from you, madam, is a vow that any babes you do give me will be of my blood."
Her gem-green eyes widened, first in shock and then in anger. She took a swift step back, wrenching herself out of his grasp.
"How dare you even imply that I would deceive you in such a fashion," she shot out fiercely.
He studied her, trying to read the truth in her eyes. But he could see only the blazing feminine outrage. He had blundered badly. That much was clear. On the other hand, he thought, mayhap it was time for plain speaking.
"I demand an oath of fealty from the men who serve me and I will ask no less from my wife. I mean to have such matters understood between us."
"I am not one of your liege men, sir. I consider that I have been gravely insulted."
"Insulted? Because I seek to ensure that my wife will be loyal?"
"Aye. You have no right to question my honor. I demand an apology."
"An apology?" Gareth eyed her thoughtfully. "Pray, which of your devoted admirers will you ask to avenge this grave insult if I do not apologize? Young William? Your new minstrel? Or mayhap your marshal, who looks as though he would have trouble lifting a tankard of ale, let alone a sword."
"I do not appreciate your poor jest, sir."
"I never speak in jest."
"I beg leave to doubt that. I think you enjoy a very dangerous notion of amusement. I do not care for it."
Gareth grew bored with the silly game. He had made his point. Clare had been warned. He made it a practice to give only one warning. "Enough of this nonsense. We have other matters to discuss."
"You are correct in that, sir. I shall not forget your insult, but we most certainly do have other matters to discuss." A speculative gleam appeared in Clare's gaze. "I have been considering this situation and have come to some conclusions."
"Have you?"
"Aye. I believe Thurston of Landry is a kind, compassionate lord."
"What in the name of the devil gave you that impression?"
Clare ignored the interruption. "I cannot imagine that he would insist that I marry a knight who is so unchivalrous as to actually question my honor before the wedding."
"Lady Clare—"
"Obviously Lord Thurston did not fully comprehend your true nature before he selected you as one of my suitors. He will be shocked, shocked, to learn that he made a grave mistake."
Gareth knew by the expression in her eyes that she was seriously contemplating the possibility of sidestepping the marriage on such flimsy grounds. The lady would have made an excellent lawyer. He felt an odd tugging sensation around the edge of his mouth. One corner even started to curve upward into
what might very well prove to be a smile. He restrained himself with an effort.
"If you think to delay this enterprise by writing to Thurston to complain of my unchivalrous behavior, I'd advise you not to waste your time. Or Thurston's. He will not thank you for it." Gareth paused to add weight to his next words. "Nor will I."
"So." Clare nodded once, very briskly, as if some inner suspicion had just been confirmed. "Now we have threats from our unchivalrous knight. This business grows darker by the moment." She swung about and began to tread deliberately along the garden path. "The better acquainted you and I become, sir, the more I fear that you simply will not do as a husband."
"How strange." Gareth clasped his hands behind his back and fell into step beside her. He was beginning to enjoy himself. "I have had just the opposite experience. The deeper our acquaintanceship grows, the more certain I am that you will make me a most satisfactory wife."
"Highly doubtful, sir." Clare pursed her lips with an air of regret. "Highly doubtful. In any case, I must write to Lord Thurston to clarify some aspects of this situation before we proceed further."
"Which aspects do you refer to, lady?"
"To began with, I am concerned that thus far you are the only suitor to arrive on Desire."
"I told you, your choice is limited to Nicholas of Seabern or
Her gem-green eyes widened, first in shock and then in anger. She took a swift step back, wrenching herself out of his grasp.
"How dare you even imply that I would deceive you in such a fashion," she shot out fiercely.
He studied her, trying to read the truth in her eyes. But he could see only the blazing feminine outrage. He had blundered badly. That much was clear. On the other hand, he thought, mayhap it was time for plain speaking.
"I demand an oath of fealty from the men who serve me and I will ask no less from my wife. I mean to have such matters understood between us."
"I am not one of your liege men, sir. I consider that I have been gravely insulted."
"Insulted? Because I seek to ensure that my wife will be loyal?"
"Aye. You have no right to question my honor. I demand an apology."
"An apology?" Gareth eyed her thoughtfully. "Pray, which of your devoted admirers will you ask to avenge this grave insult if I do not apologize? Young William? Your new minstrel? Or mayhap your marshal, who looks as though he would have trouble lifting a tankard of ale, let alone a sword."
"I do not appreciate your poor jest, sir."
"I never speak in jest."
"I beg leave to doubt that. I think you enjoy a very dangerous notion of amusement. I do not care for it."
Gareth grew bored with the silly game. He had made his point. Clare had been warned. He made it a practice to give only one warning. "Enough of this nonsense. We have other matters to discuss."
"You are correct in that, sir. I shall not forget your insult, but we most certainly do have other matters to discuss." A speculative gleam appeared in Clare's gaze. "I have been considering this situation and have come to some conclusions."
"Have you?"
"Aye. I believe Thurston of Landry is a kind, compassionate lord."
"What in the name of the devil gave you that impression?"
Clare ignored the interruption. "I cannot imagine that he would insist that I marry a knight who is so unchivalrous as to actually question my honor before the wedding."
"Lady Clare—"
"Obviously Lord Thurston did not fully comprehend your true nature before he selected you as one of my suitors. He will be shocked, shocked, to learn that he made a grave mistake."
Gareth knew by the expression in her eyes that she was seriously contemplating the possibility of sidestepping the marriage on such flimsy grounds. The lady would have made an excellent lawyer. He felt an odd tugging sensation around the edge of his mouth. One corner even started to curve upward into
what might very well prove to be a smile. He restrained himself with an effort.
"If you think to delay this enterprise by writing to Thurston to complain of my unchivalrous behavior, I'd advise you not to waste your time. Or Thurston's. He will not thank you for it." Gareth paused to add weight to his next words. "Nor will I."
"So." Clare nodded once, very briskly, as if some inner suspicion had just been confirmed. "Now we have threats from our unchivalrous knight. This business grows darker by the moment." She swung about and began to tread deliberately along the garden path. "The better acquainted you and I become, sir, the more I fear that you simply will not do as a husband."
"How strange." Gareth clasped his hands behind his back and fell into step beside her. He was beginning to enjoy himself. "I have had just the opposite experience. The deeper our acquaintanceship grows, the more certain I am that you will make me a most satisfactory wife."
"Highly doubtful, sir." Clare pursed her lips with an air of regret. "Highly doubtful. In any case, I must write to Lord Thurston to clarify some aspects of this situation before we proceed further."
"Which aspects do you refer to, lady?"
"To began with, I am concerned that thus far you are the only suitor to arrive on Desire."
"I told you, your choice is limited to Nicholas of Seabern or
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