"So?"

"So, in this instance I have concluded that the quickest way to achieve my own ends is to comply with the requirements of an old legend, which is, in part, a curse."

"A legend?"

"Aye." Hugh picked up a bit of clouded pink crystal and held it up to the light. "The good people of Scarcliffe have endured a variety of masters during recent years. None of them have endeared themselves to the local folk. And none of them have lasted long."

"You intend to be the exception, I take it?"

"Aye, lady." Hugh set the pink crystal down, leaned back against the table, and rested one hand on the hilt of his sword. "Scarcliffe is mine and I will hold fast to it while there is breath in my body."

She searched his face. "I do not doubt your intention, my lord. What, exactly, are the stipulations of this legend?"

" 'Tis said that the true lord of Scarcliffe must accomplish two things. First, he must guard the last remaining stone of an ancient treasure. Second, he must discover the location of the rest of the Stones of Scarcliffe."

Alice blinked. "The green crystal is truly valuable then?"

Hugh shrugged. "It is in the eyes of my people. They believe that it is part of what was once a large collection of priceless gems. All but the green stone disappeared a long time ago. The local convent has had the care of the crystal in recent years. But it disappeared a fortnight ago."

"Stolen, you say?"

"Aye. And at a most inauspicious moment."

She eyed him with sharp perception. "Shortly after you arrived to take control of Scarcliffe?"

"Aye." The lady was quick-witted, Hugh thought. "I want it back. 'Twill go far toward quelling the fears and uncertainties of my people."

"I see."

"If I return with the stone and a suitable bride, my people will understand that I mean to be their true lord."

Alice looked distinctly uneasy. "You wish to wed me?"

"I wish to become betrothed to you." One step at a time, he reminded himself. He did not want to frighten her off at this stage. Now that he had hit upon this scheme, he was convinced it would work. But he needed Alice's cooperation. There was no time to search for another bride. "For a very short period of time."

"But a vow of betrothal is very nearly as binding as a wedding vow," Alice protested. "Indeed, some church scholars claim that it is equally binding and that there is no real difference between the two."

"You know as well as I do that such scholars are in the minority. In truth, betrothals are broken readily enough, especially if both parties are agreed on the matter. I see no problem."

"Hmm."

Alice was silent for a long moment, her brows knitted together in an expression of grave consideration. Hugh could see that she was turning his proposal over and over in her mind, checking for pitfalls and traps. He watched her, fascinated.

With a strange jolt of awareness, he realized that she reminded him of himself when he was plotting stratagems. He knew exactly what she was thinking. It was an odd experience to study her like this. It was as though he had a fleeting glimpse into her mind. A sensation of eerie familiarity gripped him for a moment. He had the strange feeling that he knew Alice far better than their short acquaintance warranted.

The knowledge that her wits were as sharp as his own and might very well work in much the same manner left Hugh feeling disoriented. He was not accustomed to the notion that he might have something so fundamental in common with another person, let alone with a woman.

It struck him that he had always considered himself as being set apart from others, removed from their lives, detached and distanced from them even as he intermingled with them. He had spent his life feeling as though he lived on an island while everyone else in the world existed on the opposite shore.

But for a brief moment in time it seemed as though Alice shared the island with him.

Alice watched him with a shrewd gaze. "I had intended to enter a convent as soon as my brother was safely launched in the world."

Hugh shook off the odd sensation and forced himself back to the matter at hand. " 'Tis not uncommon for a lady whose betrothal has been broken to enter a convent."

"Aye." Alice offered nothing further. She was clearly engrossed in consideration of the matter.

Hugh abruptly wondered if she would wear such a radiantly fierce expression when she lay beneath a man in bed.

That thought made him reflect upon the matter of whether or not she had ever lain with a man. Alice was three and twenty, after all, and Dunstan was correct. She was not what one would term a shy, unopened rosebud.

On the other hand, she was no flirt, Hugh thought. Judging by the collection of stones, dried beetles, and assorted equipment cluttering her study chamber, it appeared that her passions were more easily inflamed by matters of natural philosophy than thoughts of passion and lust.

Alice folded her arms beneath her breasts and drummed her fingers against her arms. "Precisely how long would this betrothal need to last to suit your purposes, my lord?"

"As to that, I cannot be precise, but I should think a few months would do it."

"A few months."

" 'Tis not such a great length of time," he said smoothly. "By spring I shall have everything under control at Scarcliffe." By spring I shall have you safely wedded 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."