Alyce’s tone was defensive. “Father always wanted to protect me. If he had known that I’d be sold in matrimony like a prize broodmare, he’d have moved heaven and hell to leave me enough money to pay my tribute to the king and free myself from the burden.”
“Aye, lass, that he would, but I still don’t hold with the way he soured ye on suitors.”
Alyce gave a little sniff. “I’m not interested in suitors, Lettie. I have the life I want.”
“But what are ye going to do about this Thomas Havilland, Allie? He’ll no doubt guess that he has been tricked when he learns who ye are and realizes that ye were never ill.”
Alyce rubbed her nose in frustration. “They’re just passing through he said. As soon as his men are recovered, they’ll be leaving. It will just be unfortunate that the lady of Sherborne won’t recover before they’re gone.”
“Do ye intend to keep to yer bed?”
Alyce gave a mischievous grin. “Lady Alyce will keep to her bed. However, milady’s companion, Rose, will serve as hostess to the knights in her place.”
“Ah, luv, ye’re playing with fire again. If he should find out that ye’re deceiving him…”
“I’ll be careful. ’Twill be an interesting experiment.”
Lettie shook her head. “Ye know nothing about this man, Allie. Who is this Sir Thomas? He could be a brigand. Maybe he comes from Prince John, after all. He might be one of Dunstan’s spies trying to learn more about ye. Or he could be—”
Alyce leaned over to give her nurse a hug, then jumped up. “Don’t fret so, Lettie. It matters not who they are. They’ll be gone soon. But in the meantime, I’m not about to stay cooped up in this tiny room while there are strangers downstairs to bring news of the outside world.”
“And handsome strangers at that.”
Alyce wrinkled her nose. “I don’t care what they look like, Lettie. I just want to hear their tales.”
“Still, it doesn’t hurt to have a handsome countenance to look upon while ye’re listening to the news.”
“Aye, it doesn’t hurt.”
Lettie gave a knowing smile. “Ah, lass, it’s the height of injustice that that scoundrel Prince John intends to marry ye to an old man. Ye should be falling in love with a handsome young knight like Sir Thomas.”
“I don’t intend to fall in love with anyone, Lettie. Women have a hard enough time clinging to their shreds of independence without clouding up their minds with ridiculous notions of romance.”
“I don’t believe in romantic love,” Alyce declared in a voice somewhat louder than she had intended.
Thomas looked up sharply from his lute. Several of his men had gathered around the big fireplace to listen to their leader sing one of his endless love ballads. It was a strange talent for a warrior as fierce as Thomas Brand, but it had served to keep them entertained many a miserable night on the long road to the Holy Lands and back. They leaned forward, listening for Thomas’s reply to the young beauty’s cynical declaration.
Thomas let his gaze linger for a moment on their hostess’s lovely features. “Love is not to be believed in,” he said softly, “it’s to be felt.”
Her chin went up a notch. “I’ve never felt it, then.”
“Has your mistress?”
For a moment, the young woman looked blank. “The lady Alyce?” she asked.
“Aye. Has she not felt love?”
“Nay.” The word was decisive.
Thomas shook his head and resumed idly plucking the strings of his lute. “’Tis a pity, for she’s not likely to find it with the husband they’ve chosen for her.”
Unable to resist the chance to satisfy her curiosity, Alyce asked, “Have you met the baron, Sir Thomas? Can you tell me what he’s like?”
His fingers tightened on the strings, making a jarring, off-key chord. “He’s Prince John’s man, and in today’s England ’tis not wise to speak against anyone allied to John. But you may tell your mistress that a friend advises her not to go through with this marriage.”
A hint of anger flushed her cheeks. “Do you think she would be marrying such a man if she had any choice?
Kenton, who had not taken his eyes off her the entire evening, said, “She’s mistress of a sizable estate. Surely she must have some say in her own marriage.”
“Not a whit. When a peerage is left to a woman, the king has the right to marry her to whom he pleases.”
Kenton and Thomas exchanged a glance. “The king,” Kenton repeated slowly. “Not the king’s brother.”
Alyce sighed. “It appears to matter little who claims the title. My lot is the same. That is, Lady Alyce’s fate is not her own, no matter who claims sovereignty.”
Thomas laid aside his lute. “I’d like to speak with your lady, Mistress Rose. Perhaps I can give her some advice on this matter. Do you think she’s recovered enough to see me this evening?”
Alyce jumped to her feet. “Nay. Most assuredly not. She was…” She paused and looked around the room at the men who were watching her, their eyes friendly and admiring. Some were still pale from the effects of their ordeal. “My lady was desperately ill, Sir Thomas. I doubt she’ll recover for some days.”
His eyes, too, were sympathetic and kind. Once again Alyce felt the flush of guilt. “I wouldn’t have her disturbed,” he said. “But perhaps I might be permitted to talk with her in her chambers. After all, I did see her there last night. In fact, that’s another reason I should see her. I’d like to apologize for my rudeness.”
“I believe she was too ill to notice, sir. But I know she’d be mortified to have to receive a visitor in her current condition. I’m afraid ’twould be best if you just give me any message you’d like to relay to her.”
Thomas frowned, but he made no further protest.
“You can take her a message from me,” Kenton said. When she turned to him, he continued, “You can tell her that I think she has the prettiest waiting woman in all England.”
His lieutenant’s words deepened Thomas’s scowl. “You’ll have to forgive my men their boldness and their stares,” he told her. “We’ve been away from home too long.”
“I didn’t mean to offend, mistress,” Kenton said quickly.
Alyce smiled at the handsome young lieutenant. “It would be churlish for a lady to be offended by such a lovely compliment, Sir Kenton.”
Thomas looked from Kenton to Alyce, then cleared his throat and said loudly, “Travel abroad makes one forget what extraordinary flowers we have blooming here in our own land, Mistress Rose.” Then he shot Kenton a smile of friendly competition.
Kenton rose to the challenge. “Indeed, the East offers nothing but dry desert growth when compared to the lush garden of English beauty.”
Alyce felt as if she had drunk too much mulled ale. She was not used to the company of strange males, much less to being the center of their admiration and rivalry. In some confusion, she stood. “Gentlemen, I’ve enjoyed the evening, but I should go see if my lady needs me.”
Instantly, every one of the knights was on his feet. “I’ll escort you,” Kenton said quickly.
She looked around the group. “Nay, resume your socializing.” She gestured to Thomas’s lute. “I’d not interrupt your evening’s entertainment. Please continue.”