Book Title: Their Castilian Orphan
Series: The Castilian Series
Author: Anna Belfrage
Publication Date: 23 March 2024Publisher: Timelight Press
Page Count: approx. 400
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romantic Historical Fiction, Historical Romance
Their Castilian Orphan
by Anna Belfrage
Book Blurb
It is 1294 and Eustace de Lamont is back in England after five years in exile. He will stop at nothing to ruin Robert FitzStephan and his wife, Noor d’Outremer.
Robert’s half brother, Eustace de Lamont, has not mellowed during his absence. He is more ruthless than ever, and this time he targets Robert’s and Noor’s foster son, Lionel.
Lionel is serving King Edward as a page when Eustace appears at court. Not only does Lionel become the horrified witness to Eustace’s violent streak, Eustace also starts voicing his suspicions about Lionel’s parentage. The truth about Lionel’s heritage is explosive—should King Edward find out, all would be lost for Robert and Noor.
In October of 1294, Wales rises in rebellion. Robert must leave his family unprotected to fight the Welsh rebels on the king’s behalf, comforted only by the fact that Eustace too is called to fight.
Except that Eustace has no intention of allowing his duty to his king—or a mere rebellion—come between him and his desire to destroy Robert FitzStephan . . .
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Author Bio:
Had Anna been allowed to choose, she’d have become a time-traveller. As this was impossible, she became a financial professional with three absorbing interests: history, romance and writing. Anna has authored the acclaimed time travelling series The Graham Saga, set in 17th century Scotland and Maryland, as well as the equally acclaimed medieval series The King’s Greatest Enemy which is set in 14th century England. Anna has just released the final instalment, Their Castilian Orphan, in her other medieval series, The Castilian Saga ,which is set against the conquest of Wales. She has recently released Times of Turmoil, a sequel to her time travel romance, The Whirlpools of Time, and is now considering just how to wiggle out of setting the next book in that series in Peter the Great’s Russia, as her characters are demanding. . .
All of Anna’s books have been awarded the IndieBRAG Medallion, she has several Historical Novel Society Editor’s Choices, and one of her books won the HNS Indie Award in 2015. She is also the proud recipient of various Reader’s Favorite medals as well as having won various Gold, Silver and Bronze Coffee Pot Book Club awards.
“A master storyteller”
“This is what all historical fiction should be like. Superb.”
Find out more about Anna, her books and enjoy her eclectic historical blog on her website, www.annabelfrage.com
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Book Excerpt:
In which Robert has words with his priest regarding his Welsh (and potentially rebellious) friend
When they assembled in the hall for mulled wine, Rhys was not there. A good thing, all in all, especially when the first thing Father Alain did when he entered was to make a beeline for Robert, moving so quickly his dark robes flared around his long legs.
“Has he been here all this time?” he asked in an undertone.
“Who?” Robert asked, frowning at the priest’s tone.
“Rhys,” Father Alain hissed.
“Is he here?” John asked, standing on his toes. “I cannot see him.”
“Do not take me for a fool,” Father Alain growled. “I saw him in the chapel.”
“You thought you saw him,” Robert corrected.
“He is hard to miss,” the priest retorted. He shook his head and lowered his voice even further. “These are dangerous times—especially for anyone succouring a would-be rebel.”
“Rhys is a friend,” Robert bit back. “And as far as I know, he isn’t rebelling.”
“Not right now he isn’t.” Father Alain closed his eyes for an instant. “Saints, give me strength.”
“And right now he isn’t here either,” John put in.
“No, because he is likely hiding in Lady Elena’s cottage, making as much of a sinner of her as he is himself.”
“For shame!” Noor said. “With what right do you judge someone for loving?”
The priest flushed. “It isn’t the loving. It’s the acting upon it. Fornicating is a sin.” His voice softened. “I do not begrudge them that. But if he loves her—and you—he should stay away.”
“He has nowhere else,” Noor said. “His family, his home—it has all been taken from him by a covetous king.”
“Noor,” Robert said with a sigh.
“What?” She gestured at their little group. “We are among friends, are we not? So surely I can voice my true thoughts. King Edward had no right to Wales. None. In truth, he stole, which would make him culpable of several sins, would it not? Sins far worse than bedding your lady love.”
“I cannot have you talk about our king like that,” Robert said, but there was little heat in his tone.
She shrugged. “I don’t do so where I can be overheard.”
Father Alain wagged a finger at her. “You must be more careful. Much more careful. What you just spoke is treason, and we all know how traitors end their days.” He inhaled. “But in principle, you are right. Except that our king would argue he did as he did for the well-being of his people, once and for all putting a stop to Welsh raids and violence.”
She made as if to speak, but he held up his hand. “A king must sometimes put his own soul in peril for the greater good. Which is why his good subjects should pray daily for his deliverance.” He frowned. “And rebels must not be succoured.”
“A man who fights for what is rightfully his is not a rebel,” Noor argued.
“In this England of ours, he is,” Robert said, drawing her close. “No matter how just you find his cause.”
It wasn’t only Rhys who was missing from the hall. Come the afternoon, Noor therefore grabbed her cloak and staff, whistled for Goblin and trudged her way through the postern and up the meadows to Elena’s cottage.
This time of the year, the little garden surrounding it was a collection of withered plants and dark earth, but come summer Elena’s efforts would fill the space with fragrances and colour. Robert had not liked having Elena live on her own, but the older woman had insisted, saying that after living all her life at the beck and call of a queen, she desired to build herself a home of her own—however small.
The forest crept up to encircle most of the cottage, and at the back there was a small shed Rhys used to stable his horse when he stayed. This, Noor suspected, was why Elena had insisted on this specific cottage, making it relatively easy for Rhys to slip in and out unnoticed.
Noor knocked before entering. The single room was as neat as ever, the hangings pulled back from the bed that stood in one corner. A table, two chairs and a couple of stools, two large chests and a shelf containing three books—not much to show for an entire life.
There was a small earthenware jug on the table holding a collection of snowdrops. From the hearth came the scents of herbs and parsnips, and at the table Elena was sitting, staring down at the fabric in her lap.
“Elena?” Noor knelt before her. “Are you all right?”
“He just left.” Elena gave her a little smile. “And every time he does, it is as if he takes a sliver of my heart with him.” She wiped her eyes. “And leaves a sliver of his own behind.” She uttered a low moan. “It is not fair, is it? An entire life, I hoped that one day—one day!—I would find love. And when I do, it is to a man who can give me nothing but the odd day here and there, a man who will likely never grow old with me because he’ll be dead long before. Dead!”
“He has left before and always come back,” Noor said.
“It is different now.” Elena cleared her throat. “Things in Wales are becoming more fraught by the day, and Rhys is right in the middle of it. Where else would he be, fool of a man that he is?” She sighed, stroking the thick fustian she was presently converting into a new tunic for Rhys. “I understand him, I truly do,” she admitted in a low voice. “But how can he think a ragtag band of Welsh rebels can defeat the mighty Edward?” She looked at Noor. “And if he dies, how will I even find out? Who will come to tell me if he lies wounded? Who will tell me where he lies buried? No one will. No one!”
Elena pressed the fabric to her face and wept while Noor held her as hard as she could.
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Thank you so much for hosting Anna Belfrage today, with an intriguing excerpt from Their Castilian Orphan.
Take care,
Cathie xo
The Coffee Pot Book Club