Mystique by Amanda Quick Read Free Book Online Page B

was not responding well to the notion of marriage, Hugh acknowledged. He determined to pursue a less obvious route to his goal. He was skilled at stratagems. He saw no reason why he could not apply that talent to securing himself a wife.
    “You heard me. I have need of a lady whom I can claim as my own.”
    “But—”
    “Temporarily.”
    “Well, you cannot claim me, sir. Find yourself another lady. I’m certain that there are any number of them scattered about the countryside.”
    Ah, but none such as yourself
, Hugh thought.
I doubt if there is another female such as you in all of Christendom
, “But you are so very convenient, Lady Alice.”
    She bristled very nicely with outrage. “I am no man’sconvenience, sir. Pray, inquire of my uncle just how
convenient
I am. I believe that he will disabuse you of that notion. He finds me a great trial.”
    “No doubt because you have deliberately set out to make yourself one. I am hoping, however, that you and I can do business together as colleagues rather than as adversaries.”
    “Colleagues,” she repeated cautiously.
    “Associates,” he clarified helpfully.
    “Associates.”
    “Aye, business associates, just as you, yourself, suggested last night when you declared that you wished to strike a bargain with me.”
    “This was not quite what I had in mind. Mayhap you had best explain precisely what you mean, my lord.”
    “Mayhap I should do just that.” Hugh paused beside a complicated instrument composed of a set of circular brass plates and a siting rule. “Where did you obtain this very beautiful astrolabe? I have not seen the like since I was in Italy.”
    She scowled. “My father sent it to me. He found it at a London shop a few years ago. You are familiar with such instruments?”
    Hugh bent closer to the astrolabe. “It is true that I have made my living with my sword, lady, but it would be a mistake to assume that I am a complete fool.” Experimentally he moved the siting rule that angled across the metal plates, shifting the position of the stars in relation to the Earth. “Those who have made that error in the past have generally paid a price.”
    Alice jumped to her feet and hurried around the edge of the desk. “‘Tis not that I thought you a fool, sir. Quite the opposite.” She halted beside the astrolabe, frowning at it. “The thing is, I have been unable to determine the proper workings of this device and I know of no one who has any knowledge of astronomy. Could you teach me how to use it?”
    Hugh straightened and looked at her intent face. “Aye. If we seal our bargain today, I shall undertake to teach you the proper use of the astrolabe.”
    Her eyes lit with a degree of enthusiasm that couldhave been mistaken for passion in another woman. She blushed. “That is most gracious of you, my lord. I discovered a book in the small library of the local convent that describes the device but there were no instructions for its use. I vow, it has been most frustrating.”
    “You may consider the instruction a betrothal gift.”
    The glow faded quickly from her huge eyes. It was promptly replaced by renewed wariness. “About this betrothal, my lord. As I said, I would have you explain yourself.”
    “Very well.” Hugh wandered over to a table holding a large array of stones and crystals. He picked up a chunk of reddish stone and examined it. “I regret to say that I find myself the victim of a most annoying curse, lady.”
    “That is no doubt your own fault, my lord,” she said crisply.
    He glanced up from the stone, surprised by the asperity of her tone. “My fault?”
    “Aye. My mother always said that diseases of that sort came from frequenting brothels, sir. You will no doubt be obliged to take a dose of theriac and have yourself bled. Mayhap you should undergo a good purge while you’re at it. In my opinion, ‘tis nothing more than you deserve if you have been hanging about such places.”
    Hugh cleared his throat. “You are an