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men never change their minds. That is surely ridiculous'' |
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"Not at all," Sybelle interrupted. "Naturally, it is the part of the wife to make the marriage satisfying and interesting. If a woman loses interest in her man, he will soon begin to look elsewhere. But men are essentially simple creatures in matters of love. It is no burden to keep them anxious and eager." |
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Her lofty condescension made Rhiannon laugh. "I do not find Simon very simple," she confessed. |
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"That is because you are putting into him your thoughts and feelings," Sybelle remarked with clear-eyed perspicacity. "He is speaking the plain truth, and you will not hear it. Rhiannon, he has told me of his women since I was a child. Never, not once, did he speak of love until he spoke of you. There will be no other woman for Simon now. His honor is bound as well as his heart." |
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"I do not desire the grudging faith of honor," Rhiannon said hotly. |
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Sybelle tsked with irritation at her friend's obtuseness. "It will not be grudging unless you make it so by stupidity or cruelty. Why do you think so ill of yourself? You are beautiful. You have aa strangeness that must entice any man. And Simon has already tasted all there is to taste in women. He has chosen you out of knowledge, not out of ignorance." |
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Rhiannon was silenced, bitterly regretting that she had let herself be drawn into this talk. She knew what Sybelle said was true; Simon had said the same thing and there was a basic logic in it that made disbelief impossible. But it did not make Rhiannon happy. It only added guilt to her desire, by tearing away a false cover from terrors she would not admit. And the more fiercely guilt and desire drove her toward Simon, the more terror she felt. All she knew was that the harder she loved, the more she would be hurt. She could not bear to think about it. |
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