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Page 378
compliment to her, as an effort to resist temptation. The fool was so busy being noble that he had not noticed she had not really shut the door. Now Heribert could listen at the crack and know the exact moment to break in and discover Walter "raping" her. It was so satisfying that she nearly did allow herself to laugh, to tell Walter that all she felt for him was contempt. Then she remembered the bland, self-satisfied look Sybelle had worn in Abergavenny. If she sent Walter away, he would soon forget his desire and Sybelle would not suffer at all.
"I am not angry with you," Marie said. "You need not be afraid to approach me."
Walter stared at her, but his mind was still with Sybelle and he made no particular sense of her words. "I will tell you what I think would be best," he said. "If you would give me leave to broach this problem to"
"I do not wish to think about that yet," Marie said, coming forward. "I have not yet carried any babe to term. I only wished to be sure that you would not desert me if I had need, and I see that you will be true."
"Yes, certainly," Walter agreed, "but this time it is near three months already, and it is less likely, I believe, to lose a child after that time." What he thought was that because no one wanted this misbegotten babe, the pregnancy would be sure to hold. "If you will only permit me to''
"I will permit you anything," Marie interrupted. She took two quick, short steps, which, because Walter had not moved far into the room, brought her so close she was almost touching him, and she took his hand and held it between her breasts. "There is nothing I would deny you to thank you for your swift coming at my request."
The movement, gesture, and tone of voice finally got through Walter's preoccupation and the muscles in his jaw bunched briefly as he gritted his teeth over a wave of sickness. She still desired him, he thought, but then he remembered that she had taken no real pleasure in their coupling. This was no desire of the body. He backed away, but not far because Marie still held tight to his hand. To Richard she had spoken of lovebut that was hopeless. Could Marie be so enamored that she wished to be his mistress? No, there was a false note in that. A mistress seeks either gold or the pleasure of the body. Then he thought he understood. Marie did not really

 
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