A steamy historical romance from the New York Times bestselling author of Enslaved and Desired The Dove... She'd been bought for a strip of land, then abandoned: a bartered bride, married by proxy, determined to wreak revenge.  As innocent Sara Bishop she’d paid dearly for freedom from her cruel, mocking family.  As flame-haired, jade-eyed Sabre Wilde, she would scandalize Queen Elizabeth’s court as she set out to seduce her unknown husband, become his mistress—and make him her slave. The Hawk... The Queen’s favorite, called The Sea God, his white teeth flashed in his bronze face as his deep, virile voice boomed orders to his men. He branded Sabre with his searing kiss and his masterful touch, not even aware she was already his wife. Captain Shane Hawkhurst knew how to command, how to subdue and ravage an enemy, but was he prepared to be caught in passion’s merciless snare by a fiery beauty who ruled his heart and inflamed his senses? "The best in romantic fiction!" -Rendezvous "The best in romantic fiction!" -Rendezvous The Dove... She'd been bought for a strip of land, then abandoned: a bartered bride, married by proxy, determined to wreak revenge.  As innocent Sara Bishop she'd paid dearly for freedom from her cruel, mocking family.  As flame-haired, jade-eyed Sabre Wilde, she would scandalize Queen Elizabeth's court as she set out to seduce her unknown husband, become his mistress--and make him her slave. The Hawk... The Queen's favorite, called The Sea God, his white teeth flashed in his bronze face as his deep, virile voice boomed orders to his men. He branded Sabre with his searing kiss and his masterful touch, not even aware she was already his wife. Captain Shane Hawkhurst knew how to command, how to subdue and ravage an enemy, but was he prepared to be caught in passion's merciless snare by a fiery beauty who ruled his heart and inflamed his senses? The Dove... She'd been bought for a strip of land, then abandoned: a bartered bride, married by proxy, determined to wreak revenge. As innocent Sara Bishop she'd paid dearly for freedom from her cruel, mocking family. As flame-haired, jade-eyed Sabre Wilde, she would scandalize Queen Elizabeth's court as she set out to seduce her unknown husband, become his mistress--and make him her slave. The Hawk... The Queen's favorite, called The Sea God, his white teeth flashed in his bronze face as his deep, virile voice boomed orders to his men. He branded Sabre with his searing kiss and his masterful touch, not even aware she was already his wife. Captain Shane Hawkhurst knew how to command, how to subdue and ravage an enemy, but was he prepared to be caught in passion's merciless snare by a fiery beauty who ruled his heart and inflamed his senses? Virginia Henley is the New York Times bestselling author of eight romances published by Dell, including Seduced, Desired, and Enslaved. She divides her time between Ontario, Canada, and St. Petersburg, Florida. Chapter 1   Cheltenham, 1586   Spring had not yet arrived. Icicles hung by the river and the horses’ breath formed frosty clouds upon the air as the two young riders playfully raced the last hundred yards before reaching the stables.   Inside, the warmth enveloped them and the tang of horse, leather, and hay heightened all their senses in a most disturbing fashion. The young man, so fair, took both hands of the vibrant beauty into his own and drew her toward him. He knew he must taste her or go mad. “Sara.” He breathed her name raggedly against her lips, before covering them in the kiss they had both been anticipating for weeks.   Now that they were finally fused, they had no strength to pull apart. Her arms were lovingly entwined about his neck and his hands caressed her back and slowly moved to cup and fondle her breasts. He moaned low in his throat and sank down into the hay, pulling his beautiful tormentor with him.   Sara was tempted, tempted badly. She had never felt like this before. It was as if her bones wanted to melt with the delicious languor that was stealing over her. “Andrew, no, we cannot.”   “Please, Sara, please. I’m going to offer for you.” And once more he covered her protesting mouth and fumbled with the buttons of her riding dress. He had managed to undo three before she found the strength to tear herself away from him.   It wasn’t that she didn’t believe him. She knew he was as good as his word and that he would certainly offer for her. But others had offered for her and nothing had ever come of it. Now she held his hands firmly to keep them in check. She laughed up at him lovingly. “You haven’t even proposed to me yet!”   “Sara, darling, will you marry me?”   She heard the words echoing in her mind, then the scene dissolved in a shimmer as she gazed through the window, unseeing. She forced back unshed, unwanted tears before anyone ever suspected she was crying. She would rather die!   Witches! thought Sara Bishop, barely hanging on to he