Free Quick, Amanda by Desire Page B

course."
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    "Of course."
    "And then, when I eventually recovered, I discovered that there were a great many business matters
    that needed to be settled."
    "Naturally."
    "And then, the first thing I knew, it was winter," Clare continued blithely. "I reasoned that the roads
    would be impassable, what with the snow and ice. I decided it would be best to wait until early spring
    to send a message to Thurston."
    Gareth almost smiled. "And while you waited for the roads to clear, you sought to discover a way to
    avoid marriage."
    Clare gave him a disgruntled look. "It was worth a try."
    He shrugged. "But the effort failed. So now we must go forward along a new path."
    "We?"
    "Aye. There is no reason the marriage cannot be celebrated on the morrow, is there?"
    "Impossible." Desperation flashed in Clare's eyes. "Absolutely impossible. It simply cannot be done."
    "It most certainly can be done, and well you know it. All that is required is that a priest be summoned—"
    "We do not have a priest here on Desire," Clare said swiftly.
    "I'm sure that one can be found in Seabern. We shall make our vows in front of witnesses, and that is
    that."
    "But there is so much more to the matter," Clare protested. "A suitable celebration must be arranged.
    My marshal already has his hands full organizing the household to accommodate all of your men. He
    will need weeks to arrange a wedding banquet and a proper feast for the villagers."
    "I am certain all can be arranged very quickly once you have made your selection. A day or two at
    most," Gareth conceded.
    "You speak as one who has never had to organize such an event," she informed him with lofty disdain.
    "Great quantities of bread must be baked. Fish must be caught. Chickens plucked. Sauces prepared.
    Casks of wine and ale will have to be purchased. It will be necessary to send someone to Seabern to
    obtain some of the supplies."
    Gareth came to a halt and confronted her. "Lady, I have organized entire battles with less notice. But I
    am willing to be patient."
    "How patient?"
    "Now we are to bargain on that point? I begin to comprehend that I am to marry a woman with a head
    for business. Very well, my terms are simple. I shall allow you a day to make your decision and to
    prepare."
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    "One day?"
    "Aye. An entire day. All of tomorrow, in fact. I am feeling in an indulgent mood."
    "You call that indulgent?"
    "I do. We shall be married the day after tomorrow even if we are obliged to serve naught but bad ale
    and stale bread at the banquet. Do you comprehend me?"
    "Sir, I am not one of your knights to be ordered about in such an overbearing manner."
    "And I am not one of your household servants or a fawning young minstrel devoted to serving your
    every whim," Gareth said calmly. "Unless you have decided that you wish to wed Nicholas of
    Seabern—"
    "I most certainly will not marry that obnoxious oaf."
    "Then I will soon be your lord and the lord of this manor. Tis best that you remember that when you think
    to gainsay me."
    "What I choose to remember is that I am the lady of Desire and I will expect to be treated with the
    respect that is my due."
    Gareth took a single step forward. He was pleased when Clare stood her ground, but he was careful not
    to show his satisfaction. He was, after all, well skilled in the arts of combat. He knew better than most
    that it was extremely unwise to show weakness of any kind.
    "Be assured that you have my respect, madam. But you cannot avoid the facts. Lord Thurston has
    commanded you to wed as soon as possible."
    Clare tapped Thurston's letter against her palm and regarded Gareth with narrowed eyes. "Are you quite
    certain that you did not overtake my other suitors on the road, do something dreadful to them, and then
    write this letter yourself?"
    "That is Thurston of Landry's seal. Surely you recognize