"Is that so?"

"Aye. The green stone is not particularly attractive or valuable so far as I could discern. Indeed, it is rather ugly as crystals go."

"Your expert opinion, is, of course, appreciated."

Alice paid no attention to the sarcasm in his words. Her mind was leaping forward, pursuing the logic of the interesting problem. "I will concede that a vicious robber might have killed to obtain the stone if he was under the mistaken impression that it had value. But in truth, it was quite cheap, else Gervase would never have bought it. And why would anyone murder the poor peddler after he had already sold the crystal? It makes no sense."

"Murder is eminently logical in such a situation if one is attempting to cover a trail," Hugh said, far too gently. "I promise you that men have killed and been killed for far less reason."

"Aye, mayhap." Alice braced her elbow on her hand and tapped her fingertip against her jaw. "By the eyes of the Saints, I vow that men are certainly extremely keen on doing a great deal of stupid, unnecessary violence."

"It does happen," Hugh conceded.

"Nevertheless, unless you have some objective evidence that indicates a clear connection between the murder of the peddler and the green crystal, sir, I do not see how you can conclude with any certainty that there is a link." She nodded once, satisfied with her own reasoning. "The peddler might very well have been killed for some other, unrelated reason."

Hugh said nothing. He regarded her with a chilling curiosity, as if she were some strange, heretofore unknown creature that had materialized in front of him. For the first time, he appeared somewhat bemused, as though he did not know quite what to make of her.

Ralf groaned in obvious misery. "Alice, in the name of the Rood, pray do not argue with Sir Hugh. This is no time to practice your skills in rhetoric and debate."

Alice took umbrage at the grossly unfair accusation. "I am not being ill-mannered, Uncle. I am merely attempting to point out to Sir Hugh that one cannot deduce something as serious as a motive for murder without solid evidence."

"You must take my word on this matter, Lady Alice," Hugh said. "The peddler is dead because of that damned crystal. I think we can both agree that it would be best if no one else died because of it, can we not?"

"Aye, my lord. I trust you do not think me lacking in proper manners, 'tis merely that I question—"

"Everything, apparently," he finished flatly.

She scowled at him. "My lord?"

"You appear to question everything, Lady Alice. At another time I might find the habit mildly entertaining but tonight I am in no mood for such distraction. I am here for only one purpose. I want the green crystal."

Alice steeled herself. "I mean no offense, my lord, but I would like to point out that my cousin purchased that stone for me. In actual fact it is now my property."

"Damnation, Alice," Ralf wailed.

"For God's sake, Alice, must you quarrel with him?" Gervase hissed.

"We are doomed," William muttered.

Hugh ignored them all, his full attention on Alice. "The green crystal is the last of the Stones of Scarcliffe, lady. I am the new lord of Scarcliffe. The crystal belongs to me."

Alice cleared her throat and chose her words cautiously. "I realize that the stone may have once belonged to you, my lord. But I believe one could argue that, strictly speaking, it is no longer yours."

"Is that so? Are you trained in the law as well as in matters of natural philosophy, then?"

She glared at him. "That stone was procured by Gervase in a perfectly legal transaction. It was then passed on to me as a gift. I do not see how you can possibly lay claim to it."

The unnatural silence that gripped the chamber was shattered by another collective intake of breath. Somewhere a tankard crashed to the floor. The harsh clang of metal on stone echoed through the hall. A dog whined.

Ralf made a small, croaking noise. He stared at Alice with bulging eyes. "Alice, what do you think you are doing?"

"Merely establishing my claim to the green crystal, Uncle." Alice met Hugh's eyes. "I have heard it said that Hugh the Relentless is a hard man, but a just and honorable one. Is that not true, my lord?"

"Hugh the Relentless," Hugh said in ominous tones, "is a man who knows how to hold on to that which is his. Be assured, lady, that I consider the stone mine."

"Sir, that crystal is very important to my investigations. I am presently studying various stones and their properties and I find the green crystal most interesting."

"I believe you described it as ugly."

"Aye, my lord. But it has been my experience that objects that lack superficial charm and attraction often conceal secrets of great intellectual interest."

"Does your theory apply to people as well?"

She was confused. "My lord?"

