Mystique by Amanda Quick Page A

a great deal of time playing silly games atop your horse this afternoon when you could be tracking down Gilbert the troubadour.”
    “Silly games?”
    “That is all they are in my opinion.”
    “I see. There are many ladies who enjoy watching such contests.” Hugh paused deliberately. “Especially when their lords are participants.”
    “Aye, well, I have never had much interest in such sports.”
    “Will you give me a token?”
    Alice eyed him suspiciously. “What sort of token?”
    “A scarf or a bit of ribbon or lacing will do.”
    “There is certainly no accounting for fashionable customs, is there, my lord?” Alice shook her head, amazed. “Imagine giving a man a perfectly good length of clean cloth or a fine silk ribbon to wear while he dashes about in the mud. The token, as you call it, would likely be ruined.”
    “Mayhap.” Hugh gazed down at her with unreadableeyes. “Nevertheless, I think it would be wise if you gave me such a token, Alice.”
    Alice gazed at him blankly. “Whatever for, sir?”
    “It will be expected,” Hugh said very evenly. “We are, after all, betrothed.”
    “You wish to carry my favor into the joust in order to convince everyone that we truly are betrothed?”
    “Aye.”
    “But what about my green stone?”
    “All in good time,” Hugh said softly.
    “I thought the stone was extremely important to you.”
    “It is and I will have it by the end of the day. But something else has come up. Something that is just as important.”
    “What is that, pray tell?” Alice demanded.
    “Vincent of Rivenhall is here and intends to participate in the joust.” Hugh’s voice was curiously empty of emotion. The very flatness of his tone was frightening.
    “What of it?” Alice asked uneasily. “By the Saints, sir, I should think you would be able to forgo a bit of sport for the sake of the stone.”
    “I assure you, the opportunity to take the field against Vincent of Rivenhall is almost as important as recovering the stone.”
    “I would not have thought that you would find it necessary to prove yourself against another knight, my lord,” Alice said, disgruntled. “I rather assumed that you were above such things.”
    “It would be wise for you to refrain from making too many assumptions about me, Alice.”
    Alice’s mouth went dry. She contented herself with a glare. “Very well, my lord. Henceforth, I shall assume nothing.”
    “Be assured that I will explain the matter of Sir Vincent to you at some other time.” Hugh stretched out his hand. “At the moment, I am in a hurry. Your favor, if you please.”
    “This is really too much.” Alice glanced down at her clothing. “I suppose you may take the ribbon that trims my sleeve, if you feel that it is absolutely necessary.”
    “It is.”
    “Do try not to soil it, will you? Good ribbon costs money.”
    “If it is ruined, I shall buy you another. I can afford it.”
    Alice felt herself grow warm beneath his mocking gaze. They both knew that a new ribbon would be as nothing to him.
    “Very well.” Alice undid the ribbon from her sleeve.
    “Thank you.” Hugh reached down to take the strip of green cloth. “You may watch the jousts from beneath the yellow and white tent on the far side of the field. That is where the other ladies will sit.”
    “I do not intend to watch the jousts, sir,” Alice said heatedly. “I, for one, have better things to do.”
    “Better things?”
    “Aye, my lord, I am going to search for Gilbert. There is no point in both of us wasting the afternoon.”
    Hugh’s mailed fist closed very tightly around the green ribbon. “Do not trouble yourself about the troubadour, Alice. He will be found soon enough. In the meantime, you will watch the jousts in the company of the other spectators.”
    Without waiting for a response, Hugh gave the big war-horse an invisible signal. The beast swung about with astonishing agility and set off eagerly in the direction of the jousting field. His great