Resumo de The Prize - Julie Garwood

This is the novel which enticed me to read historical romances. Always a non-fiction reader, by chance, I happened to lay my hand on this book and lo! Now I have become a big fan of Julie Garwood. ?The Prize? starts with the scene of battle between the Saxons and the Normans. Duke William, the self declared king of London, desperately wants to conquer the Saxon land. He had already sent the army thrice but his Barons had returned wounded and defeated. When he comes to know that a young lady is defending her land, he gets all the more curious and vows to conquer not only the land, but also the brave Lady. He sends his favorite and most feared Baron to get the Lady. Baron Royce is a tall, dark, fierce looking warrior with a sickle shaped scar running the entire length of his cheek. Also a trainer of soldiers, he vows to accomplish the mission. Lady Nicholaa had already lost her father and elder brother to the war. She is left with a small contingent of tired soldiers. Though aware of her defeat, she retaliates bravely. It does not take long for Royce to declare victory. Nevertheless the Lady cunningly wounds Royce by using the sling and vanishes from the scene. Enraged, Royce orders his soldiers to search for Nicholaa in every nook and corner of the place. Royce secures the holding in William?s name and personally goes in search of Nicholaa. He enters the chapel where the nuns are praying and enquires about the Lady. Sister Danielle comes forward to tend the bleeding deep cut of Royce. Royce is mesmerized by the exquisite beauty of the nun and blames himself for loosing his discipline. When he comes to know that Danielle is the twin of Nicholaa, he coaxes her to reveal the whereabouts of her sister. Ingelram, a young vassal who could not take his eyes from the nun?s face, blurts out that Lady Nicholaa is considered as the King?s prize and the King intends to reward her to a noble knight. This news upsets the nun, but Royce pacifies her by promising that he would personally see that her sister is not harmed by anybody. He decides to continue the enquiry later and leaves, ordering Ingelram to stand guard. Royce?s keen investigation reveals that the Saxon king had only one daughter and Lady Nicholaa did not have any twin. Shocked and surprised at Lady Nicholaa?s clever manipulations, he immediately goes to find her, but on the pretext of attending special prayers, she had already taken sanctuary in the abbey. Royce whole heartedly appreciates Lady Nicholaa?s clever ploy to gain sanctuary and becomes still more determined to take her to his king. Royce takes his ailing friend Baron Hugh to the abbey for treatment and encounters Nicholaa who was there to nurse her injured younger brother, Justin. Royce tries to intimidate her but Nicholaa does not cower. Instead she admits that she was the one who had injured him with the stone of her sling. Royce tells her that he would take her to his king soon, Nicholaa says that she will never leave the abbey and more over she has to protect her brother who has lost his left hand. Royce imagining the hell she has gone through since the invasion feels a sudden urge to take Nicholaa in his arms. He is surprised at his own reaction to her. Even Nicholaa, who is supposed to hate her enemy, feels drawn towards him. Royce finally succeeds in drawing Nicholaa out of the abbey.He uses Nicholaa?s elder brother?s child Ulric as a decoy, Nicholaa rushes out of the abbey to protect the child. Royce promises to take care of Justin and triumphantly takes Nicholaa to his king. On way to London, several times Nicholaa tries to escape, but Royce, guards her patiently. William is overjoyed to get his prize. People throng the palace to get a glimpse of the living legend, who had bravely fought with the Barons. The king announces that the bachelor knights have to indulge in fighting games and one who wins will get Lady Nicholaa along with her land. Many warriors smitten by the beauty of Nicholaa come forward totake part in the games. Meanwhile, little girls playing in the hall come closer to see Nicholaa and one of the girls? dresses catches fire. Though startled, Nicholaa immediately acts and puts off the fire. The rescued girl happens to be the niece of the queen and the queen attends to the burns on Nicholas?s hands. She finds out that Royce and Nicholaa are drawn towards each other. On the queen?s request, the King allows Nicholaa to choose her husband. Baron Guy tries his best to attract the attention of Nicholaa, but she goes straight to Royce and calls ?checkmate?. They get married in the presence of the King. Royce, who considers his life to be a map which cannot be changed, falls in love with his wife. He trains Justin to fight with one hand and Justin becomes another legend like his sister. The story has humor, passion, bravery and even political conspiracy to make it quite interesting. This book carries the reader to a different world, away from the mundane routine.Abstract by: J. Prabha

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