'You seemed angry.'
'Seemed. That is the word. It was necessary to seem. You did not know that Facino was behind the arras that masked the little door.'
'I hoped that you did not.'
It was like a blow between the eyes. She snatched away her hand. Brows met over staring, glaring eyes and her nether lip was caught in sharp white teeth.
'You knew!' she gasped at last, and her voice held all the emotions.
'The arras quivered, and there was no air. That drew my eyes, and I saw the point of my lord's shoe protruding from the curtain's hem.'
Her face held more wickedness in that moment than he would have thought possible to find wed with so much perfection.
'When ... When did you see? Was it before you spoke to me as you did?'
'Your thoughts do me poor credit. If I had seen in time should I have been quite so plain and uncompromising in my words? I did not see until after I had spoken.'
The explanation nothing mollified her. 'Almost I hoped you'd say that the words you used, you used because you know of Facino's presence.'