Free Too Wild to Wed by Jayne Ann Krentz

the women were that the tunics were cut much shorter, often just to the knee. Under them they wore brightly colored hose and soft pointed shoes.
    Everywhere there was brilliant, gemlike color. The people of the medieval period had loved rich hues. Letty caught glimpses of fanciful heraldic devices picked out on several of the costumes and wondered if it signified some status within the Order of Medieval Revelers.
    A fire blazed on the massive stone hearth that occupied one entire wall at the far end of the room. Everyone appeared to be drinking from metal or earthenware goblets. Letty decided that most of the members probably brought their own. She hoped someone had stocked a few plastic glasses for newcomers.
    There was a minstrels' gallery at the far end of the balcony where she stood and several musicians in period costume were warming up the lutes, harps, flutes and drums.
    The laughter from the main hall drew Letty down the grand staircase. She moved slowly, wary of the unfamiliar feel of the pointed slippers and long skirts of her costume.
    Sheldon Peabody hailed her as she reached the bottom step. He elbowed his way through the throng, his goblet raised high in greeting.
    "Ah, the fair Lady Letitia. Welcome, my dear, welcome to your first meeting of the Order of Medieval Revelers. May I say that the style of the times becomes you. You are truly a vision, my dear. Allow me to fetch you some wine."
    "Thanks." Letty smiled in relief at a familiar face. "That sounds wonderful."
    "This way, my lady." Sheldon took her arm and steered her toward a bar that had been set up against the far wall.
    Letty examined Sheldon surreptitiously, noting that the green tunic he wore over yellow leggings were emblazoned with an heraldic device that appeared to be a griffin swigging a cup of ale.
    "The ancient and honored coat of arms of the Sheldon family?" she asked with a grin as a costumed bartender took her order for red wine.
    Sheldon chuckled. "Are you kidding? My family is from Kansas. Their symbol would probably be an ear of corn. No, my lady, this device I so proudly wear is one I designed myself. I felt it suited my particular skills."
    "I should have guessed."
    "To tell you the truth," Sheldon continued, "I'm hoping to replace it soon with the heraldic device of the Inner Circle of the Order of Medieval Revelers."
    "What's the Inner Circle?"
    Sheldon shrugged. "Basically it's the board of directors of the Order. The Grand Master this year is Richard Hodson. He's also serving as Lord of Revelry at this convention. The guy's an author. You may have heard of him."
    Letty's brows rose behind the frames of her glasses. "The Richard Hodson who writes those clever mysteries set in medieval England?"
    "The same." Sheldon grimaced. 'The man doesn't even have a degree in history, but the editors and the public love those medieval settings he uses. Can you believe it? Makes you wonder if we're wasting our time trying to teach the real stuff to thick-headed undergraduates, doesn't it?"
    "Well, I have to admit I enjoy teaching," Letty said cautiously. She had caught the underlying note of bitterness in Sheldon's voice and suspected it was directly related to his own inability to get published recently.
    "You wouldn't if you'd been at it as long as I have and discovered that no one in our business appreciates good teaching. All the powers-that-be demand is a good track record in getting your papers into the right journals. It's all politics. Publish or perish, Letty."
    "I understand."
    "I doubt it." Sheldon's angry scowl cleared as if by magic and he gave Letty his genial, boyish grin. "But that's because you're still fresh in the game. You haven't come up against the publish or perish problem yet, have you? You're still the department's rising star."
    "I don't know about that." Letty felt suddenly awkward. In an effort to change the subject, she glanced around, hoping against hope to see a familiar face in the crowd. But it was useless. She