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Gareth said nothing He didn’t do e just to breathe

He’d known Mary Winthrop his entire life She was a year his elder, and their families’ estates had bordered on one another’s for over a century They’d been play children, but it soon becaht in the head Gareth had remained her champion whenever he was in the district; he’d bloodied ht to call her na nature

But he couldn’t marry her She was like a child It had to be a sin And even if it wasn’t, he could never stomach it How could she possibly understand as meant to transpire between them as man and wife?

He could never bed her Never

Gareth just stared at his father, words failing him For the first time in his life, he had no easy reply, no flip retort

There were no words Simply no words for such a moment

“I see we understand each other,” the baron said, s at his son’s silence

“No!” Gareth burst out, the single syllable ripping itself from his throat “No! I can’t!”

His father’s eyes narrowed “You’ll be there if I have to tie you up”

“No!” He felt like he was choking, but soot the words out “Father, Mary is…Well, she’s a child She’ll never be more than a child You know that I can’t marry her It would be a sin”

The baron chuckled, breaking the tension as he turned swiftly away “Are you trying to convince ion?”

“No,

but—”

“There is nothing to discuss,” his father cut in “Wrothaenerous with the dowry God knows he has to be, trying to unload an idiot”

“Don’t speak of her that way,” Gareth whispered He ht not want to marry Mary Winthrop, but he’d known her all his life, and she did not deserve such talk