A Worthy Rebel by Jody Hedlund

Book 5 of Noble Knights

Summary: 

A desperate noblewoman, a rebellious peasant, and a forbidden love.

While fleeing an arranged betrothal to a heartless lord, Lady Isabelle becomes injured and lost. Rescued by a young peasant man, she hides her identity as a noblewoman for fear of reprisal from the peasants who are bitter and angry toward the nobility.

Cole Warwick cannot turn his back on a person in need and soon finds himself falling for Izzy, the gentle and beautiful runaway who is mending in his cottage. As the leader of an imminent uprising against the nobility, he tries to resist his growing feelings for Izzy to protect her from the dangerous life he’s chosen. But the longer she stays, the more he hopes she’ll never leave. When Izzy’s true identity is revealed, Cole feels betrayed.

With the rebellion underway, can Cole forgive Izzy and find a way to save her from an unhappy marriage? Or will he and his peasant army be destroyed before he has the chance to fight for the people and the woman he loves?

Opening Lines: 

"Upon our arrival," Lady Margaret said, flicking her reins and prodding her mare to a trot, "Sir Thomas will be expecting your agreement of marriage."

"So soon?" I urged my horse to keep up with my stepmother's, though I wished to slow down. We were all too quickly approaching our journey's destination, Pembroke Castle, which jutted out of the foggy mist ahead, its tall stone towers like apparitions arising from a graveyard. 

"My lady, I though the purpose of joining the tournament festivities was so that I might have the week to decide."