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A pleasant shiver spiraled down to her belly, fluttering and heating her insides Her ht of his lips, his hands and that great,with her The heat she’d co to her wole, and she drew a deep breath

She suddenly became aware that she was not alone

Her eyes flew open and she saw a page standing there, just off to the side, as if waiting for her to acknowledge hioblet encrusted with rubies and sapphires, and when her attention rested upon hi the cup

"My lady Maris, I aift to quench your thirst"

Her face heated at the possibility that Dirick was nearby and had seen herover him When she looked about, however, she saw that no one else was in the vicinity, and she returned her gaze to the page "Is he not to joinof disappointe shook his head "Nay, lady The lord said only that ’tis a gift to you, his bride, and that he looks to the day you shall becoht "Thank you, and you e bowed, turned, and walked sedately fro Maris alone with the bees

Ruby wine glistened in its silver cup, and she took a sip before resting it on the bench beside her Mayhap Dirick, too, illing to put their differences behind the day drew near It would be e forhim

Another sigh escaped her lips She could not deny it any longer: she loved hi, he was never far frohts…and the memory of his touch lived in her dreaht Maris’s attention fro up, she kneas Dirick

"My lady" He greeted her solemnly, almost warily

She raised her face to hiaze "My lord I did not think you would joinhis head to one side as if surprised as her reaction "The ladies told ht to sit with you for a ti for the last days"

Her heart leapt He had sent her a gift, and then he’d sought her out "Please have a seat"

"Our betrothal contracts have been finished," he began, sinking onto the bench next to her

A sense of disappointment settled in her middle He’d not come to be with her for any other reason than to talk of their contract, and of the lands she would bring him "Verily theyto look at hi"

She felt him nod next to her "Aye They are more than fair, and follow the wishes of your father"

"My father?"

"In the , he repudiated your betrothal with Victor He also nah you are not of his blood, and--"

"What?" Maris turned to hi her "What did you say?"

"You did not know?" Dirick’s face showed his concern

"That I ahtheaded, lost, paralyzed "How can that be?"

He reached for her hand, and the warers over her suddenly icy ones elcome "I am sorry that this is a surprise Your father stated that he h he knew she ith child, but because he was unable to father a child, he chose to accept her babe as his heir ’Twas the agree Stephen" The breeze ruffled his hair, tossing a wave onto his forehead as he gazed at her

"Who is my father?"

He stroked her hand "I do not know that, rave;," she breathed "And that is why he and my mother never had another child" Tears da settled with her heart "He was h I am not of his loins I do not care that another man sired me"

Dirick nodded "Merle was a fine man and had I not my own father whom to admire, I’d be proud to be of his blood" He pressed her index finger to his lips "The contracts are ready to be signed" He hesitated, then said, "I will have theht to you, should you wish, before I place ht that you do not like, I will try to change it to your liking"