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building to the garden at the back. She was ashamed of her sharp retorts, aware they were the product of her anger with herself and that Simon had done nothing to deserve them. She knew it was time to unburden herself before shame bred more anger, which would breed more shame, and round and round until the walls of self-hatred had grown too high and too hard to be breached. |
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Simon had been surprised into silence by Rhiannon's sudden move. When he saw where she was leading him, he maintained silence, afraid he would go too far or not far enough and irritate her again. It was a wise move, giving Rhiannon time to drop her defenses. When they reached a bench set at a crossways amid the beds of herbs and flowers, she stopped and looked up. It was very dark, the moon not having yet risen, but that was all to the good. Rhiannon preferred to get through her confession without either seeing Simon's expression or having him read hers. |
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"Simon," she said quickly, "the question I askeddid I come to seek youheld a falsehood in it because it implied I did not." |
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"Butoh, my lady, did you send me a message and think I had not come? I never received it, I swear. You see, I left London suddenly and I have been with the Earl of Pembroke, moving from one keep to another because" |
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"No, I did not send any message, nor did I expect to find you here. I came to see if any other man would content me" |
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"You heard me," Rhiannon said sharply. "I came to see iflike a heiferany bull could service me." |
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It was most fortunate that Simon's mother was given to crude and forthright language when it served her purpose and that Llewelyn had told him already that Rhiannon had found all the young bucks at court insufficient. The combination of experience and |
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