Demon Angel

upon meeting him within the hall she had insisted he serve her, and he'd not wanted to cause a scene by refusing. And, he forced himself to admit, he still resented that Mandeville had put him in his place in the courtyard.
    A capon sliced easily under his knife, and he laid several choice pieces upon Lilith's trencher. " 'Tis unfortunate they do naught but gossip."
    "And which one would you have do more?" Though neither her expression nor tone betrayed her amusement, he felt it and could not resist smiling in return. "Behind you sits the youngest daughter of the sheriff of Chelmsford, and I have heard her speak of your eyes, bright blue as the afternoon sky. She is exceedingly comely, is she not?"
    "Aye, but her poetry lacks originality."
    "Her father is rich."
    He stole a look over his shoulder, grinning. "Aye? Perhaps her singing will compensate for her poor verse-making."
    "A fine voice can give life to dull lyrics," Lilith nodded, her eyes sparkling. "And she will sound lovely in bed, even if her movements put you to sleep before the song is spent."
    Hugh choked, coughing until his laughter cleared his throat. "Has a man ever dared fall asleep before you?"
    "Only very brave and very stupid men." She placed a small bit of roasted apple daintily on her tongue. "But I'll admit my singing is not particularly fine."
    "Just exceptionally loud?"
    "Aye, loud." She tilted her head, and her gaze dropped to his lap. "And I have mastered the appropriate instruments."
    Her words inspired an image that heated his blood, and he was grateful for the table, hiding the effects of it. His breath hitched, and her gaze met his; knowledge and temptation burned in the dark depths of her eyes. Remembering Sir William's situation, some of the wicked bravado that had allowed him to equal her in the conversation deserted him.
    As if sensing his withdrawal, she frowned. "Come now, Sir Hugh. Do not disappoint me."
    "I do not mean to, my lady," he said, his voice rueful. "But I'm unused to such conversation with a woman."
    "You were enjoying it."
    "Aye."
    A page set the new course before them, allowing Hugh a moment to gather himself—though it was not a lonely moment, for he felt Lilith examining his face as if she could discern every thought that passed through his mind.
    "Perhaps that is the difficulty," he said when the boy had moved down the table. "I should not take pleasure in such a discussion. 'Tis… unseemly."
    She regarded him in silence for a moment. "I frighten you."
    A flush reddened his skin. She was laughing at him, and after a moment of wrestling with his masculine pride, he allowed himself the same. "Aye, my lady. I would not like to end up tied to a wall—but I think your conversation and the temptation you offer may lead there."
    "Such frank conversation arouses you?"
    His face burned. "Aye."
    "Is it so terrible to be aroused?"
    He nodded, and took a sip of wine, hoping that it would soothe his suddenly parched mouth.
    "Then we should turn our conversation to a different topic," she said. "What non-arousing subjects did you and the countess speak of when you fled to Anjou? And in the two years during? For certain, you never discussed anything that wasn't perfectly innocent. What could have filled your thoughts two years ago? The decision of the Lateran Council, forbidding clerics from issuing an order of execution? Forbidding them to bless the water and hot iron used in torture?" She nodded, her lips tilted in amusement. "Such would be fine conversation between a lady and a knight."
    "We spoke of the barons' rebellion," he said slowly, certain it was true but unable to remember her position aside from the demure support of her husband. Pleasantries, such as I am certain my lord will prevail and I trust my lord will do what is right had fallen from her lips many a time, with no indication that she possessed a real understanding of the rebellion. At the time, he had found her unquestioning support a sign of true love and devotion; now he wondered if she had simply been so young the situation had bewildered her, and his own youth had hidden her lack of understanding.
    "And what did you say of the barons' rebellion?" Lilith did not seem interested in his answer; she pushed her food around with her fingers, and Hugh noted absently that aside from a few tiny bites, she had not consumed much at all. Hardly enough to maintain her bulk. Perhaps she was a woman who had meals sent to her later, when no one could observe her