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Page 178
well within ear- and eye-shot of his goddess. He started, came forward, and bowed. ''My lady?"
Alinor glanced right and left again. "Can you dance?"
Ian's mouth dropped open.
"Ian," Alinor insisted impatiently, "can you dance?"
"Yes, my lady."
"Thank God for that! Lead me into the set then, quickly."
"I, my lady?" The young man's voice cracked as it had not done in a year.
"Yes, yes, quick! Your master is busy with the King. You were sent to be his deputy. Quick!"
But it was already too late; de Bohun was upon them. Alinor put her hand formally on Ian's wrist.
"Will you dance this dance with me, Lady Alinor?"
"I am sorry, my lord, it is already promised."
"What, to this stripling?"
De Bohun cast Ian so venomous a glance that Alinor's breath checked. Had de Bohun attempted to abduct her and had someone told him that Ian gave the warning? Her nervous reaction communicated itself to Ian, whose lips had already tightened at the sneer. Alinor felt the tendons in his wrist tense and she tightened her grip on him.
"I am my lord's deputy," Ian replied quietly, obedient to Alinor's warning although he longed to throw the sneer back in de Bohun's face.
"What, are you abandoned, Lady Alinor?" Bigod asked from the other side.
"You see I am not," she rejoined smoothly, but her heart sank. She had hoped that, whichever reached her first, the other would have common sense enough to stay away when it became clear she would not accept his rival.
"Come now, I cannot leave you to so youthful and inexperienced a rescuer," Bigod said politely, ignoring de Bohun's presence.

 
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