Lords of Retribution (Lords of Avalon series) (60 page)

“No. It would not. Your brother specifically informed me that he wishes to sit next to his wife and that I should take the seat next to you.”

“Oh.” Was all Elowen could manage.

“So we shall have ample time over the next weeks to explore what is between us, El,” Newt whispered as he leaned close to her. He sniffed. “Mmm, sandalwood and cinnamon. Have I told you how much I love your scent, El?”

Elowen glared at him.

“What’s that look for? Are you not happy that we have a chance to spend more time together?”

She wanted to say no, but couldn’t. That would not be entirely true. She was up half the night thinking of the kisses they had shared and remembering how being near him made her blood race. His touch sent tingles racing through her body and yesterday, when he held her so close that she could feel the evidence of his desire, she had felt moisture between her legs. And an ache. She felt empty after she left him. The ache was still there, even now.

She had hoped that leaving him behind would help her regain control. Could she say, running away? Yes, she would have avoided him and this feeling. A feeling she had never before experienced and did not understand. Yet, there was a part of her that was what? Excited? Frightened? Perhaps it was a little of both.

She sighed. “Perhaps curious is all I can own to at this moment.”

Newt studied her. “Curious is good. I will accept curious. As long as you understand that I shall endeavor to make you more so.”

His burning emerald gaze verified that he was entirely serious.

Heaven help her
! Elowen knew it was not going to be easy to resist his charms. For the next two weeks, until the Avalon Society members and their families removed to Truro, she would be under the spell of Lord Alloway. Two weeks was a very long time with a man as determined as he was. He had been underfoot for days while she stayed at Menadue. She expected it would be no different at Penhallow. She wasn’t certain she would come out the victor.
Oh dear!
It appeared Lord Alloway was her one true weakness.

Keep reading for A Note from The Author, The
Lords of Avalon
Character List, Special Acknowledgments for some very special Photographers I have come to know on this
Lords of Avalon
journey, Acknowledgments, more about the new upcoming series,
The Secrets of the Shroud
series and the
Cornish Rakes
series by K. R. Richards and K.R. Richards Bio.

The character of Sennen “Senny” Penrose is in truth, mildly autistic. Since Lords of Retribution is set in the nineteenth century, and autism was then unknown, she is referred to as “away with the Piskies” and “touched” among other things. I describe her as an “empath,” the symptoms of which can resemble those of mild autism spectrum disorders in high-functioning individuals. Her champion is Gabriel Chynoweth, the Earl of St. Mabyn. He helps her to accept herself and her “gift” as part of who she is.

My youngest son, Erik, is severely autistic. He is an adult. He does not speak. We do not know if he can read. Sometimes we think he can and other times we just aren’t sure. In case he can read I wish to say, “Erik, mommy loves you. Thank you for helping me to see the world through different eyes.”

My oldest son, Ian, has always been Erik’s champion. He has always had extreme compassion and patience where his brother and others who are handicapped are concerned. Though he probably won’t appreciate this public display of affection, I’m going to do it anyway. It’s something that mom’s do, right? “Ian, I love you, and I am so very proud of the wonderful man you have become.”

I want to thank in particular those exceptional, special education teachers, doctors, caregivers, occupational and music therapists, and many others who truly cared about Erik. There were many who stood out in their fields. They wanted to make a difference. They treated him with the respect and dignity that he and all mentally handicapped children and adults deserve. I wish to thank people in the same professions who do the same for other handicapped children and adults today. I especially have to thank Dr. Nicolson, the best pediatrician ever, and so many times my rock; Rob, caregiver extraordinaire, also an advocate and friend to Erik; Ruth, exceptional music therapist, and Jack, (Gentleman Jack) the Smooth Collie (R.I.P.); self-appointed service dog, protector and best friend to Erik for many years.

This book is dedicated to my fantastic sons, Ian and Erik,
and to autistic persons and “their own champions.

Also to my brother, Kyle, who was recently badly burned in an explosion accident. You’
re my hero.

Keep reading for the
Lords of Avalon
Character List, Special Acknowledgments for some very special photographers and their links, Acknowledgments, e-books and info about two new series,
The Secrets of the Shroud series
and
The Cornish Rakes series
, About the Author, and a special surprise for my FB fans!

MEMBERS OF THE AVALON SOCIETY
a.k.a the Lusty Lords of Avalon

The Original Founding Members of the Avalon Society

Harry Bellingham, the Earl of Glaston.
Harry is the head of the Avalon Society.

Mica
h Wychcombe, Viscount Wincanton.
Micah is
heir to the Earldom of Chilcompton
.

Lyon Ravenscroft, the Earl of Amesbury
.

Charles “Charlie” Inwood III, Viscount Silverley.

Lucien Saintmaur, Baron Wyldhurst.

Newton “Newt” Lambrick, Baron Alloway.

Jonathan “Jack” Drayton, the Earl of Elveston,
heir to the Marquessate of Brampton.

Owen Darrington, the Earl of Fitzlewis.

