“And this is the worst of it.”
His brows rose as he sipped.
Melissande shrugged.“We sold far more than usual in the fall, so have little for ourselves now.”
Quinn watched her.“You had need of the coin?”
Melissande nodded.“I had Gaultier hire four more men-at-arms, because of the attacks.The treasury was low as a result.”
Quinn sipped, his expression thoughtful and his hand still locked over her own.
“You evade my questions, sir.”
“I but think upon them, my lady, the better to give you a full response.”
Melissande sipped her ale and waited, suspecting that her impatience showed.
“He does not like me,” Quinn said finally.
“You do not like him,” she felt obliged to note and he smiled, though there was no humor in his gaze.
“I invite you, my lady, to give me a plausible reason for his dislike.”
Melissande was surprised to be asked her view, but then she knew more of Gaultier than Quinn.“He distrusts change, perhaps.”
Quinn nodded.“And perhaps he, like you, disliked my father.”
Melissande frowned.“I cannot think how he would have known Jerome.”
“Perhaps I shall ask him,” Quinn mused.“Still, his reaction is vehement.I am intrigued by that.”
Melissande eyed her husband.“Why do you think he dislikes you?”
“I think he cannot dislike me so quickly as that.He knows naught of me.I suspect he dislikes what I represent.”
“I do not understand.”
Quinn’s gaze met her own steadily.“He might not wish to have someone look closely upon his choices and actions.”
“Gaultier has served me well...”
“Has he?I hope as much, my lady, but you have admitted yourself that you know little of warfare.”
Melissande nodded in concession.“But surely, he would not deceive me.”
“I hope not,” Quinn said mildly, then sipped again of the wine.“There are other possibilities, of course.He might think I have claimed a prize he desired for himself.”He was watching her closely so he must have seen her surprise at his implication.
“I would not give myself to the Captain of the Guard!”
“That does not mean he had no such aspirations.”
Melissande was outraged.“What advantage would there be to me in such a liaison?There could be no match.He has naught to call his own...”
“I have little to call my own,” Quinn whispered, his eyes gleaming.
“You have Tulley’s favor and that is more than sufficient.”
“You told me he had Tulley’s favor.”His tone was not adversarial and Melissande had the sense that they strove to solve a riddle together, each contributing what they knew.It reminded her of how her parents used to confer and she found the discussion most seductive for all of that.