"Few would call me charming or attractive, madam. I merely wondered if you found me interesting."

"Oh."

"In an intellectual sense, that is."

Alice touched the tip of her tongue to her lips. "Ah, well, as to that, aye, my lord, one could certainly describe you as interesting. Most assuredly." Fascinating would be a more accurate description, she thought.

"I'm flattered. You will no doubt be even more interested to know that I did not come by my name by accident. I am called Relentless because of my habit of always pursuing a quest until I am successful."

"I do not doubt that for a moment, sir, but I really cannot allow you to claim my green stone." Alice smiled brightly. "Mayhap in the future I could loan it to you."

"Go and fetch the stone," Hugh said in a terrifyingly calm voice. "Now."

"My lord, you do not comprehend."

"Nay, lady, 'tis you who do not comprehend. I am done with this game you seem to delight in playing. Bring the stone to me now or suffer the consequences."

"Alice," Ralf shrieked. "Do something."

"Aye," Hugh said. "Do something, Lady Alice. Bring the green crystal to me at once."

Alice drew herself up and prepared to deliver the bad news. "I fear I cannot do that, my lord."

"Cannot or will not?" Hugh asked softly.

Alice shrugged. "Cannot. You see, I have recently suffered the same fate as yourself."

"What in the name of the devil are you talking about now?" Hugh asked.

"The green crystal was stolen from me only a few days ago, my lord."

"God's teeth," Hugh whispered. "If you seek to provoke me to anger with a maze of falsehoods and misleading words, you are close to success, madam. I warn you, however, that you may not care for the result."

"Nay, my lord," Alice said hastily. "I speak the plain truth. The stone disappeared from my workroom less than a sennight past."

Hugh shot a cold, questioning glance at Ralf, who nodded morosely. Hugh switched his disturbing gaze back to Alice, pinning her ruthlessly with it.

"If this is a true fact," he said icily, "why was I not informed of it at once when I arrived here this evening?"

Alice cleared her throat again. "It was my uncle's opinion that, as the stone is my property, I should be the one to tell you of its loss."

"And present your claim to it at the same time?" Hugh's smile bore a strong resemblance to the edge of a finely crafted sword blade.

There was no point in denying the obvious. "Aye, my lord."

"I'll wager that it was your decision to delay informing me of the loss of the stone until after I had dined well," Hugh murmured.

"Aye, my lord. My mother always claimed men were more reasonable after a good meal. Now, then, I am pleased to be able to tell you that I have a plan to recover the stone."

Hugh did not appear to have heard her. Instead he seemed lost in some private musings. "I do not believe I have ever encountered a woman such as yourself, Lady Alice."

She was momentarily distracted. A glow of unexpected pleasure warmed her insides. "Do you find me interesting, my lord?" She hardly dared add the rest. "In an intellectual sense?"

"Aye, madam. Most interesting."

Alice blushed. She had never had a man pay her such a compliment. She had never had a man pay her any compliment. It gave her a thrilling feeling of excitement. The fact that Hugh found her as interesting as she found him was almost overwhelming. She forced herself to set the unfamiliar sensation aside and return to practical matters.

"Thank you, my lord," she said with what she felt was commendable composure under the circumstances. "Now, as I was saying, when I learned that you were to pay us a visit, I conceived a scheme whereby we might recover the crystal together."

Ralf stared at her. "Alice, what are you talking about?"

"I shall explain everything soon enough, Uncle." Alice beamed at Hugh. "I'm sure you'll be interested to hear the details, my lord."

"A few, very few, men have, at various times in the past, attempted to deceive me," Hugh said.

Alice frowned. "Deceive you, my lord? No one here attempted to deceive you."

"Those men are now dead."

"Sir, I believe we should return to the subject at hand," Alice said crisply. "Now, as we both have an interest in the green stone, the logical thing to do is to join forces."

"There have also, I regret to say, been one or two women who played dangerous games with me." Hugh paused. "But I doubt that you would wish to learn of their fates."

"My lord, we digress from the topic."

Hugh stroked the stem of his wine goblet. "But now that I think back on those few females who tried my patience with silly games, I believe I can say with some certainty that they were not at all similar to yourself."