The Wolf and the Dove

It's 1066 and William has invaded England.  In the Great Hall of Darkenwald, Aislinn is being beaten by Rangor and her mother is treated like a serf.  A serving girl is being passed between the soldiers.  Into this scene comes Wolfgar, a bastard knight, loyal to William.  Wolfgar takes charge and takes Aislinn as his own.  Unlike Rangor, a wealthy knight, but a brutual person, Wolfgar tries to set things right.  Rangor is sent away for his actions and things seem to be improving until Wolfgar's father and sister arrive.  Wolfgar has no love lost for the father who sent him away when he learned of his bastardy but allows Aislinn to tend to the injured man.

As for Aislinn, she was raped the first night by Rangor and she does not want to share Wolfgar's bed.  So he chains her to the foot of the bed and there she sleeps for many nights.  However, finally she succumbs and the love story begins.  But they are two proud people and the way to true love is very rocky.  Even when it becomes known that she is pregnant, Wolfgar is refuses to marry her until his father intervenes and then Wolfgar springs a surprise wedding on Aislinn.  Wolfgar's sister, Gwenyth, and Rangor continue to stir up trouble until the final, climatic end.

This is a very detailed look at the life of the times.  William the Conqueror created much upheval in the land.  It's also the story of an unlikely romance between Wolfgar, the conqueror, and Aislinn, the conquered.  The title suits the book (you'll find out why if you read it).  Wolfgar is much nicer than his name implies.  All in all, it's what Kathleen Woodiwiss does best and I give this book an A+ even though it's a long read at 508 pages (entirely worth it).