“Aye.”
“And should you claim your due, she may despise you for it.”
“Aye.”
Bayard pushed his tankard across the board.“Then, it seems to me that you have little choice.”His voice was low and thoughtful, a tone that gave Quinn hope that he had a plan.
“Aye?”
Bayard looked directly into Quinn’s eyes.“You must compel her to love you,” he said.“You must make her forget this other man and see no one but you.”
The plan was too like his own poorly formed idea to be reassuring.Quinn spread his hands out in frustration.“I do not know how to begin.”
Bayard leaned forward intently.“Did you see her pleasured this morn?”
“Of course!”
“Has she ever called you by name in that moment?”
Quinn could not hold his friend’s gaze.“Nay.”
Bayard frowned and tapped his finger on the board.“It seems you have a daunting task before you,” he mused.“But the prize is well worth the effort.”
“Not to mention that of a marriage without strife.”
His companion studied him.“You already care for this lady, unless I miss my guess.”
Quinn did not meet his companion’s perceptive gaze and when he spoke, his voice was gruff.“We have similar values,” he said stiffly.“I like her wit.She surprises me.And it pleases me to see her smile.”
“Aha!”Bayard was triumphant.“The truth will out!”His voice dropped.“That is an advantage unexpected.It is my understanding that women love to be adored.It flatters their vanity and I cannot imagine that your Melissande is different.Do not worry, Quinn, we shall see the lady enamored of you yet.”
“My lord Quinn!”Berthe’s voice echoed as she entered the hall with a steaming bucket of water.Her expression was grim and her attention fixed upon Bayard.“I should advise you strongly against taking the advice of this ruffian, for Sir Rogue knows naught of what pleases a lady in truth.”
Quinn looked to his companion to find Bayard’s ears glowing a dull red.
“Surely you did not try to make sport with my lady’s maid last night?”he asked.
It was not reassuring that Bayard’s ears turned an even brighter shade of red.Instead of responding to Quinn, he lowered his voice to a whisper, no doubt anticipating that Berthe would hear.He sighed in a most affected manner as she crossed the hall with her burden.“Ah, Quinn, the pleasure of avoiding this lady’s sharp comments buoyed my spirits this morn, but now the day is lost.”
“I heard that!”Berthe declared at the bottom of the stairs.She put down the bucket with such vehemence that the water sloshed over the side, then shook a finger at Bayard.“My mother warned me against your kind, sir!I was lucky to keep my wits about me right from the first, despite the gilding on your tongue.”
Quinn’s brows rose in surprise.“You have a gilded tongue?”he asked his companion.
Bayard shrugged.“It was cold last eve.I offered to keep her warm.”
“You thought to give me more than warmth,” Berthe accused and Bayard looked discomfited.
“You could have declined.”
“I did decline, and then you tried to steal a kiss!”
“You did not,” Quinn said, though he saw the truth in Bayard’s chagrin.“Melissande will have much to say of the matter.”
“And it is neither her business nor yours,” the other knight retorted with vehemence.
“Next time, Sir Rogue, I will blacken your eye.”
“I do not doubt it,” Bayard replied, some admiration in his tone.“Someone taught you how to strike a blow.’Twas only my own speed that saw me unbruised.”He smiled.“Next time, I shall need to be faster.”
