and bedded . "You have
nowhere else to go, do you?"
"Nay, but—"
"You may as well spend the winter at Scarcliffe. Your brother will be welcome there, too,
naturally."
"What if you wish to become betrothed to a woman you genuinely desire to wed while I am
living under your roof, sir?"
"I shall face that problem if and when it arises."
"I am not certain. This is all so different than what I had planned."
Sensing that he was winning, Hugh pressed his point. "Spring will be here before you know
it. If you are not content at Scarcliffe we can consider other solutions to your situation."
Alice swung around. She clasped her hands behind her back and began to pace the chamber.
"You would need my uncle's permission to become betrothed to me."
"I doubt that I will have any difficulty in obtaining it."
"Aye." Alice made a face. "He is eager enough to be rid of me."
"I shall ensure his eagerness with a suitable offer of spices."
Alice gave him another keen glance as she turned to start back across the chamber. "You
have a store of spices?"
"Aye."
"Are we speaking of valuable spices, my lord, or merely poor quality salt?"
He hid a smile. "Only the best."
"Cinnamon? Saffron? Pepper? Fine white salt?"
"Those and more." Hugh hesitated, debating how much to tell her about his personal finances.
Most successful knights who had not inherited their father's patrimony made their fortunes
through ransoms and booty. They gained wealth either by competing in tournaments or by
selling their swords to generous lords who rewarded them for their services. Few lowered
themselves so far as to engage in trade.
Hugh had taken his share of ransoms, valuable armor, and fine war-horses in various
tournaments and he had, indeed, been fortunate in his choice of lords. But the true source of
his rapidly growing personal wealth was the spice trade.
Until this moment Hugh had not cared for the opinion of the world in such matters. But he
suddenly realized that he did not want Alice to scorn him for the fact that he engaged in trade.
On the other hand, she was a practical-minded woman. Mayhap she would not care. The
knowledge that he had a solid, secure source of income might even serve to reassure her of
his intentions.
Hugh swiftly calculated the possibilities and decided to risk the truth.
"I do not generally make it widely known," he said quietly, "but I do not rely solely upon my
sword for an income."
She looked at him with surprise. "You deal in spices, sir?"
"Aye. During recent years I have become involved in an extensive trade with several
merchants from the East. If and when you choose to enter a convent, I shall be able to provide
a dozen respectable dowries for you, lady."
"I see." She looked overwhelmed. "I shall need a plump dowry if I wish to enter a fine
convent."
"Naturally. Convents are as choosy as husbands from landed families, are they not?"
"Especially if they are expected to overlook a somewhat sullied reputation," Alice muttered.
"And if I go to live with you as your betrothed and we are not eventually wed, my reputation
will be in tatters."
Hugh nodded. "It will be assumed that we have lived together as man and wife. But, as you
say, a suitable dowry will persuade any fine convent to ignore such petty details."
Alice continued to tap her fingers against her arms. "I'd advise you not to let Sir Ralf know
that you are willing to pay a large dowry for me, sir, else he will likely try to cheat you."
A grin tugged at the corners of Hugh's mouth. He controlled it with an effort. "I have no
desire to be fleeced, lady. Never fear, I have had a fair amount of experience in the art of
bargaining. You have my oath that I shall make it a point not to pay overmuch for you."
She frowned, unconvinced. "Sir Ralf has no scruples in matters of business. He stole my
brother's inheritance."
"Mayhap I shall even the score by stealing you from him for a pittance."
Alice fell silent again as she continued to
nowhere else to go, do you?"
"Nay, but—"
"You may as well spend the winter at Scarcliffe. Your brother will be welcome there, too,
naturally."
"What if you wish to become betrothed to a woman you genuinely desire to wed while I am
living under your roof, sir?"
"I shall face that problem if and when it arises."
"I am not certain. This is all so different than what I had planned."
Sensing that he was winning, Hugh pressed his point. "Spring will be here before you know
it. If you are not content at Scarcliffe we can consider other solutions to your situation."
Alice swung around. She clasped her hands behind her back and began to pace the chamber.
"You would need my uncle's permission to become betrothed to me."
"I doubt that I will have any difficulty in obtaining it."
"Aye." Alice made a face. "He is eager enough to be rid of me."
"I shall ensure his eagerness with a suitable offer of spices."
Alice gave him another keen glance as she turned to start back across the chamber. "You
have a store of spices?"
"Aye."
"Are we speaking of valuable spices, my lord, or merely poor quality salt?"
He hid a smile. "Only the best."
"Cinnamon? Saffron? Pepper? Fine white salt?"
"Those and more." Hugh hesitated, debating how much to tell her about his personal finances.
Most successful knights who had not inherited their father's patrimony made their fortunes
through ransoms and booty. They gained wealth either by competing in tournaments or by
selling their swords to generous lords who rewarded them for their services. Few lowered
themselves so far as to engage in trade.
Hugh had taken his share of ransoms, valuable armor, and fine war-horses in various
tournaments and he had, indeed, been fortunate in his choice of lords. But the true source of
his rapidly growing personal wealth was the spice trade.
Until this moment Hugh had not cared for the opinion of the world in such matters. But he
suddenly realized that he did not want Alice to scorn him for the fact that he engaged in trade.
On the other hand, she was a practical-minded woman. Mayhap she would not care. The
knowledge that he had a solid, secure source of income might even serve to reassure her of
his intentions.
Hugh swiftly calculated the possibilities and decided to risk the truth.
"I do not generally make it widely known," he said quietly, "but I do not rely solely upon my
sword for an income."
She looked at him with surprise. "You deal in spices, sir?"
"Aye. During recent years I have become involved in an extensive trade with several
merchants from the East. If and when you choose to enter a convent, I shall be able to provide
a dozen respectable dowries for you, lady."
"I see." She looked overwhelmed. "I shall need a plump dowry if I wish to enter a fine
convent."
"Naturally. Convents are as choosy as husbands from landed families, are they not?"
"Especially if they are expected to overlook a somewhat sullied reputation," Alice muttered.
"And if I go to live with you as your betrothed and we are not eventually wed, my reputation
will be in tatters."
Hugh nodded. "It will be assumed that we have lived together as man and wife. But, as you
say, a suitable dowry will persuade any fine convent to ignore such petty details."
Alice continued to tap her fingers against her arms. "I'd advise you not to let Sir Ralf know
that you are willing to pay a large dowry for me, sir, else he will likely try to cheat you."
A grin tugged at the corners of Hugh's mouth. He controlled it with an effort. "I have no
desire to be fleeced, lady. Never fear, I have had a fair amount of experience in the art of
bargaining. You have my oath that I shall make it a point not to pay overmuch for you."
She frowned, unconvinced. "Sir Ralf has no scruples in matters of business. He stole my
brother's inheritance."
"Mayhap I shall even the score by stealing you from him for a pittance."
Alice fell silent again as she continued to
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