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neither sold nor bestowed you. What he said was that I might try for you with his blessing, but that you were a law unto yourself and he had no power over you." |
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A faint blush of pleasure tinted Rhiannon's translucent skin, but it receded at once. The green eyes lifted to Simon's. "Oh, you are clever," she exclaimed. "You are a very devil for seeing into my heart." |
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"I have seen nothing," Simon denied, but that was not really true. Unlike most other men, Simon was intimately acquainted with passionately independent women, and he understood a great deal. "I have only repeated to you your father's words to me," he went on. "He also said you would bring me only grief. But I am not afraid. It is not possible to know joy without daring sorrowand I see in you a hope of joy such as I have never known." |
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"No doubt you see that same hope in each woman you pursue," Rhiannon remarked, the laughter coming back into her eyes. "To say that you hope would be no lie. Each time you would only need to confess that your hope had not been fulfilled." |
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"I see someone has been warning you against me," Simon sighed. "The half of it is not true at all, the other half much exaggerated. Were I what is said of me, I would need seven of everything a man uses to make love and the ability to send each to a different place at one time." |
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Rhiannon burst out laughing at the mock plaintiveness in Simon's voice and the spurious, outraged innocence of his expression. "You are wrong," she told him. "I have read what, you are in your face. I do not even know your name." |
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"I beg your pardon, Lady Rhiannon. My name is Simon de Vipont, and I am son to Lord Ian and Lady Alinor of Roselynde. I was knighted by King Henry last Christmas and did fealty to your father for the keep at Llyn Helfyg, Crogen keep, Caerhun, and Dinas Emrys |
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