Earl Grimme Kyneward, 26. Soldier, knight, commander, personal friend of Henry V, King of England, and earned his nobility on the battlefield. He has no use for the code of chivalry or some idea of honorable warfare, as he doesn’t value winning. He ,em>conquers, and whatever warfare he must engage in to do that, he will. He is the bastard son of a wealthy merchant, one of many of his father’s bastards, for his father is a lusty man. Grimme and all his brothers—the ones he knows about anyway—are equally lusty, and Grimme has the wherewithal to indulge his lust, what with 4 mistresses and 3 chambermaids about. But now that he’s an earl, he needs a wife.
Lady Brìghde Fàileach, 22. She is the daughter of a lowlands Scottish clan chief and very skilled noblewoman. She also had life experience a woman of her age and station should not have. She’s insecure, desperate for a friend who won’t tire of her, and deeply grateful to the stranger who snatched her from her forced marriage. How wonderful that he is also intelligent, a noble, and strong enough to protect her from her father. He is also very very handsome. He wants to be friends—without benefits. As time goes on, she grows less and less content with her lot.
Earl Grimme Kyneward, 26. His taste is very specific: Tall, leggy blondes who look like his first. Thus, very few people can tell the 4 of his mistresses apart. So when he snatches a bride, he doesn’t care what she looks like. He’s glad she’s beautiful, he’s thrilled she can take over the household duties from his elderly father, and he’s delighted she’s delightful. But she’s a brunette and there is nothing attractive about brunettes. In fact, a brunette will kill his lust faster than anything else—until she doesn’t.
Lady Brìghde Fàileach, 22. The only thing better than being snatched from her wedding by such a handsome and intelligent man, is his household, which she is itching to get her hands on to work it over into a noble household worthy of a king’s approbation. But that can only last so long when she falls more and more in love with this man who insists on sleeping with her (and only sleep), demands her attention and company but won’t give her a child, will do anything to protect her—except fuck her.
Emelisse, 31. She was Grimme’s first when he was 16, and promptly got pregnant. She’s the mother of his oldest 2 sons. Dillena, Ardith, and Maebh look just like her. There’s a reason for that. Dillena is the mother of his third son. Maebh—who is a spoil of war (not that she minds)—is the mother of his youngest, a scrappy little 5-year-old who’s got a ruthless streak a mile wide, and whom Grimme decides to make his heir.
Ares. Grimme’s pet, war horse he nursed from a sickly colt and trained to be the fiercest warrior on four legs, and most prized possession, who was appropriated by Grimme’s liege.
Troy. The steed Grimme purchases for Bríghde, a steed who is a match for Ares, but becomes Bríghde’s pet because he’s a Trojan horse!
Mercury. Bríghde’s childhood dog, a Scottish deerhound, who defects to the affections of Grimme’s youngest son.
Hades. The dog who attached herself to Bríghde on Bríghde’s lone trek through France back to Scotland, and died protecting Bríghde. Bríghde sorely misses her Big Black Bitch from Hell.
20260322