Mistress Jacqueline DeWhite is married off to Lord Dominic DeFleur. She is not told anything and is expected to obey her husband without question. It starts negatively as most religious marriages do, and his cold demeanour and sexist views strain their relationship. The swordsman and personal favourite, of King Francis the First, Dominic has a lifestyle both lavish but lonely and as both as stubborn as they are can they become the couple they both wished they were? Rough Draft. Feedback is appreciated. Will edit Summer 2016.

***COMPLETED*** "I need to talk to you." she said in a small voice shutting the door behind her. Her hair fell from her bun in red ringlets around her face; her eyes searched his making his heart race in a very uncharacteristic way. he'd had been with women since his wife died- mostly saloon girls but none of them made him feel as nervous as the one in front of him. "You need to spend less time full as a tick in the saloon and more time with your daughters." She said looking right at him, that wasn't what he'd expected her to say at all "I know what you're going through Mr. Clayton loss is hard but your daughters need you-" "Loss? What do you know of Loss Miss Wade you are merely a child." He snapped not wanting to hear everything he'd done wrong. What gave her the right to talk to him like that anyway? They had just met. She nodded slightly turning to leave as she absently played with a ring on her finger She turned back towards him "I was Engaged to a wonderful man Mr. Clayton His name was Fergus O'Reilly and he was everything to me... he died on the eve of our wedding. Now this ring" she said putting her hand up and gesturing to the emerald ring "Is nothing but a broken promise of the life we were meant to share.... But you, you have Wilhelmina and Lorelei. You have a part of your wife always. You have something I would give anything for. All I have are my memories." The woman had kept her voice calm, but to him it felt as though he had been slapped in the face. No one had ever spoken to him like that before. "Miss Wade I suggest you bite your tongue if you wish to stay on as the governess." "Alright fire me, but who will watch your children? Because you certainly won't!"

What would you do if your world was turned upside down in the blink of an eye? When Astrid's peaceful home is raided by the Vikings at only fifteen, she is taken as a slave for the Earl in Norway, where she grows into a fierce, independent young woman, who remains in bondage. In preparing to raid, the Earl calls for additional forces from Sweden, led by his powerful and selfish son. Upon his arrival, he bargains with his father, whom he soon buys Astrid from, making her a promise of freedom under one condition-to fight in the upcoming raid. After agreeing, Astrid soon learns what the price of freedom really is... Go with Astrid as she fights the battles within her wits, life, and love to survive in the brutal Viking world. ----------- *This story is completely fictional. The story, along with any names and dates, is entirely made up from my imagination. It is also unedited--mistakes will be found. **THIS IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING RE-WRITTEN. ***I wrote this in 2015 when I was sixteen, so it is in desperate need of revision. (Please overlook the mistakes.)