He caught her chin on the edge of his fist. "Most women in your position, madam, would be pleased to discuss marriage at this moment."

"I would rather talk about the weather."

"That is unfortunate, because we are going to discuss marriage."

Not until you learn to love me, she vowed silently. "Sir, I would remind you that we made a bargain."

"That bargain has been altered by what just happened here, Alice. There is a question of honor at stake."

She caught her breath at the sight of the determination gleaming in his golden eyes. There was no tender emotion in him, no talk of love or even of passion. Hugh was, as always, simply proceeding along the most direct path to his goal. Nothing, least of all a woman's heart, would be allowed to get in the way. Her stomach clenched.

"Sir, if you thought to use lovemaking as a stratagem to force me to marry you, then you have made a grave error."

He appeared startled. Then anger flashed in his eyes. "You were a virgin."

"Aye, but that changes nothing. As I never intended to wed, I had no duty to save my virginity for my husband. I am as free as you yourself, sir, and I have chosen to exercise that freedom today."

"Damnation, you are the most stubborn female I have ever encountered," he exploded softly. "You may be free, but I am not. I am bound by my honor in this matter."

"What has honor to do with this?" she demanded.

"You are my betrothed." Hugh moved one big hand in a gesture of masculine outrage. "We have just consummated this marriage."

"Not to my mind. Canon law is not at all clear on this subject."

"Bones of the devil, woman," Hugh roared. "Do not talk to me as though you had studied the finer points of law in Paris and Bologna. We are speaking of my honor here. I shall make my own judgments in this thing."

Alice blinked. "Really, sir, you are behaving in a most distraught fashion. I'm certain that when you've had an opportunity to settle your nerves—"

"My nerves are just fine, thank you. 'Tis my temper with which you had best concern yourself. Hear me well, Alice. We have crossed the river that separates a betrothal from a marriage. There are no longer any grounds to distinguish between the two."

"Well, as to the legality of the thing," she countered primly, "I just told you, canon law is a bit vague."

"Nay, madam, it is not in the least vague. Furthermore, if you think to drag this matter through the Church courts, I promise you that there will be the devil to pay."

"My lord, you are clearly overwrought."

"What is more," Hugh added with an ominous gentleness, "the devil will receive his due long before the Church gets around to dealing with your case. Do I make myself plain?"

Alice's resolve wavered in the face of the blatant threat. She swallowed and tried to gather her courage. "Sir, I warn you, I will not be intimidated or coerced into marriage."

" 'Tis too late to go back, Alice. We must go forward along this new course."

"Nay, our bargain holds. I have not yet made up my mind. What is more—" Something moved in the gloom at the far end of the cave. Alice stared past Hugh's broad shoulder.

Her spirited protest died in her throat. For a terrible instant stark fear froze her tongue. "Hugh."

He was on his feet in the blink of an eye. Steel whispered against leather as he slid his sword from its scabbard and whirled to face whatever threat had materialized behind him. An invisible cloak of battle-ready tension flowed around him.

Alice scrambled to her knees and peered past Hugh. A cowled figure emerged from the darkness of a concealed tunnel. He held a nearly extinguished torch in his hand.

"Greetings, Lord Hugh," Calvert of Oxwick said in his rasping voice.

Hugh slammed his sword back into its scabbard. "What the devil are you doing here, monk?"

"I was at my prayers." Calvert's eyes burned in the shadows. "I heard voices and came to see who had invaded these caverns. I feared thieves or robbers."

"You were at your prayers?" Hugh pulled his tunic over his head and buckled his sword belt in place with a swift, practiced motion. "In a cave?"

Calvert seemed to retreat deeper into his cowl. "I have found a place deep within these caverns where a man may pray without distractions from the outside world. A humble chamber of stone that is well suited to the mortification of the flesh."

"Sounds an enjoyable enough place," Hugh said dryly. "Myself, I would prefer a garden but to each his own. Fear not, monk. My betrothed and I will not intrude further on your prayers."

He took Alice's arm and led her out of the cavern with the same arrogant grace he might have used to escort her out of a royal audience chamber.

Calvert said nothing as he watched them leave. He remained where he was in the shadows. Stern disapproval emanated from his skeletal body in an almost palpable vapor. Alice could feel his gaze, feverish with righteous indignation, as it seared her spine.

"Do you think he saw us making love, my lord?" she asked anxiously.

"It matters not." Hugh's attention was clearly focused on the task of choosing a safe path down the hillside. He appeared completely unconcerned about Calvert.

"But 'twould be most embarrassing if he were to spread gossip."

"If the monk has any wits, he will guard his tongue." Hugh led Alice around a clump of scrubby bushes. "But even if he were to speak of what happened between us, who would take note? We are betrothed. Difficulty would arise only if you refused to take the final wedding vows."

"You never lose an opportunity to pursue your goal, do you?"

"I learned long ago that determination and will are the only true means of securing my ends." He steadied her with a sure grip as her soft boots skidded on a patch of loose pebbles. "By the bye, I must journey to London on matters of business. I shall be gone for a few days, no more than a sennight at most."

"London?" Alice stopped short. "When do you leave?"

"Tomorrow morning."

"Oh." Alice experienced an unexpected pang of disappointment. A whole sennight without Hugh stretched out ahead of her and it promised to be quite dull. There would be no fiery quarrels, no stolen moments of passion, no excitement.

"As my betrothed, you shall be in charge of affairs here at Scarcliffe while I am gone."

"Me?" She stared at him in amazement.

"Aye." Hugh smiled at her expression. "I leave everything in your hands. You will be safe enough. I shall leave Dunstan and all but two of my men here to guard the keep and the lands. Julian, my messenger, will also stay here. You may send him to me in London if you need to convey a message."

"Aye, my lord." Alice's head was reeling with the sudden, unexpected weight of her new responsibilities. Hugh trusted her to look after his precious Scarcliffe.

"As we shall be married upon my return," Hugh added casually, "you may as well spend the time preparing for the celebration of our wedding."

"By the Saints' eyes, sir, how many times must I tell you that I will not be wed simply because you find such a marriage efficient and convenient?"

"Believe me, madam, efficiency and convenience are not proving to be your strongest points. Oh, there is one more thing."

"What is that, my lord?"

Hugh came to a halt. He removed the heavy black onyx ring from his finger. "You will take this. 'Tis an emblem of my authority. In giving it to you, I would have you comprehend that I trust you and rely on you as I would a true wife—"

"But Hugh—"

"Or a sound business partner," he finished wryly. "Take it, Alice." He placed the ring in her hand and folded her fingers firmly around it. He held her small fist for a moment. "I would have you remember something else equally important."

Her heart leaped. "Aye, my lord?"