Trevan Chynoweth, the Duke of Penrose
, brother to Tristan and Tremayne Chynoweth.

Gabriel Chynoweth, the Earl of St. Mabyn
, cousin to Trevan, Tristan, and Tremayne Chynoweth.

Marrek
Penaluna
,
The Earl of St. Erth,
cousin to the Chynoweths
.

Other members:

Tremayne Chynoweth,
brother to Trevan and Tristan Chynoweth.

Tristan Chynoweth, Viscount Weatherham
, brother to Trevan and Tremayne Chynoweth.

Thomas Chynoweth
, Gabriel’s younger brother.

August Trevelyan, the Earl of Penkevil
, cousin to the Chynoweths.

Arthur Trevelyan
,
brother to August and Julyan Trevelyan.

Julyan Trevelyan
, brother to August and Arthur Trevelyan.

Marcus Trevelyan
, cousin to August, Arthur and Julyan Trevelyan.

Deveril Pendarves
,
second cousin to the Trevelyans
.

Rheese Carlyon,
distantly related to the Chynoweths.

Matthias Halfknight, Viscount Sinclair
.

Lachlan Douglas, the Earl of Gryfe
.

Cleveland “Cleve” Griffith, Viscount Templeton.

Members of “The
Department”,the King’s Special Intelligence Force

Stephen Johnstone, Lord Lyndhurst
,
the head of the Department. As Marrek is second in command, Stephen and the King are Marrek’s only superiors.

Marrek Penaluna, the Earl of St. Erth
, (from the Avalon Society list above)

Creed St. Germans, Viscount Roscarrow
.

Ruan Menwennick, the Earl of Ince.

Francis Nightshade,
called
“Shade”
by his friends and colleagues.

Other Characters in Lords of Retribution:

Morwenna “Wenna” Penrose,
eldest of the Penrose siblings.

Sennen “Senny”
or “Zenny” Penrose
, Wenna’s younger sister.

Lanyon Penrose
, younger brother of Wenna and Senny.

Robert Penrose,
the Penrose siblings’ grandfather.

Morva Chynoweth
, the Dowager Duchess of Penrose
, mother to Trevan, Tremayne, Tristan, Tamsin and Tressa Chynoweth.

Lady Tuesday Inwood
, sister of “Charlie” Inwood, Viscount Silverley, Lady Wednesday Inwood, Sunday, Lady Hammond; and the daughter of Lord and Lady Stanbridge.

Lady Wednesday Inwood
, sister of “Charlie” Inwood, Viscount Silverley, Lady Tuesday Inwood, Sunday, Lady Hammond, and the daughter of Lord and Lady Stanbridge.

Lady Elowen Penaluna
, sister to Marrek Penaluna, the Earl of St. Erth.

Lady Tamsin Chynoweth
, Trevan, Tristan, Tremayne and Tressa’s sister, daughter of Morva Chynoweth, the Dowager Duchess of Penrose.

Lady Tressa Chynoweth
, Trevan, Tristan, Tremayne and Tamsin’s sister, daughter of Morva Chynoweth, the Dowager Duchess of Penrose.

Lady Alexandra Douglas
, the sister of Lachlan Douglas, the Earl of Gryfe.

Lady Anna Johnstone
, the daughter of Stephen Johnstone, Lord Lyndhurst.

Rowena Bellingham nee Locke, Lady Glaston
, Harry Bellingham’s wife.

Elizabeth “Libby” Wychcombe nee Darrington
,
Lady Wincanton
, wife to Micah Wychcombe, Viscount Wincanton, and sister of Owen Darrington, the Earl of Fitzlewis.

Sophia
Ravenscroft nee Hart, Lady Amesbury,
wife of Lyon Ravenscroft, the Earl of Amesbury, and daughter of deceased Avalon Society member, Nathan Hart.

Grace
Darrington nee Brackenridge, formerly Lady Marston, wife of the late Lord Marston, now Lady Fitzlewis,
new wife
of Owen Darrington, the Earl of Fitzlewis.

Lady Alice Sterling
-Darrington
, Owen and Grace’s daughter.

Lady Rachel Halfknight
, nine-year old daughter of Matthias Halfknight, Lord Sinclair.

Frances Phippen, Lady Sperring
, Rowena’s aunt.

Sir John Nunn
, paramour and companion to Lady Sperring.

Jane Bellingham, Lady Glaston
, Harry’s mother.

Mary Ravenscroft, Lady Amesbury
, Lyon’s mother.

Lady Caroline Bellingham
, Harry’s sister.

Lady Sarah Ravenscroft
, Lyon’s sister.

Keep reading for
Special Acknowledgments
to some very talented
Photographers and Artists
who helped me out with
Lords of Retribution
and links to their wonderful work, the Acknowledgments, e-books by
K. R. Richards
and a little info about two new, upcoming series;
The Secrets of the Shroud
series and
The Cornish Rakes
series, and K. R. Richards’ BIO.

