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appreciated more than most men the duties of a woman in a keep. He was very glad to be able to hand over to Sybelle the accounting of supplies, the problem of ordering the duties of the servants, management of the stillrooms, gardens, dairies, kitchens, and clothmaking. But he was also interested in hearing about the condition of these necessary functions, for he knew Knight's Tower would not be self-sufficient without them. And any keep that was not self-sufficient was less economical to run and less able to withstand a threat. |
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On the other hand, from being trained to manage her own properties completely, Sybelle understood far more than the ordinary woman about the defensive armament of a castle, about the smithies and their products, about crops and herds, about hunting dogs and horses and the breeding of such animals, and about trade and the management of the towns and villages beholden to a keep. Thus, she was as interested in what Walter had to say as he was in her talk of her daily duties. |
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Although they were alone and free to do as they liked, they came together only onceand that time to no purpose. Since there were no other gentlefolk in Knight's Tower, Sybelle came boldly into Walter's chamber. He welcomed her gladly, but soon after, as they stood passionately embraced before the fire, Walter drew back. |
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"Love, we should not," he said. "We are tempting fate. I will forget myself." A wry smile twisted his lips. "And you have long since failed in your promise to resist me." |
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Sybelle might have protested, but she was puzzled by his reference to "tempting fate." Although she felt they could not be more married by the words of a priest than they already were by the contract that had been sealed and by their commitment to each other, she was uneasy about something in Walter's manner. She was aware that he was truly disturbed, torn between desire and some fear he did not wish to confess. |
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It was clear he would yield and make love to her if she tempted him because, although he said they should not, he had not relaxed his tight hold on her. In fact, he was still pulling her hips against him so firmly that his swollen shaft, hard and ready, pressed into her abdomen. He had broken their kiss to speak, but now despite what he had said, his face was coming toward her again, the lips very full and a little parted. |
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