“With all my heart,” I answered.
He drained his glass at a draught, but as for me, I was content to be more moderate, for the wine was of the strongest.
“And now to your tale, captain,” he said, refilling his glass.
I waited no longer, but plunged briefly into a recital of the events of the previous day, omitting only that portion that related to the bruise upon my forehead. Once Mistress Maddon interrupted me.
“And this Lady Ingram,” she said contemptuously, “you have seen her? Is she as beautiful as they say?”
“She is very beautiful, madam,” I answered quietly.
Despite my hatred of her, I could be no less than candid. Once, too, when I came to the account of how she had served the royal warrant, my lord swore a great oath and half rose from his seat; but he sank back again and did not interrupt me. In the momentary silence that followed the conclusion of my story I caught the sound of voices in the hall without; nay, I even thought that I could distinguish my lady’s imperious tones.
Suddenly my lord leaned forward.
“But there was resistance?” he said, scanning my face.
I felt my brow burn.