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"Autumn Dawn has crafted spunky characters and action packed scenes that keep the plot moving along fast. You will meet characters from the previous story by Ms. Dawn, THE WOMAN INSIDE, but readers don't need to read that to fully understand THE OTHER WOMAN. Enjoyable, fast paced and filled with enough sexual tension to hold readers' attention, THE OTHER WOMAN is a must read for those looking for a tale of second chance lovers." Patti Fischer, Romance Reviews Today
"Five Angels! Autumn Dawn writes a very compelling story about two very strong willed characters. The compassion that builds between them when they find out the truth of the wrongs done to them is very exciting. This is a great page turning story. The reader will not be able to wait to see what secret is discovered next." Briana, Fallen Angel Reviews
THE OTHER WOMAN
By
Autumn Dawn
© copyright October 2004, Autumn Dawn Beaudreault
Cover art by Eliza Black, © copyright October 2004
ISBN 1-58608-143-8
New Concepts Publishing
Lake Park, GA 31636
www.newconceptspublishing.com
This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author’s imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.
Chapter 1
Allyson’s betrothed stopped cold on the threshold, his face a mask of shock. She really couldn’t blame him. After all, it wasn’t everyday a man discovered his fiancée and his mistress gathered in the same room.
"Do come in, Roland." Allyson gestured ironically at the velvet couch his long- time love, Marissa, occupied. "You’re just in time for tea."
Marissa smiled anxiously at him, and like a man in a nightmare, he complied.
Now that all the players of this little drama had assembled, Allyson poured the tea, careful to conceal the nervous trembling of her fingers as she poured his. Black, just the way he liked it.
Wary as a cornered tom cat, Roland’s tense gray gaze moved between the two women. "What is going on?"
With an impatient sigh, Allyson gestured with her cup, careful not to spill. This would be one of the most difficult things she’d done in all her fifteen years, but it was the only solution she could think of that all parties might live with. "Our parents are forcing us to wed, Roland. I can sympathize with your situation--your family badly needs their king’s approval, and in any case we can’t commit treason. No matter what we feel, our monarchs are determined this foolish deal will help reinforce the peace between our people. I know you don’t go willingly into this, especially since I am being forced. Mistress or not, I still find you a far better choice than losing my head."
Her face darkened. Her father was delighted with the betrothal, since he’d found her particularly difficult to marry off. In one stroke her father would be shut of this most troublesome daughter and form an advantageous alliance. From his point of view, he couldn’t lose.
Besides, her father knew she favored their neighbor Roland--she always had. So did he. Unfortunately his view on mistresses and hers did not mesh. To his mind they were no threat to the lady of the house, merely a mild diversion. Didn’t he have one himself? Such a paltry thing had never bothered her mother, or anyone else. She would marry Roland.
Allyson felt differently. If she couldn’t have the whole man, then she would accept nothing at all, husband or not. Her father had underestimated her determination, and her cunning.
Using the weight of her cup and saucer to still her betraying hands, Allyson continued, "This being the case, I thought we should hammer out an agreement between us." Her circling cup included the three of them. Using as much gentle persuasion as she could, she proposed, "They may force the vows from our lips, but they can force nothing else, do you understand?" Expression fierce, she leaned forward. "I know you love Marissa; would marry her if you could." Her eyes flicked to Marissa’s stomach. "I know about the child."
There was no sound in the room, but Roland quietly took Marissa’s hand. A black lock slipped over his forehead, shielding one gray eye as he glanced at his love’s belly. His child slept there, and by the look in his eye, nothing would convince him to give it up.
It was all Allyson needed to see. With every ounce of persuasive power she had in her, she looked deep into his eyes. "Keep her as the wife of your heart, Roland. When we stand before the bishop, let me stand as proxy for her. After the vows, let us retire to the room, but do nothing. After the household is asleep, go to her and be her husband in truth. Let things remain pure between you."
The lovers exchanged glances; hers loving and filled with painful hope, his intense with unspoken emotion.
Eyes bright, Roland said roughly to Allyson, "And what of you? How will you go on?"
Safely hidden, her heart gave a painful lurch. Dark-eyed and full of warrior’s fire, Roland Darchours was the only man she’d ever wanted, and the last one she would ever have.
A pleasant smile on her face, Allyson waved a hand. "I? I will be free." She forced the smile to brighten, afraid that he would see.
It will not happen, she thought, determined. This was a private pain. No one would ever be privy to it but her. "Content in my role as cupid, I shall travel about the continent, see the sights. All considered, we should rarely have cause to see each other." The smile slipped as she became more serious. "Do we have a deal, Roland Darchours?"
For a moment his gaze sharpened, became piercing. For a horrible second, she thought he guessed what she was not saying.
Then he looked at Marissa. Slowly his hand covered her belly, and there was so much love in his gaze that Alyson wanted to cry. "Aye," he rasped. "It will be as you say." Those dark eyes pierced her once again. "I am in debt to you, my lady. More than you will ever know." Unspoken lay his silent promise to make it up to her, whatever the cost.
Aware that such a thing was never likely to happen this side of heaven, Allyson nodded and avoided his eyes as if it were a trivial matter they’d just settled. "Very good." With a firm clink, she set down her cup and rose to her feet. "Now if you’ll just excuse me, I think I’ll go to my room and plan my travels. Good day to you." She nodded politely at the lovers and walked without hurrying to the door.
Only when she was safely locked within her own room did she slump against the thick door. One by one the tears fell, silent witness to the hurt inside.
Chapter 2
Two years after the wedding…
Roland lunged against his chains. They cut deeply into the raw welts he’d already torn in his wrists, but he didn’t care. A lady, his captors had said. A lady had betrayed him. His eyes narrowed with savage fury. Ally. Ally had betrayed him.
A boat was coming. He could not see it through the fog, but the occasional clank of oars, a guttural swear word drifted over the sea.
Neptune’s breath curled around Roland’s nearly naked body, stealing heart and warmth. One of the sneaky dogs who’d waylaid him glanced his way, checking to see that he was still securely bound to the rocks. Several of the sailor’s comrades had been slain before they’d taken him down, no shallow feat since Roland had been alone when he’d been ambushed. Perhaps the man feared the chains might not hold him.
He should fear it.
The boat slipped from the fog and grated against the rocks. Roland could hear a quick conversation in a foreign tongue, the clink of coins.
Sold as a slave. Betrayed by a lady.
Ally would pay for this.
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