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Let it be said, Marcus thought dryly, that nothing cooled a man’s ardor like the Crusades Still

He looked at her questioningly "Norwegians?"

"A little-known crusade at the beginning," she said, waving aside as probably a good decade of history with a flick of her wrist "Hardly anyone ever talks about it" She looked over at him and sahat must have been an expression of co

"That’sexcellent"

"How about The Life and Death of Cardinal Wolsey?" she asked, holding up another book "No? I also have History of the Rise, Progress, and Termination of the American Revolution"

"You really do think I’ly "The Crusades are not dull"

"But you brought only Voluo back and look for the first volume"

He decided to interpret that as a threat

"Oh, here we are Look at this" She held up a very slim, pocket-sized book with a triumphant expression "I have one by Byron The least dull man in existence Or so I’m told I have never e "Have you read The Corsair?"

"On the day it was published"

"Oh" She frowned "Here is another by Sir Walter Scott Peveril of the Peak It’s rather lengthy It should keep you busy for some time"

"I believe I will stick with Miss Butterworth"

"If you wish" She gave hi to like it "It belongs to h she did say youelse, I’hed "I’ll tell Cook to prepare it for you after we leave tomorrow" She looked up suddenly "You did know that we depart for London too unless ere certain you were recovering," she assured him

"I know I’rimaced "Rehearsals, actually"

"Rehearsals?"

"For the – "

Oh, no

" – musicale"

The Smythe-Sun There wasn’t a ht when faced with the memory – or the threat – of a S the violin?" he asked politely