Everyone gazed at her in astonishment. Alice knew they were held rapt not only by her presence but by the sight of her new black and amber gown. The significance of her apparel was not lost on anyone. Hugh's betrothed wore her future husband's new colors.
A soft murmur of wonder and curiosity swept through the chamber.
Alice smiled wryly. Her entrance had created a sensation second only to the sort that Hugh himself was fond of making.
She looked down the length of the chamber to where he sat beneath the new black and amber canopy.
In spite of the tension in the hall, Alice could not help but be pleased with the effect Julian had created. There were cloths on the tables. Tapestries hung on the walls. Fresh herbs scented the clean rushes. Many of the servants were already garbed in the new colors.
Hugh looked especially fine seated at the head table in his great black chair, Alice thought.
He also looked very cold and very remote. Her momentary flicker of pleasure evaporated. He had not forgiven her for going to the aid of Rivenhall.
"My lady." Elbert appeared at Alice's elbow. His expression was anxious. "Will you dine with us today?"
"Aye."
Elbert beamed with unmistakable pride. "Allow me to escort you to the head table."
"My thanks." It was obvious that Hugh was not going to perform the courtesy, she thought.
Hugh watched with chilling intensity as she walked toward the head table. He did not rise from his ebony chair until she was almost upon him. At the last moment he got to his feet, inclined his head in an icy gesture, and took her hand to seat her. His fingers were iron bonds around her own soft palm.
"How kind of you to honor us with your presence, Lady Alice," he murmured.
At his tone she shivered and knew that he must have felt her reaction. She tried to calm her racing pulse as she took her seat.
"I trust that you will enjoy the meal, sir." Alice hastily freed her hand from his grasp.
"Your presence will definitely add a certain seasoning to the dishes."
She knew that his laconic remark had not been intended as a compliment but she decided to pretend otherwise. "You are most gracious, sir."
Hugh took his seat once more. He relaxed against the inlaid back of the chair and rested one elbow on a massive arm. He studied Alice with dangerous eyes. "May I ask why a woman of such refined sensibilities has chosen to dine in such rude company?"
Alice felt herself turn pink with embarrassment. "I do not consider the company rude." She nodded toward Elbert, who sprang into action. "I look forward to dining with you, my lord."
"Do you, indeed?"
He had not even noticed her new gown.
This was not going to be easy, Alice acknowledged. But, then, things rarely were with Hugh. She cast about for a way to change the topic. Her gaze fell on an unfamiliar man seated at the far end of one table. He was dressed in religious robes.
"Who is our guest?" she asked politely.
"The priest I brought back with me." Hugh flicked a mildly curious glance at an elegant dish of poached fish as it was set in front of him. The fish had been garnished with a saffron-tinted sauce. "He will perform the wedding service tomorrow."
Alice swallowed. "Wedding service?"
"Our marriage ceremony, madam." Hugh's mouth curved in a wintry smile. "Or had you forgotten about it?"
"Nay, of course not." Alice picked up her spoon, gripping it so tightly that the blood left the tips of her fingers.
By the Saints, he is furious, she thought. Far more so than she had realized. She wondered what she should do next. She had no notion of how to handle Hugh when he was in this mood. Despair threatened to sweep over her. She fought it with sheer willpower.
"You have not answered my question." Hugh helped himself to a slice of the hot cheese and leek tart that a servant brought to the table.
"What question was that, my lord?"
"Why have you condescended to dine with your future lord and his men?"
"It was not an act of condescension. I merely wished to enjoy the meal with you. Is that so odd?"
Hugh considered briefly as he sampled a bite of the tart. "Aye. Most odd."
He was toying with her, Alice thought. Baiting her. "Well, 'tis the truth, sir." She concentrated on a dish of almond-flavored vegetables. "I wanted to welcome you home from London."
"Welcome me or placate me?"
Alice's temper flared. She put down her spoon with a thump. "I am not here because I seek to placate you, sir."
"Are you certain?" A humorless smile played around the edges of Hugh's mouth. "I have often noticed that your manners improve greatly when you seek a boon. One could view your actions today as those of a woman who knows she has overstepped herself. Mayhap you think to make amends for what you did yesterday?"
Alice knew she could not eat a single morsel now. She stood up abruptly and turned to confront him. "I did what I thought was necessary."
"Sit down."
"Nay, I will not sit down, sir. I came to dine with you here today because I wished to see if you cared for the improvements that have been made in this keep." She waved a hand at the black and amber canopy overhead. "You have not said one word about the decorations."
"Sit down, Alice."
"Nor have you bothered to pay attention to the excellent food." She glowered at him. "I spent hours organizing this household while you were gone and you have not deigned to extend a single kind word. Tell me, do you find the tart tasty, my lord? Did you notice that it was warm, not cold?"
Hugh narrowed his eyes. "I am more interested in other matters at the moment."
"Have you tried the ale? It is newly brewed."
"I have not sampled it yet."
"Did you enjoy the pleasant scent of your linens? What about the fresh rushes on the floor? Did you note that the garderobe shafts have all been washed with a great quantity of water and now exude a pleasant fragrance?"
"Alice—"
"What of the new colors that Julian and I so carefully chose? I added amber to match your eyes."
"Madam, I vow, if you do not sit down immediately, I shall—"
She ignored him to shake out the folds of her skirts. "And what about my new gown, sir? The maids worked late into the night to finish the embroidery. Do you like it?"
He raked the black and amber garment with a single glance. "Did you think that the sight of you wearing my colors would sweeten my temper?" His hand closed fiercely around the arm of his chair. "By the devil, do you believe that I care more about clean garderobes than I do about vengeance?"
Alice was incensed. "I did no more than you yourself would have done had you been here when young Reginald came to plead for aid."
Hugh's eyes gleamed with fury. "You think to excuse your actions with such poor logic?"
"Aye, my lord, I do. You will never convince me that you would have let Lady Emma, her young son, and her entire household fall into the clutches of that horrible Eduard of Lockton. Regardless of your feelings toward Rivenhall, you are far too noble to allow the innocent to suffer for the sake of your vengeance."
"You know nothing of my nature."
"In that you are wrong. I know a great deal about you, sir. And in my opinion, 'tis most unfortunate that your fine nobility of manner is exceeded only by your monumental stubbornness."
Alice whisked up her skirts, turned, and fled from the high table. Tears burned in her eyes by the time she reached the door. She rushed down the steps and out into the sunlight.
She did not pause or look back as she dashed through the keep's gate.
Chapter 16
She did not know what made her choose the cave as her destination. But for some obscure reason Alice found solace in the shadows of the large cavern where Hugh had made love to her.