Free Quick, Amanda by Desire

minstrel? Or mayhap your
    marshal, who looks as though he would have trouble lifting a tankard of ale, let alone a sword."
    "I do not appreciate your poor jest, sir."
    "I never speak in jest."
    "I beg leave to doubt that. I think you enjoy a very dangerous notion of amusement. I do not care for it."
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    Gareth grew bored with the silly game. He had made his point. Clare had been warned. He made it a
    practice to give only one warning. "Enough of this nonsense. We have other matters to discuss."
    "You are correct in that, sir. I shall not forget your insult, but we most certainly do have other matters to
    discuss." A speculative gleam appeared in Clare's gaze. "I have been considering this situation and have
    come to some conclusions."
    "Have you?"
    "Aye. I believe Thurston of Landry is a kind, compassionate lord."
    "What in the name of the devil gave you that impression?"
    Clare ignored the interruption. "I cannot imagine that he would insist that I marry a knight who is so
    unchivalrous as to actually question my honor before the wedding."
    "Lady Clare—"
    "Obviously Lord Thurston did not fully comprehend your true nature before he selected you as one
    of my suitors. He will be shocked, shocked, to learn that he made a grave mistake."
    Gareth knew by the expression in her eyes that she was seriously contemplating the possibility of
    sidestepping the marriage on such flimsy grounds. The lady would have made an excellent lawyer. He
    felt an odd tugging sensation around the edge of his mouth. One corner even started to curve upward
    into what might very well prove to be a smile. He restrained himself with an effort.
    "If you think to delay this enterprise by writing to Thurston to complain of my unchivalrous behavior,
    I'd advise you not to waste your time. Or Thurston's. He will not thank you for it." Gareth paused to
    add weight to his next words. "Nor will I."
    "So." Clare nodded once, very briskly, as if some inner suspicion had just been confirmed. "Now we
    have threats from our unchivalrous knight. This business grows darker by the moment." She swung
    about and began to tread deliberately along the garden path. "The better acquainted you and I become,
    sir, the more I fear that you simply will not do as a husband."
    "How strange." Gareth clasped his hands behind his back and fell into step beside her. He was beginning
    to enjoy himself. "I have had just the opposite experience. The deeper our acquaintanceship grows, the
    more certain I am that you will make me a most satisfactory wife."
    "Highly doubtful, sir." Clare pursed her lips with an air of regret. "Highly doubtful. In any case, I must
    write to Lord Thurston to clarify some aspects of this situation before we proceed further."
    "Which aspects do you refer to, lady?"
    "To began with, I am concerned that thus far you are the only suitor to arrive on Desire."
    "I told you, your choice is limited to Nicholas of Seabern or myself. There are no other suitors."
    She scowled. "There must have been other suitable candidates for the position. Likely you are merely
    the first to arrive on the isle. The others might be journeying here even as we speak."
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    "Mayhap I overtook the other candidates en route and persuaded them that their cause was hopeless."
    "Aye." Her brows snapped together. "There is that possibility."
    "Or, having failed to persuade them to abandon their quest, mayhap I simply dispatched them," Gareth
    added helpfully.
    "That is not at all amusing, sir."
    "This has gone far enough." Gareth reached inside his outer tunic and withdrew a folded parchment leaf.
    "You had best read this letter from Thurston of Landry before you proceed with your schemes, my lady."
    Clare regarded the letter warily before she took it from his hand. She studied the seal intently and then
    slowly broke it. Her mouth tightened as she