The Snow White Bride Read Online Free PDF Page B

not be tempted to taste the wine from my cellars?”
    “You must be affluent indeed to have wine in your cellars, no less to share it with your peasants.”
    Alexander laughed. “I am as impoverished as ever a man could be,” he admitted. “But I have had family in Sicily and more family who traded in goods, and thus have the good fortune to have been given several casks of wine, which are yet in my cellar.” He granted her a quick wink. “It is better drunk than left to ruin.”
    “And many a man is better drunk, though that might lead him to ruin,” she retorted, prompting his laughter again.
    “Only a man quick to temper is better drunk than sober, for then he has not the ability to act upon his whims,” Alexander said. “Though I assure you that I am not in their number.”
    “Is that the truth of it,” she said mildly, as if unpersuaded. Alexander did not know whether she was doubtful of his notion of drunken men or his own merit.
    He shivered elaborately. “Though I am reluctant to end our conversation, truly, it is too cold to jest thus in the bailey. Surely we might proceed so far as an introduction by this point? What is your name, lady fair? You must have one, though you are reluctant to surrender it.”
    “Eleanor,” she admitted, to his astonishment.
    “Eleanor.” Alexander rolled the name across his tongue as he considered how to proceed. He marveled that she had surrendered her name, noted that she had not included an estate—though she was clearly noble—and wondered whether it was her name in truth. He had little to lose by teasing her, he reasoned. “Perhaps it is not truly your name.”
    She looked so outraged at his suggestion that he knew it must be her name, or at least a part of it. “What mockery is this?”
    “Surely it is uncommon for a lady to grant so little of her name when most would surrender all of it? You admit to no title and no house. Perhaps you have another name.”
    “Perhaps I am not noble.”
    She was troubled by his perceptiveness, Alexander noted, so he made a jest. “Then whence came your gown?” he teased. “You did not find garb such as this abandoned in a gutter.”
    She bit her lip, seemingly without a response.
    Alexander touched the trailing end of her sleeve, rubbing the cloth between finger and thumb. He was tempted to touch her wrist, so close was her flesh, but dared not press her overmuch.
    Indeed, she pulled her hand away from him, and put a step between them. Alexander did not comment, nor did he miss her response.
    She liked her secrets, to be sure, but he tired of her low estimation of his nature. He decided to press her slightly.
    “Such finely woven cloth can only be from the Lowlands,” he mused, “so rich a hue could only have been dyed in France. And the embroidery is lavish indeed. This is not a gown from one of my sisters, for I should recall the cost well enough. And the cloak … ” He whistled through his teeth. “Ermine would beggar a king in these days.” He met her gaze again. “No common woman could buy such garb, thus you must be noble. I would wager that your husbands were not petty lords, either.”
    She caught her breath and quickened her step. “I might be a thief,” she said.
    Alexander grinned and easily matched his pace to hers. “From whom would you steal? You would have to have traveled far with your ill-gotten gains to have found yourself in my hall.”
    She lifted her chin and he saw her lips set stubbornly. “Perhaps I am a rich man’s consort.”
    Alexander pretended to consider this, then shook his head. “Bereft of your benefactor, but so afraid of a man’s caress as you are?” he said softly. “I think not.”
    She turned upon him with flashing eyes. “I am not afraid!”
    Alexander shrugged, though truly he was beguiled by her response. “A courtesan would seek another patron, and I am the best proposition in this vicinity.” He spread his hands and smiled at her. “I invite you, Eleanor, to