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parents. "But William and Ian are gone and all the servants asleep. It cannot be easy for you to take off your clothes with only one hand. I will only help you undress and then go away. " |
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Walter made an inarticulate sound of protest, and Sybelle looked up and laughed. |
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"Come," she urged, "you will not force me, I know, and I promise to resist." |
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Walter had to laugh, too. He was very tired, and the momentary urgency he had felt drained quickly away. Moreover, now that he thought of it, he welcomed the notion that he would not need to struggle with ties and laces or, alternatively, sleep in clothing that was clammy and stank with the sweat of his long ride. |
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"Very well," he agreed, "but only if you promise to resist fiercely." |
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"If I resist fiercely," Sybelle remarked as she unbuckled his cloak and laid it on the traveling basket serving as Walter's clothes chest, "you will fall flat on your face. Sit down on the stool while I get your tunic and shirt off. Your bedrobe is warmed. You can wear that while I look at your knee. I saw you were limping. Did you hurt it again?" |
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"No. It just aches from the long ride. There is no need to do anything. A night's rest will put it right." |
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Sybelle did not argue. Walter was probably right, and even if the knee needed attention, it could come to no further harm while he was sleeping. She undid his belt, unlaced his tunic and drew it off, then his shirt, swiftly covering his bare body with the bedrobe. It was fortunate, she thought, that she was behind him and he could not see her face. It had taken all her resolution not to run her hands through the curly red-brown hair that covered him. Apparently it was not necessary for Walter to do or say anything to spark her desire. |
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"I do declare," Sybelle said hastily, trying to divert herself as she came around in front of him and knelt down to undo his crossgarters and shoes, "that Lady Pembroke and her sister are the silliest women I have ever come across in my life. |
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"What?" Walter said, his voice constricted. "Why should you say such a thing?" |
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Sybelle did not lift her head. She was afraid to look into Walter's face. The odd sound in his voice seemed a warning |
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