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Page 89
private knowledge saved him from losing his temper. As soon as the initial shock of Rhiannon saying such a thing of herself had passed, Simon was touched by her desperate honestyand was amused.
"There are more delicate ways to say you are now ready to consider marriage, my lady," he said gravely, determined not to make another mistake.
"But I am not ready to consider marriage," Rhiannon snapped. "And there is no delicate way to say that I desire you."
Simon gulped. He had been invited by many women in many ways, but never like this. He stared helplessly down, but it was too dark to see anything except the faint gleam of Rhiannon's luminous eyes. There was no way to make out her expression.
"Rhiannon," he stammered, "my lady"
"You have now the right to call me Rhiannon, nor need you add 'my lady.' We are done with honorifics."
She put out her hand, and Simon saw the flash of her teeth as she smiled at him. There was no implication in what she said of shame or of being made less than she was. Rhiannon was merely admitting him to an intimacy she had previously withheld by insisting on formality in his address.
"But if you love me" Simon began to protest.
I never said I loved you." Rhiannon cut him off, her voice sharp again. "I said I desired you. Do you not know the difference?"
"Indeed I do!" Simon responded furiously. "Which is why I asked your father formally for permission to address you and asked you for the honor of becoming your husband. I love you! If you do not love me, you do not. There is no need to insult me!"
Whereupon he stalked away, leaving Rhiannon somewhat stunned.

 
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