Winter of the Wolf — Polly Forrester

The anarchy created by King Stephen's feud with his cousin, the Empress matilda, for the throne, had finally reached Malmesbury. For six weeks Rosalind Tirold had held her husband's stronghold in siege, but now the fearsome mercenary, Nerra de Bourne, was at her gates, and she had no choice but to yield. To her horror, De Bourne made it clear he wanted the castle permanently, it was time he settled down, and it seemed he wanted Rosalind, too. Would a mercenary understand or respect her honour and integrity?