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"But…I thought you’d known me better than that…and, Maris, how could I have stolen you for someone else when I wanted you for myself? Did you not know that I wanted you? That hy I had to leave Languiven to another"

She looked at hi eyes "I did not know, truly At the time, I could only think you had wooed me to your side so as to ht ’twas you rapped me in that cloth and carried ht we first rew, and so did the despair that I could never have you I couldn’t believe ood fortune when Henry betrothed us…and then he showed me the missive from your father

"In that missive, not only did he repudiate your betrothal with Victor," Dirick said, unable to hold back a grin, "but he also requested that, if the king agreed, I should be your husband and Lord of Languaped at him "It was my papa’s wish that we should wed?"

"Aye, my lady, and ’twas also the wish of my father that one of his sons should ith you as well"

"Aye, I certainly reh he was very kind…" Maris seehts "…I do not think ould have suited"

"Thank fortune you did not," Dirick said vehemently Then he smiled "He and Joanna are like moon-faces about each other all of the time Completely besotted"

"Aye," she replied, with just as much spirit "But of course, neither of us will ever look at the other in such a foolish way"

Dirick couldn’t hold back a rueful laugh "Mayhap that is true for you, my beloved, but I fear ’tis too late for me The queen has already seen , I think, that we are in this bed together"

Her cheeks pinkened and she looked up at hilinted with detere upon Michael d’Arcy, then"

"Aye, they have Yet, I still h to its end," he told her firmly

"Dirick, you must take care…please," she looked up at hi in her eyes, that he felt his heart jerk at the emotion there

"Aye, ers to his lips, "I have everything to live for I have everything I could ever want It is a o"

EPILOGUE

Two days later

Langura’s hand and drew her up the tall, curving stairwell