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" 'You knohat I think?' I asked

" 'What is it?' she said, sitting up She pulled her knees up and wrapped her ar laced ruffles Her hair fell down around her shoulders in a way I'll never forget

" 'I think I need you much more than you need me,' I said

" 'Quinn, that's not true,' she said 'I love you You're the first person I've ever fallen in love with It caht me home It hurts and it's splendid and it's real I need you because you're fresh and vital and you're not part of us ¡¯

"She sounded so earnest

" 'But I am,' I protested 'I told you what Julien told randfather William, I told you ¡¯

" 'But you weren't brought up a Mayfair,' she said 'And you co name and tradition of your own You live in a manor house w

ith its own legends and grandeur! Besides, what does it matter? I need you and I love you, that's the point ¡¯

" 'Mona, was it true what Dr Rowan told me, that every time?¡¯

" 'Yes, it's true They don't knohy But I', constantly fertile; I conceive constantly and I lose the offspring, and every time it happens I'm weakened More calcium is pulled out of my bones Now, it is extremely possible -- totally possible actually -- that if they performed a hysterectomy on me, the problem would be solved, but then I'd never have children, and they're hoping that somehow they can solve the problem without that step ¡¯

"I was frightened by all this, frightened for her That I had unknowingly hurt her terrified me

" 'If it means your life, Mona, you have to let the your very life ¡¯

" 'I know, Quinn, I think about it constantly,' she said 'And so does everyone else There will come a moment when they say that it's time to do it, and that time may be very soon Think about that, Quinn Does the Lord of Blackwood Manor want a bride that can never have a child?¡¯

" 'I love you, Mona I don't need children In fact, I know of a child we can have ¡¯

" 'Just have?' she said, laughing 'You mean just like that?¡¯