“There is another choice,” Quinn said mildly.“You may prefer to be charged with treason, confined in Annossy’s dungeon and heard when next we hold court.When will that be, my lady?”
“On the day after full moon.Three weeks hence.”
“I am a knight,” Gaultier fumed.“I am a man of honor and I shall not be treated with such indignity...”
“You are a liar,” Quinn said.“And the opportunity to depart with your steed and weapons is far more than you deserve.”
Gaultier clearly saw the merit of this argument.He spun and marched to the stables, only to discover that the ostler met him there with his stabled horse.The villagers watched in silence as he mounted, glared at Quinn, then rode out the gates with the men-at-arms behind.
“You have made an enemy this day, my lord,” Melissande said, unable to silence her feeling of dread.
“Nay.I already had an enemy, and I would rather he was outside the walls than within my own hall.”
There was, Melissande had to admit, good sense in that, though still she was uneasy.
Chapter 14
Quinn felt as if he had won a great victory.It had been bold to issue his invitation to the villeins without discussing the matter with Melissande first, but he had not thought it through.The moment had seemed ripe and he had followed his impulse.He was glad she had neither rebuked nor challenged him, but he knew all was not yet resolved.
The storm might come in private.
Or not at all.
One thing he admired most about his wife was that she was clever.She knew of things he did not, and so he could not always anticipate her.She had a keen sense of justice, though, and he liked that she was not weak or fearful.She was a beauty, like his mother, but she did not possess his mother’s frailty and Quinn was glad of that.
He was glad to be wed to a woman who would tell him if he was wrong.
He was determined never again to fail a woman who relied upon him, as he had failed his mother.
Trusting his wife completely was another matter, though.Did Melissande still possess Gaultier’s dagger?What was between them?How could he discover that truth?
“You will be most relieved,” Quinn said to her as they crossed the hall.“Lord de Tulley confirms that your betrothed wed another before we exchanged our vows.”
Melissande frowned.“He told me as much, but I find myself skeptical.”
Quinn arched a brow.“Indeed?”
“Do you not think Tulley would say whatever was necessary to win his desire?”
“Nay, I do not.”He halted beside her and met her gaze.It was time to dismiss her concerns about her betrothal once and for all.“He is tough but honorable and not deceptive.You must accept, my lady, that your betrothed wed another.It is our future that is of import.”
She studied him warily.“And your need for a son.”
“Wehave need of a son,” he reminded her.
“Sayerne’s seal hangs in the balance, and I have no desire for it.Youdesire a son, sir.”
Her emphasis made Quinn wonder.“And what do you desire?”
She met his gaze.“My desire is of no import, as we have seen already this day.”
Ah, she was annoyed.“Your desire is of import to me.”
“Indeed?”she said mildly, a thrum of anger beneath her words.
“Indeed.”He put his hand beneath her elbow and guided her to the stairs.
“Your desire is pressing?”she asked.
