HERS TO COMMAND – Margaret Moore Brothers in Arms, Book 4 HQN ISBN: 0-373-77095-2 February 2006 Historical Romance England, 1243

The death of Lord Gaston of Ecclesford has left his two grown, unmarried daughters, Lady Mathilde and Lady Giselle, in dire straits. Their greedy cousin, Roald de Sayres, is trying to steal their inheritance, claiming that their father’s will is invalid and he, as the next male relative, is the rightful heir to his uncle’s small but prosperous estate in Kent. The sisters are desperate to find a champion, someone with powerful connections who can inspire fear and defend their keep should Roald try to take it by force.

As luck would have it, Lady Mathilde has heard of a knight passing through the nearby village that may be of use to them. He is the brother of the influential lord of Dunkeathe in Scotland and the close friend of the powerful lord of Tregellas of Cornwall. And perhaps most important, she has heard he is in need of money. However, upon meeting Sir Henry D’Alton, Mathilde is inclined to agree with her sister’s misgivings about hiring the man. He certainly appears more than capable of providing aid, but he is far too handsome and, like all men, upon first spying Giselle’s incredible beauty, he appears besotted. Mathilde is protective of her sister, yet she is also determined to thwart Roald. She, more than anyone, knows the kind of vile man her cousin is. Her father did too, and that is why he changed his will to prevent Roald from inheriting. Sir Henry is her only hope, but she will have to keep him away from her sister, and, though she is loath to admit it even to herself, bury the overwhelming attraction she has for Sir Henry.

Though he has proved himself to be a very formidable knight in battle, Sir Henry is nevertheless thought of by many as a merry wastrel, and lately he has started to believe it himself. Therefore, when the shrewish Lady Mathilde and the beautiful Lady Giselle ask for his help, he sees a chance to perhaps redeem himself in the eyes of his family and friends. He is also aware of Roald de Sayres’s character and will relish the opportunity to ruin the cur’s plans. There is also the lovely Giselle, an heiress, who could provide Henry with a means to gain his own lands should he woo her and win her hand in marriage. Why then, does he find himself infatuated with the very domineering Mathilde? She’s not a beauty, and her tongue is razor sharp. Yet he cannot help but admire her spirit and resolve, and Henry finds he very much wants to prove himself to Mathilde.

HERS TO COMMAND is the sometimes touching, always entertaining tale of Sir Henry D’Alton. Fans of Ms. Moore will remember him from her book, THE UNWILLING BRIDE (October 2005), in which he was introduced as Lord Merrick of Tregallas’s charming friend, known by all for his good cheer but not much else. Indeed, it was events in Merrick’s tale that caused Henry to become introspective, which is how readers first meet him in HERS TO COMMAND. It seems that he has grown tired of merrymaking, traveling aimlessly, and not being taken seriously. What Henry needs is a cause worth fighting for, and what could be better than a damsel in distress?

It’s impossible not to like Henry for his charm and wit, which he exhibits through action and dialogue, but the fact that he is insecure about his worth is what makes him come across as a real person. Mathilde is also a character with vulnerabilities. Not only do men ignore her in the face of her sister’s beauty, but a devastating incident in her past has left her with a lot of doubt and self-recriminations. HERS TO COMMAND is very much a tale of love’s healing power and will touch readers. At the same time, it is an exciting story thick with danger and intrigue. Roald is a truly despicable villain whose calculating brings much trouble and heartache to the residents of Ecclesford. Ms. Moore does a splendid job of entertaining readers by bringing the medieval setting to life with descriptions of everyday life as well as heated battles which include exciting sieges and sword fighting.

As mentioned earlier, Henry was introduced in another book, but HERS TO COMMAND is complete in and of itself. Throughout the tale, Ms. Moore provides enough information about Henry and his past so that readers are not left feeling confused or as if something is missing. Indeed, I highly recommend the very pleasing HERS TO COMMAND so that readers find out how Henry comes into his own while becoming a better man for the woman he loves.