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Page 103
felt. "But I assure you, I have given the matter much thought. Truly I have, Simon."
"Rhiannon"
"No, you must listen. I have gone wrong about this matter with you. I knew you would not understand, andand I misjudged you also, thinking you would take eagerly what you desired and what I offered freely."
"But I do not only desire you, Rhiannon," Simon interjected.
A slight shadow passed over her face, but she shook her head. "I do not understand you. All else of me you may have as freely as any other person. What is it you want?"
"What I want, you do not offer to any person, except, perhaps, Kicva. Give me your inmost thoughts, your willingness to lay your life in my hands as I willingly lay mine in yours for all eternity. No, I do not mean you should never think a private thought, only that when you wish to share a thing you would not dare tell another person, you will tell it to me. This is what" He stopped because Rhiannon was shaking her head.
"Eternity is a very long time," she said. "Especially long to a young man of two and twenty"
"And very short to an ancient grandmother one year younger?" Simon interrupted teasingly.
"No. It is even longer to me. How long is your eternity, Simon? Until you return to Pembroke? A month longer? A year? Beautiful one, let us both take joy of each other in this brief eternityand when it is over, let us part with fondness and liking, never having promised each other more."
"No." Simon's bright eyes were almost black with pain, but his voice was steady. "That is all I ever had with any woman and all I ever wanted until I saw you. I tell you, I love you, Rhiannon. I do not want a little easy pleasure. I want you for a life companion."
"Now you do," she sighed.

 
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