The Brat Page 0,25

avoid conversation with everyone but Emilie, leaving the queen's solar and roaming the garden and castle on her own. She'd been too successful. It seemed she now had no idea how to carry on a normal conversation. At least, she hadn't yet come up with anything to say. And he was equally silent. It was difficult for her to get to know him and figure out if he would suit her as a mate should they not speak.

Finally Murie said, "Emilie says you and Reginald are friends?"

"Aye."

She waited for him to expound on that, but he didn't. Frowning, she asked, "Have you known him long?"

"Aye."

Again she waited for him to expound, and again he didn't. Murie bit her lip. He wasn't being very helpful. "Emilie says you have gone to battle for the king?"

"Aye."

"In France?" she prodded.

"Aye."

"Crecy? Calais?" she asked through gritted teeth.

"Aye."

Murie finally turned on him with irritation. "Do you actually speak, my lord? If so, I would consider it rather kind of you to help out with this conversation, rather than leaving me to carry it on my own."

"Aye. I speak," he answered. Then he fell silent. Murie thought she might swoon. The man had issued three whole words! Dear Lord, be still my beating heart, she thought, frustration clawing at her stomach. The man was -

"However, I am more comfortable speaking to men than women. I have spent more time around men," he explained. Murie was just softening at this explanation, thinking it was admirable of him to say it when so many men seemed to dislike admitting a failure - at least the king did - when he added, "I often find it more trouble than it is worth. Women are such emotional creatures and often seem to lack in the basic sense that God gave men. It is difficult not to offend them."

"What?" She gasped in dismay.

"See? I have offended you."

"Aye, of course I am offended, my lord," she said with exasperation. "You have just claimed that women are too stupid to bother talking to."

"Nay, you misunderstood me," he said quickly.

"It must be because I am so lacking in the sense God gave men," she snapped. Turning on him she added, "I shall have you know, women have just as much sense as men. More, even."

"Oh, now - ," he began, but she interrupted again.

"Aye, they do. I assure you, I am every bit as intelligent as a man."

"I am sure you are," he murmured soothingly, but it was too late.

"Do not patronize me, my lord," she snapped. "I am as intelligent as a man, and I shall prove it. In fact, we shall have a duel of intelligence to prove women are just as smart as men."

"A duel of intelligence?" he echoed with surprise. "What exactly is that?"

Murie bit her lip, then admitted, "I am not sure. However, despite my lack of intelligence, I will endeavor to think of something and let you know."

With nothing else to say to the man, she turned on her heel and hurried to Emilie's side.

"I am finding it a bit inclement out here, Emilie," she said when her friend saw her. "I think I shall return inside."

"I shall join you," Emilie agreed.

"As will we," Lauda announced, pulling free of Osgoode. She gestured for her brother to join them, and followed the two women starting back toward the castle.

"Is Lord Gaynor not coming as well?" Malculinus asked with interest, moving up on Murie's side.

"I have no idea," she answered honestly.

"I see," Lauda said slowly, then commented, "Are you sure you did not have a dream?"

"I have answered that question several times now, Lauda," Murie pointed out with irritation. "I am quite sure."

"Aye, I am sorry I keep asking. It is just that I feel so bad. We both ate that rotten meat, and yet I am the only one who had a dream. I feel guilty that I talked you into it at all," she continued.

"Especially now that there is some question as to whether the rotten meat part actually works."

Murie stopped and turned sharply. "What do you mean? What question?"

Lauda bit her lip and admitted, "Well, one of the ladies heard what we were doing last night, and she told me it only works if you fast all day. Only then shall you dream of the man meant to be your husband. If you eat rotten meat, you shall dream of the man you should not marry."

"What?" Murie stared at Lauda with horror.

"Aye." Lauda nodded. "So, I

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