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Page 441
"Yes, but
"No buts. If you are willing to have her, take her now. And you are responsible for her. Keep her off the battlefield and awayfromthesegentlemen. I do not care how you do it, just do it. And do not present yourself to me again until you stop laughing."
Simon did his best to swallow his unseemly mirth, which was, of course, compounded of lack of sleep, overexertion, too much tension, and a great and sudden relief. He seized Rhiannon firmly by the wrist and retreated hastily, ignoring the fact that Math had fallen from her lap when he jerked her upright. In the back of his mind, he was surprised that Math had not scratched him nor had Rhiannon protested; she went willingly right to the edge of the hall. Here she pulled back a little.
"Wait, Simon, where are we going? The keep is packed like a cask of herrings."
Simon paused and looked into her eyes. His half-hysterical laughter had ended as soon as he gripped her. When his fingers closed on her arm, it was like taking hold of some great source of strength. Warmth and refreshment flowed into him, and it was like being back in the tent after freeing de Burgh. Rhiannon's eyes had the same deep luminescence, and he had the same aching need. His face went rigid with desire.
"I do not think my father is really angry," Rhiannon said, seeing the change in his expression and misreading it.
"No, and I do not care if he is," Simon replied through stiff lips.
Then she understood, and fire coursed through her also. She turned her hand so that she could grip Simon's wrist while he still held hers. They stared at each other. They could not go outside the keep. Not only was it dangerous, but it was too cold in the middle of a November night. Inside, even the lice would feel crowded, so close were the pallets

 
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