Bad Boys is the newsletter for my Deborah Cooke contemporary romances.

  • Knights & Rogues is the newsletter for my Claire Delacroix historical romances.

  If you prefer something shorter and sweeter, you can also subscribe to my New Release Alert. You'll get a single email announcement on the on-sale date of any new book of mine.

  I hope you enjoy this new version of Rolfe and Annelise’s story, and also the companion knights of the Rogues & Angels series.

  All my best

  Claire

  http://delacroix.net

  Prologue

  May 1101—Jerusalem

  “We could join the Lombards and this new crusade,” Thierry Douglas suggested, his opinion of that strategy clear in his tone. “If we want to fight with peasants.”

  The eight knights who had become friends, as well as comrades, sat in the tavern they favored and drank young red wine. They had each ridden to crusade and had met in Outremer, ultimately joining forces to fight together. Rolfe de Viandin liked to jest that his friends were rogues and angels, for it was true that their natures could not have been more varied.

  Thierry and Luc Douglas were twins from the north of England, and Rolfe still found it uncanny how well they anticipated each o
ther’s thoughts and movements. The sole difference between them was that Thierry’s eyes were green, a striking contrast to his black hair, while Luc’s remaining eye was hazel. They, too, had ridden in pursuit of adventure and Rolfe admired that neither hesitated to engage a foe.

  Rolfe had met the twins at the siege of Antioch four years before, when both he and they had noticed two other knights being struck down and taken captive. Rolfe, Thierry, and Luc had rescued Quinn and Bayard, which had formed the core of their company. Luc had lost an eye in that battle and had worn a patch ever since.

  Quinn de Sayerne, with his auburn hair and amber eyes, was the most thoughtful of the company, as befitted an older son and heir. He often fought back-to-back with Bayard de Neuville, dark-haired and dark-eyed, a younger son with no claim at home, much like Rolfe. Bayard was quick with a jest and quicker yet to strike a killing blow, which was a good balance to Quinn’s temperance. They had met shortly after arriving in Palestine and become close companions. Rolfe thought that Quinn had joined the crusade for experience and pursuit of justice while Bayard sought adventure and opportunity. They might have been lost without such timely intervention.

  Never mind the aid of Lothair. Lothair, who they called the Viking, was taller than any of them and more ferocious in battle than any knight Rolfe had ever known. He was also a talented healer and had ensured Quinn’s survival, thereby bonding those two together. Lothair had blond hair and green eyes and must have hailed from some frozen northern land. He was inclined to be enigmatic but there was no doubt of his ambition—he had joined the fight for plunder.

  The company was completed with two handsome knights, both with a measure of charm. Amaury de Montvieux was another with a legacy he had only to ride home to claim. He had joined the crusade out of a conviction that it was right, and was an excellent fighter. He was affluent—no surprise, given his status as heir to a prosperous holding—and inclined to be a little proud. His heart was of the best and valiant, too. Because of his connections, the company had been shown favors in Outremer by the king himself.

  Finally, there was Niall MacGillivray, a Scottish mercenary with a fondness for damsels in distress—with his fair hair and blue eyes, he easily gained the favor of any lady he sought to woo, though he vowed that he would never lose his own heart. Although he was even more shameless in his pursuit of women than Rolfe, he listened well and often learned details from the ladies that were of advantage to them in battle.

  It was after sunset by the time they had all gathered at the tavern and had their first sip of the wine. Although they met most nights, on this night, they had a decision to make. Lothair had pronounced Quinn to be fully healed, and Quinn had received a message from his overlord that he was now Lord de Sayerne. Would Quinn leave? If so, there was no doubt that Bayard would accompany him. But what of the others? Should they join another battle, like the one mustering in Constantinople, or should they dissolve their company?

  The wine had become sharper than had previously been the case and Rolfe de Viandin found it less palatable.

  Not as unpalatable as Thierry’s suggestion, though. He had endured enough war.

  “I failed to bring my plow,” Rolfe said, then quaffed the rest of his wine. He recalled, not for the first time, the rich wine made at his home estate and felt his yearning to return grow stronger.

  Niall grinned, his blue eyes dancing. “I forgot mine, as well.” He filled Rolfe’s cup and the two toasted each other before drinking anew.

  “They killed Alexios’ pet lion,” Lothair said grimly. “Regardless of their social status, they lack sense in any measure.”

  “Allying with fools will see a man dead quicker than any other choice,” Luc, the strategist, agreed.

  There was a murmur of agreement to that.

  “I see little to be gained by remaining in Outremer, but much to be lost,” Rolfe said. “Jerusalem is taken and secured. We have gained some riches, which could be lost.”

  “Just as our health could be,” Lothair agreed. “We have sufficient injuries between us, to my thinking.”

