Set in England in 1153, this is the
story of Helena of Lystanwold, whose uncle has fallen out with King Stephen and
fled England, leaving his castle and his niece to Guy of Helston. We are led to
believe Helena’s uncle somehow managed to marry her to Guy before Guy arrives.
Helena (“called “Nell”) is not happy as she already had a man picked out, one
she can manipulate, whereas Guy, a warrior, is called the “Scourge of
Farringdon”.
Guy goes
about his new duties with few words for his reluctant bride. Helena decides to
take her husband in hand by seducing him to get him to kill the man responsible
for her sister’s death. Guy readily agrees to both (he was intending to kill
the guy anyway) and becomes the consummate lover.
A cleverly
told story, which takes pains to convey a medieval feel (with some unusual
phrasing meant to speak of the era). The story held my interest
and kept me turning pages as Helena comes to see that the man she had chosen is
really a pathetic figure and the man who waits in the shadows to take her is a
true villain and not her friend.
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