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"Never mind," Mariah said, taking up her bundle of cloth. "Time to go back to the inn." |
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"That it is," said Maitland, reporting to Ainsley as the drill ended. He had marched with his soldiers, and sweat slithered down his fox-sharp features and onto the dirtstreaked shirt collar that stood above his red coat. He looked pointedly at Thorn. "Running an innthat's as good a place to play at being brave as I've heard of for those who neglect their duty." |
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Mariah was about to make a suitably nasty retort when she saw Ainsley place a restraining hand on Thorn's arm. No, she'd better stay out of it. |
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But she understood from Thorn's silence as they walked quickly toward the riverbank, and from the stiff set of his shoulders, how the words had hurt. |
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"What Maitland thinks isn't important," she finally blurted out as they reached the pirogue. "Or anyone else." |
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But her words failed to soothe him. "I do not need your foolish chatter, Miss Walker," he snapped. "There is truth in a widespread opinion, and this is one I, too, must share." |
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Although he didn't meet her eye, she was struck by the agony she saw in his. But there was nothing she could do. |
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Not if he refused to help himself, darn the man! |
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What would Matilda, in the screenplay, have done? The right thing, Mariah was sure, for her Thorn loved her. |
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As he handed her onto the boat, one of the lines suddenly came to her, and she spoke it without thinking. "If two people care enough, the notions of the rest of the world about either of them make no matter at all." |
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She felt him freeze beside her. His hand clasped hers more tightly. And then he gave her a small shove onto the boat and let her go. |
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"Do not let yourself believe you care for me, Miss Walker. As Maitland said, I live a sham of a life. And I care for no one. Do not forget that. No one." |
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