  Again, there was assent.

  “It is said that other forces arrive,” Quinn noted, speaking with his customary calm. “Knights among them. Raymond IV of Toulouse is said to be arriving at Nicodemia with troops.”

  “He turned back from the first crusade before the battle was won,” Amaury scoffed. “I see the reason they already call this the crusade of the faint-hearted. I am not hungry to join such company. They might falter in battle, which would lead to no good result.”

  The knights nodded at this.

  “They come to reap the spoils now the hard labor is done,” Bayard muttered. When Quinn might have protested, he gave his comrade a hard look. “We only lingered so long in Outremer because of your injury. Now you are not just healed, but heir to a holding! I say we ride for Sayerne, pray at your father’s grave, and find you a wife.” They drank to Quinn’s health and congratulated him again.

  Quinn did not reply to that, merely sipped of his ale. Was it possible he was not happy with these tidings? Rolfe wondered if he had been close to his father and mourned his death.

  “But not all of us are so fortunate as Quinn,” Thierry noted. “Not all of us have a holding that merely awaits our arrival.”

  “Although some of us do,” Luc said, giving Amaury a nudge. That knight only smiled, for the truth was indisputable. “Perhaps we shall all come with you and live off the fat of the land at Montvieux.”

  “God spare me the expense of a company of hungry mercenaries!” Amaury said and they all laughed. “And then there is my fair cousin. No, no, no. You will not be welcome at Montvieux.” He pointed at Rolfe. “Not you.” He pointed at Niall. “And especially not you.”

  “How fair is she?” Niall demanded with a grin. “I might make her happy.”

  “For a night,” Rolfe teased.

  “Then you will make her happy for the next,” Niall agreed easily.

  “Do not provoke me in this,” Amaury retorted, his eyes flashing blue fire.

  “You can all stay away from my sister, as well,” Quinn added.

  “Then we shall have no place to sleep,” Niall complained in good temper.

  “I say we visit both Sayerne and Montvieux and confirm the beauty of these ladies,” Rolfe said. Niall chuckled.

  “I say you will sleep in the stables if you cross my borders,” Amaury said and Quinn agreed.

  “The fact remains that not all of us have a destination where we will be welcomed,” Thierry noted.

  “We have need of a company of heiresses,” Lothair declared. “Beauties, every one, burdened with wealth and property and ripe for the plucking.”

  “So long as you do not dream of too much good fortune,” Rolfe said to much laughter.

  “Now there is a fantasy worthy of a tale!” Thierry said with a laugh. “Keeper! We shall have more wine, if you please.”

  “I say we shall make our fortunes at home,” Bayard argued, raising his voice over the merriment to sound a more somber note. “Outremer has been divided and allotted. There are few futures to be made here now and, indeed, I fear the Latin Kingdoms will not remain stable for long.” He shook his head. “There are few prospects for us here.”

  “It was a blow indeed that Godfroi died last summer,” Lothair contributed with a shake of his head. “There are few leaders his equal.”

  “Though his brother promises to do well as king,” Quinn said.

  There was another grunt although it was harder to determine whether the greater mood was skepticism or agreement.

  “Here is a suggestion,” Quinn said. “Let us leave Outremer. As Bayard notes, there is little opportunity for good here and more for peril. Let us ride home together. My holding might be besieged, seeing as it is without a lord. I might have need of your expertise.” He fixed a stern gaze upon Rolfe and Niall. “You are all welcome to visit Sayerne, so long as you pledge to leave my sister and other women at Sayerne untouched.�
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  Niall and Rolfe agreed with a show of reluctance, for they knew it was a generous offer and one they welcomed—they would both tease Quinn about his sister, though Rolfe knew Niall would also keep his pledge.

  “So, we have a destination,” Luc said with satisfaction.

  “And must choose a route,” Thierry added, turning to Quinn. “Where is Sayerne?”

  “North of the Alps, west of Martigny. We rode south through the great Beauvoir Pass with Robert Courteheuse, then down to Brindisi, sailed to Greece, then rode through Byzantium to Constantinople.” He shook his head. “We will reach the pass in winter, though, if we depart now. I would suggest Godfroi de Bouillon’s route, through Byzantium and into the Holy Roman Empire, then approach Sayerne from the north in the spring.”

  Thierry, who remember a map of all the world, shook his head. “I would ride for Acre and sail for Venice, avoiding these newly arrived crusaders and whatever trouble they would make. It would be quicker...”

  “But still you will reach the Alps in winter,” Quinn said. “I will not undertake that ride again.”

  “We could linger in Venice,” Luc suggested.

  “Too expensive,” came a chorus of protest. The Venetians were reputed to charge visitors richly.