Mystique by Amanda Quick Read Free Book Online

our business.”
    “But, Alice—”
    “I will speak with you later, Benedict.”
    Benedict flushed darkly. He glowered at Hugh, who merely shrugged, straightened, and got out of the doorway to make room for him to pass.
    “Fear not,” Hugh said to him quietly. “You have myword that I’ll not ravish your sister during the course of this bargain she wishes to strike.”
    Benedict turned an even darker hue of red. With one last, angry glance at Alice, he stalked awkwardly past Hugh and disappeared down the hall.
    Hugh waited until he was out of earshot. Then he met Alice’s eyes. “A young man’s pride is a tricky thing. It should be handled with some delicacy.”
    “Do not concern yourself with my brother, sir. He is my responsibility.” Alice indicated a wooden stool with a wave of her hand. “Please be seated. We have much to discuss.”
    “Aye.” Hugh glanced at the stool but he did not sit down on it. Instead he walked to the brazier and held his hands out to the warmth of the glowing coals. “That we do. What is this bargain you would make with me, lady?”
    Alice watched him with an eagerness she could not conceal. He seemed quite amenable, she thought. There was no sign that he meant to be difficult. A sensible, reasonable man, just as she had concluded.
    “My lord, I shall be blunt.”
    “By all means. I much prefer directness. It saves a great deal of time, does it not?”
    “Aye.” Alice clasped her hands together on her desk. “I am prepared to tell you precisely where I believe the thief took my green crystal.”
    “It is my crystal, Lady Alice. You seem to have a habit of forgetting that fact.”
    “We can argue the fine points of the matter at another time, my lord.”
    Hugh looked faintly amused. “There will be no argument.”
    “Excellent. I am delighted to see that you are a man of reason, sir.”
    “I make every effort.”
    Alice smiled approvingly. “Now, then, as I said, I will tell you where I believe the crystal to be at this moment. In addition, I will even agree to accompany you to its present location and point out the thief.”
    Hugh considered that. “Very helpful.”
    “I am glad you appreciate it, my lord. But there is even more to my part of this bargain.”
    “I cannot wait to hear the rest,” Hugh said.
    “Not only will I help you find the crystal, sir, I will go one step further.” Alice leaned forward to emphasize her next words. “I shall agree to relinquish my claim to it.”
    “A claim that I do not accept.”
    Alice started to frown. “My lord—”
    “And in exchange for this magnanimous offer?” he interrupted calmly. “What is it you would ask of me, Lady Alice?”
    Alice braced herself. “In exchange, my lord, I ask two things. The first is that, two years from now, when my brother is old enough, you will arrange for him to go to Paris and, mayhap, Bologna, so that he may attend the lectures given there. I would have him become proficient in the liberal arts and particularly in the law so that he may eventually obtain a position of high rank at court or in the household of some wealthy prince or noble.”
    “Your brother wishes to pursue a career as a secretary or clerk?”
    “It’s not as though he has a great deal of choice in the matter, my lord.” Alice tightened her fingers. “I was not able to protect his rightful inheritance from our uncle. Therefore, I must do the next best thing for Benedict.”
    Hugh studied her speculatively. “Very well, that is your affair, I suppose. I am prepared to finance his studies in exchange for getting my hands on the crystal.”
    Alice relaxed. The worst was over. “Thank you, my lord. I am pleased to hear that.”
    “What was the second thing you would have of me?”
    “A very minor request, my lord, of no real consequence to one in your position,” she said smoothly. “Indeed, I daresay you will barely take notice of it.”
    “What, precisely, is it, lady?”
    “I ask that you provide me with