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It might not be difficultonce he found a time and placeto explain away his anger. However, changing Rhiannon's mind about marriage would be another matter entirely. |
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Rhiannon had regretted her own blunt words as soon and as deeply as Simon regretted his outburst of temper. She had hurried after himor so she thoughtas soon as she recovered from the surprise of having made him so very angry. But she had assumed that he would have gone back to the hall, and, once inside, she had been snatched up into the group from which she had previously escaped. She had little choice but to stay with them and then excuse herself after a decent interval and go back to the women's hall. This she did, making a detour into the garden, but Simon was long gone by then. |
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It had been stupid and unkind, Rhiannon thought, to state her purpose so crudely. There were gentler ways to say that one does not wish to marry. And Simon did not carry, as she did, a leavening of the old religion. Doubtless he thought a union without marriage sinful. At that point Rhiannon paused in removing her clothes and chuckled softly. If so, he had managed to bear up very well under the burden of sin he had accumulated so far. No, it was not his faith to God that had been offended. What then? |
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Only when she rethought the scene between them carefully did it come to her that she had said she did not love him, whereas he claimed to love her. So it was his pride that had been hurttoo bad. Her eyes sparked angrily, but then the expression in them softened. Perhaps he did love her right now. Perhaps he even lied to himself that he would love her forever. Rhiannon stood staring at the tall night candle considering that possibility. If it was no lie, if Simon did love her and could be faithful, would she wish to bind herself forever? |
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