SOLVED. Looking for medieval Historical Romance. [s]

[Barbara]

I'm looking for a Medieval romance novel written mid 1990s to 2000.
Book is about a young woman whose mother died when she was about 10 years old. In his grief the father abandons her at the estate and returns to London court. She grows up taking care of the estate with the help of loyal servants, knights and the castellan.. The. father turns to drink to suppress his anger and grief.

Years later he remarries a younger manipulative woman. She wants to control the estates, raise taxes on the people to feed her greed. In order to do that she must get rid of the daughter.

The stepmother forges her drunken husbands name on a betrothal document signed by the king to marry the daughter to a knight that has gained lands through service to the king. These lands originally belonged to friends of the daughter's. She refuses to marry the man. The knight in turn is being forced to marry against his wishes.

The stepmother finally forces the issue locking the young woman in a room, starving her and then having her beaten unto submission. When the marriage takes place, the daughter is so badly beaten that she must keep her head covered to hide the bruises, She can barely speak.

Unfortunately the drunken angry husband thinks she keeps her face covered because she is ugly. He roughly consummates the marriage in the dark then leaves her for about 3 weeks to go suppress a rebellion in another city. In the meantime she is left with the poorly run estate and the husband's long term mistress. Needless to say things do not go well
Does this ring a bell with anyone>

[Juels]

When Love Awaits by Johanna Lindsey? Some of the details are a bit off though... The knight is not being forced to marry. The heroine's people are causing trouble on the estate he won (that used to belong to heroine's friend). Knight wants to marry heroine to stop the trouble. The stepmother purposely keeps the father drunk and doesn't tell the heroine about the wedding until the day before. The stepmother has her lover beat the heroine to gain her cooperation. There isn't time to starve her since the wedding is the next day. After the wedding night, the knight leaves to continue sieges on the other lands that he was awarded. The other keeps are still loyal to the previous owner. In the meantime, the mistress tells the heroine to return to her own keep. The knight later finds her there but doesn't recognize her as his wife (he hadn't seen her face yet).

[Barbara]

Juels wrote: "When Love Awaits by Johanna Lindsey? Some of the details are a bit off though... The knight is not being forced to marry. The heroine's people are causing trouble on th..."

This sounds very promising. Going to see if i have that book. Thanks


Barbara J Vescovo wrote: "I'm looking for a Medieval romance novel written mid 1990s to 2000.
Book is about a young woman whose mother died when she was about 10 years old. In his grief the father abandons her at the estate..."

[Juels]

If it helps, here is some other info. This may contain spoilers...

Leonie's mother died when she was 10ish. In his grief, her father meant to send her away temporarily. While he was drunk, the stepmother Judith tricked him into marrying her. After he beat her, she kept him drunk. Leonie's father had no idea so much time had passed. Judith kept Leonie unmarried because she wanted the use of Leonie's estates and the goods produced at those estates. The estates were from Leonie's mother and would go with Leonie when she married.

The knight Rolfe originally offered for Leonie but the stepmother turned him down. After that, the Rolfe went to the king (very friendly terms) and the king ordered the marriage. Rolfe has been on the battlefield for a long time and doesn't know how to run an estate. The mistress doesn't do much to help.

After Rolfe finally sees Leonie, he orders her to move back into his keep. Rolfe isn't aware that Leonie knows the former mistress (Amelia) isn't his ward but was actually his mistress. Amelia fakes a pregnancy so she won't be sent away. She planned to fake a miscarriage later. Eventually, Amelia has to get pregnant for real because it was taking too long to get rid of Leonie.

Rolfe is unaware Leonie was beaten to force the marriage. He was told she had a rash and that was the reason for her veil on their wedding day. The morning after the wedding night, another lady saw the bruises on Leonie and started gossip about Rolfe beating his wife. When Leonie finds out about the gossip, she sets them straight.

Leonie is known for being a healer and treats Rolfe when he gets an arrow wound. She also cleans up his estate but lets Amelia take credit for it.

[Barbara]

Thank You. That is exactly the book I was looking for. I did find it in my stash. Funny thing I kept thinking it was one of hers but I did not connect it to the synopsis on the back. It has probably be been 15-20 years since I read it but at least had enough info that you recognized which book I wanted Within 10 mins! Awesome

[Juels]

You're welcome. This was the first romance book I ever read. I still have my original copy.