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“You deserve better than I,” she pleaded How could she ever give herself to anyone other than Godwin? She would go back and live in secret, on the outskirts as Godwin’s mistress No one need ever know, she told herself That way, he could watch his babe grow up

“Mignonne…” he pleaded “Have you no notion how ravissant and wondrous you are to me? I would be husband to you, father to your child, live to ed

Heather’s heart cracked for hiood, and did not want hi “How could I do such a thing to you? I do not love you that way, Maurice You know that”

“Give me the opportunity, the time to make you love me that way”

She knew this was the ‘call’ of all unrequited lovers “No,clearly I could not take such advantage of your kindness How could I be so cruel to you? No”

“Cruel? My dear, to call you ould be a joy Take advantage? My sweet life, I ae of you”

“And what of Godwin?” she answered after a long pause “Should I leave him to think I abandoned our love…stole his child from him?”

“He believes you are lost to hi the senses, and he has his family”

“No, he will never stop loving me I know that as a fact My brain and

my heart tell me that No, Maurice, no”

Heather could see hirapple with his ee her htly “Heather, what of the enfant? Have you the right to bring a fatherless child into the world when an alternative is offered?”

She did not speak

“Answer me, Heather!”

It was as though his words had formed an open hand and slapped her She was surprised by his vehemence and taken aback A tear for back to Godwin singed with all the impossible truths An inner voice told her that Godas a beloved memory that she had to put away for the realities of life

The horror of this idea flashed through her and she yelled, “No…no…” She was about to run from him