plate without taking a single bite.
"I have changed my mind. I believe I have eaten enough this evening," she said.
"You disappoint me, lady," Nicholas said. "Why, when you stayed with me at Seabern last month, your appetite was much keener." He paused to leer. "And not just for figs."
Clare experienced a distinct chill. "I do not recall."
"Ah, but I do," Nicholas said. "How could I forget those enticing meals we shared? I confess that my fondest memories are of how very pleased you were when I satisfied your extremely delightful appetites. I trust you have not forgotten your sweet satisfaction?"
"You tease me, Sir Nicholas," Clare said. Foreboding, dark and disquieting, stole over her. She was rapidly losing all hope of staving off disaster. "I would have you cease at once. I do not find it amusing."
"Nay?" Nicholas watched her, but it was obvious his real attention was on Gareth. He was weighing each goading word he spoke, pushing a little harder, searching for the point where blood could be drawn. "I am devastated to learn that, madam. I certainly found you to be most entertaining. Indeed, I eagerly await your return to Seabern so that we may again satisfy our appetites together."
The implication of Nicholas's words were clear to all who heard them. Joanna toyed nervously with her spoon. Ulrich gazed at Gareth in stone-cold silence.
Gareth helped himself to a fig. He said nothing. "I wish to discuss something else." Clare realized her voice was starting to rise.
"But I prefer to reminisce about the meals we have shared." Nicholas took back the honeyed fig Clare had placed on her plate. He sucked on it and then made loud smacking noises. "They were so very pleasurable."
Gareth lounged in his chair. "Lady Clare has requested that the topic of conversation be changed. She does not find it amusing. Nor do I."
Nicholas chuckled. "Do you think I care whether or not you find it amusing?"
" Tis the lady's wishes that concern me. They should be a matter of some concern to you, too."
Clare's heart sank. The situation was worsening rapidly. Mayhap if she could get both men sufficiently drunk, they would both fall into stupors. "Would either of you care for more wine?"
Nicholas ignored her. He kept his narrowed gaze on Gareth. "Do you believe that you can please the lady better than I, Hellhound?"
"Aye."
"Tis highly doubtful, if you ask me. Why would she give the key to her chamber to a bastard after she has known the touch of a well-born knight?"
A shocked silence fell like molten lead on the hall. Clare saw Joanna's eyes widen in horror at the insult. Ulrich sat grim-faced beside her.
Dalian fumbled with the strings of his harp. He ceased playing and jumped to his feet. He glanced wildly around the hall, as though seeking a place to hide.
Eadgar paused in the doorway, a fresh flask of wine in his hand, and gazed helplessly at Clare.
Clare found her voice. "That is quite enough, Sir Nicholas. I believe you are drunk."
"Not too drunk to know what he's doing," Gareth said softly.
"Agreed." Nicholas's eyes glittered. "But what of you, Hellhound? Do you still have your wits about you?"
"Aye. I keep them about me at all times. You would do well to remember that."
"Lady Clare appears to have a problem deciding which of us will make her the better husband." Nicholas's booming voice rang through the silent hall. "I propose that we resolve the matter for her. Here and now."
"How?" Gareth asked gently. "Shall we play a game of chess for the hand of the lady of Desire? Very well, I suppose that is a reasonable enough solution."
Clare was so outraged she momentarily forgot about the impending disaster. "A game of chess? For my hand? How dare you, sir?"
Nicholas smiled malevolently. "Aye, how dare you, Hellhound? Most unchivalrous."
"I suppose there is no possibility of a fair match," Gareth conceded. "Chess is a game that requires wit and intelligence from both players. Sir Nicholas would be at
"I have changed my mind. I believe I have eaten enough this evening," she said.
"You disappoint me, lady," Nicholas said. "Why, when you stayed with me at Seabern last month, your appetite was much keener." He paused to leer. "And not just for figs."
Clare experienced a distinct chill. "I do not recall."
"Ah, but I do," Nicholas said. "How could I forget those enticing meals we shared? I confess that my fondest memories are of how very pleased you were when I satisfied your extremely delightful appetites. I trust you have not forgotten your sweet satisfaction?"
"You tease me, Sir Nicholas," Clare said. Foreboding, dark and disquieting, stole over her. She was rapidly losing all hope of staving off disaster. "I would have you cease at once. I do not find it amusing."
"Nay?" Nicholas watched her, but it was obvious his real attention was on Gareth. He was weighing each goading word he spoke, pushing a little harder, searching for the point where blood could be drawn. "I am devastated to learn that, madam. I certainly found you to be most entertaining. Indeed, I eagerly await your return to Seabern so that we may again satisfy our appetites together."
The implication of Nicholas's words were clear to all who heard them. Joanna toyed nervously with her spoon. Ulrich gazed at Gareth in stone-cold silence.
Gareth helped himself to a fig. He said nothing. "I wish to discuss something else." Clare realized her voice was starting to rise.
"But I prefer to reminisce about the meals we have shared." Nicholas took back the honeyed fig Clare had placed on her plate. He sucked on it and then made loud smacking noises. "They were so very pleasurable."
Gareth lounged in his chair. "Lady Clare has requested that the topic of conversation be changed. She does not find it amusing. Nor do I."
Nicholas chuckled. "Do you think I care whether or not you find it amusing?"
" Tis the lady's wishes that concern me. They should be a matter of some concern to you, too."
Clare's heart sank. The situation was worsening rapidly. Mayhap if she could get both men sufficiently drunk, they would both fall into stupors. "Would either of you care for more wine?"
Nicholas ignored her. He kept his narrowed gaze on Gareth. "Do you believe that you can please the lady better than I, Hellhound?"
"Aye."
"Tis highly doubtful, if you ask me. Why would she give the key to her chamber to a bastard after she has known the touch of a well-born knight?"
A shocked silence fell like molten lead on the hall. Clare saw Joanna's eyes widen in horror at the insult. Ulrich sat grim-faced beside her.
Dalian fumbled with the strings of his harp. He ceased playing and jumped to his feet. He glanced wildly around the hall, as though seeking a place to hide.
Eadgar paused in the doorway, a fresh flask of wine in his hand, and gazed helplessly at Clare.
Clare found her voice. "That is quite enough, Sir Nicholas. I believe you are drunk."
"Not too drunk to know what he's doing," Gareth said softly.
"Agreed." Nicholas's eyes glittered. "But what of you, Hellhound? Do you still have your wits about you?"
"Aye. I keep them about me at all times. You would do well to remember that."
"Lady Clare appears to have a problem deciding which of us will make her the better husband." Nicholas's booming voice rang through the silent hall. "I propose that we resolve the matter for her. Here and now."
"How?" Gareth asked gently. "Shall we play a game of chess for the hand of the lady of Desire? Very well, I suppose that is a reasonable enough solution."
Clare was so outraged she momentarily forgot about the impending disaster. "A game of chess? For my hand? How dare you, sir?"
Nicholas smiled malevolently. "Aye, how dare you, Hellhound? Most unchivalrous."
"I suppose there is no possibility of a fair match," Gareth conceded. "Chess is a game that requires wit and intelligence from both players. Sir Nicholas would be at
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