I love Cornwall. To me, there is something magical about Kernow. When I began working on
Lords of Retribution
, I started looking for photos of the locations I planned to use.

I discovered a page called
Cornish Photos
on Facebook. They post photos taken by photographers around Cornwall. That is where I discovered some additional sites and some absolutely
amazing
photographers/artists.

It’s so refreshing when I sign on Facebook in the mornings and see such beautiful photography art on my timeline. It’s a lovely way to start my day.

I have to thank these photographers and artists. Your art has definitely inspired me on this journey. I loved Cornwall before, but thanks to the beautiful photos taken by you, very talented Photographers/Artists, I have a much deeper love and appreciation for Kernow. Cornwall was there in front of me every day, alive and vivid, on my computer screen while I worked on
Lords of Retribution
.

My locations for
Lords of Retribution
were chosen before I started looking at these beautiful pages. However, I plan to incorporate a few of my new favorite locations into the setting of upcoming Book 4,
Lords of Atonement
. I have discovered some wonderful new places because of following these photographers’ work. I now know about places I never knew existed. I plan to continue writing about Cornwall. (I have recently planned a new series set exclusively in Cornwall, called the
“Cornish Rakes Series.”)
There will be more to come on this new series in the near future.

These photographers in particular have opened up a completely new and exciting world for me. Their work inspires me, it truly does. The beauty of it takes my breath away. I now
have a huge list of places I simply must see and experience on my next visit to Kernow. Thanks to Glyn Davies’ artwork, Wales is now on my list of places to visit! Thanks, Glyn.

Not only do these photographers give me incredible beauty to view, but also I have learned so much about particular places in Cornwall from talking to them and from the information I find in their posts and on their pages. I especially have to thank Colin Strutt, of Dreckly Canvas and Marc Elliott, of Marc Elliott Photography and Simon Bone, of Simon Bone Photography. I fear that I pester them quite often with questions. Thank you for all of the information you have shared with me, Colin, Marc and Simon! I must also thank Rick Smith and Luke from the Cornish Oafs for helping me find some particular Cornish words to use in
Lords of Retribution
. I am so thankful to have met such wonderful people! I am thankful too for your Facebook friendship!

I am truly inspired by these talented photographers and artists. I am their fan and I will continue to follow their work, long after the
Lords of Avalon
series is finished. My hopes are that, sometime in the near future, I can fill my home with photos from all of you. I wish to thank you all.

I must thank you for being patient with my comments on your photos, “Stunning, beautiful, gorgeous, phenomenal, etc.” I know you must be getting tired of them, but I’ve run out of words. Please know if I’m on your pages and following your posts that your work has touched something in my soul.

Your art is incredible. I feel so fortunate that I discovered your pages and can follow your work. Thank you for getting out there and making those incredible shots! Many say there is power in the written word. I believe that. Yet, I have come to understand and believe there is that same power in a photograph, in capturing the emotion of a moment in time.

I’m giving links for those photographers that I interact with most often. I didn’t have time to contact all of the lovely pages and photographers’ sites that I have come to love looking at nor did I have the room to list all of the links. I will mention as many of you as I can in the “
Other Pages to See”
section, but trust me when I tell you there are many more.

I encourage my readers to look at these beautiful pages. I promise you, you won’t be disappointed. In addition to Cornish landscapes, there is a variety of Photographic Art to see on these links, truly something for everyone to enjoy. Use Control and Click to follow their links.

Simon Bone Photography

http://www.simonbonephotography.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/SimonBonePhotography

Cornish Photos, Daniel Toon

http://www.cornishphotos.net/

https://www.facebook.com/CornishPhotos

Glyn Davies/Glyn Davies Photo-Artist Ltd

http://www.glyndavies.com/

www.glynsblog

Dreckly Canvas, Colin Strutt

http://www.drecklycanvas.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/DrecklyCanvas

Marc Elliott Photography

http://www.marcelliottphotography.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marc-Elliott-Photography/261982803822686

Richard Horsfield Photography

http://www.richardhorsfield.com/

https://www.facebook.com/RichardHorsfieldPhotography

Smiff-ease-Shots ~ Rick Smith Photography

https://www.facebook.com/#!/SmiffeaseShots.Rick.Smith.Photography

http://smiff-ease-shots.co.uk/

Phil Starkey – Photography

http://www.philstarkeyphotography.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/#!/PhilStarkeyPhotography

Trevone Bay

https://www.facebook.com/trevonebay

Other Pages to See

Cornish Living TV

Tim Martindale Photography

Bude and North Cornwall

Ian Lewis Photography

Kingsley Scott Photography

Visions of Britain

Devon & Cornwall

Evocative Cornwall

I Love the Westcountry

I Love Cornwall

Love Cornwall

Dreams of Cornwall

Love Polperro

Visions of Britain

There are so many more.

Keep reading to see the Acknowledgments, E-books by
K.R. Richards
and a little info on 2 new upcoming series the
Secrets of the Shroud
series and
The Cornish Rakes
series by K. R. Richards, and
K.R. Richards’
BIO.