If the wedding feast had been a war, Melissande would have lost before the first foray.
It was clear that Quinn launched an assault against her senses, and it was one she could neither deny nor evade. He had the experience in this endeavor, which left Melissande susceptible to his every assault. He was seated beside her, on her right, with Tulley on her left. Quinn’s comrade, Bayard, was on Quinn’s right, and Melissande guessed that to be a choice by Tulley intended to keep his niece Heloise at the greatest distance from that knight. Heloise was on Tulley’s left.
She had seen at first glance that Bayard had a twinkle in his eye and more than a measure of good looks. Heloise was already casting glances at the two knights, which Tulley either blocked or ignored. Melissande had seen him gla
