Amanda Quick by Desire (v5)

Author:Desire (v5)
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9780307575630
Publisher: a cognizant original v5 release october 31 2010
Published: 1993-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

11

“Lady Clare, I would speak with you,” Gareth said as Clare strode swiftly past the hall steps.

His voice was pitched low, meant for her ears alone, but it carried the weight of command.

Clare pretended that she had not heard him. She did not dare turn her head to glance at him. It would be easier to ignore Gareth if she did not appear to notice him standing there on the steps.

“Pray, madam, a word with you.” There was a slight but very distinct edge in Gareth’s voice this time.

Clare’s fingers tightened in the folds of her skirt, but she resisted the almost overpowering inclination to obey the soft summons.

“Hell’s teeth. I knew you were going to make this difficult.” Gareth started down the steps.

Clare ignored him. This was her hall and she was in charge. She had no intention of allowing Gareth to take control. At that moment, however, she comprehended precisely how he had become successful as a leader of men. There was an inborn authority in his voice that would give anyone pause.

Anyone, that is, save another who was also accustomed to command.

Clare reminded herself that she, too, could invest her words with a certain air of authority when the occasion demanded. She had been doing so since the age of twelve.

“Ulrich.” Clare smiled coolly as Ulrich turned his head. “What is going on here?”

“Sword practice, my lady. Lord Gareth has ordered William and Dallan to begin training with arms.” Ulrich’s gaze went from Clare’s face to a point just behind her.

Clare knew that Gareth was striding across the courtyard toward where she stood.

Dallan and William looked at her, then at Gareth. They were not the only ones who stopped what they were doing to see what was going to happen.

Disappointment clouded William’s expression. “Ah, Lady Clare, please say that I may continue. I shall be most careful. I vow that I will not get hurt.”

Dallan’s eyes gleamed with vengeful satisfaction. He shot a sly, triumphant glance at Gareth, who had nearly reached Clare. “I knew you would not allow us to be forced to learn such dangerous skills, my lady. You have always said that only thick-skulled lackwits devote their energies to fighting and tourneying.”

“Why was I not consulted on this matter?” Clare came to a halt in front of Ulrich and fixed him with a warning glare. Gareth was no more than a few paces away now. She had to act swiftly or the initiative would be taken from her.

Ulrich glanced over the top of her head and met Gareth’s eyes. “I assumed that my lord was in command of such things.”

“Lord Gareth may do as he pleases with you and the rest of his men. William and Dallan, however, are members of my household and their welfare is my affair.”

“Aye, madam,” Ulrich murmured. There was a gleam of unholy amusement in his eyes.

“You must save us, my lady,” Dallan wailed piteously.

“Please let us practice, Lady Clare,” William urged. “I want to learn how to use a sword so that I can help defend this hall.

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