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‘I know.’ Simon’s firm mouth curved into a smile. ‘You are wise to trust no one.’
He let her go slowly and A
‘What would you like to talk about?’ he asked. His gaze raked her, as it had done earlier. ‘You know that you have nothing to negotiate with.’ He paused. ‘At the least, I assume you do not intend to try and bribe me with your body…’
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‘You are contemptible,’ she said.
‘And you are helpless.’ He looked rather amused.
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Simon’s gaze had narrowed on her face. ‘But you would not do that,’ he said. ‘You would never betray your cause.’
‘No,’ A
Simon smiled ironically. ‘Touché, my lady.’ He made a slight gesture. ‘But since you are not prepared to sell either your principles or yourself, you have nothing with which to barter.’
‘I do not intend to barter,’ A
Simon folded his arms. He was smiling. It was all the extra incentive A
‘How will you achieve that?’ he enquired.
In response A
‘Like this,’ A
The smile in Simon’s eyes deepened into something like admiration.
‘I ca
‘Well,’ A
‘Please be careful,’ Simon said. ‘I sharpened the sword myself, this very night. It is very dangerous.’
‘Good,’ A
‘I have your life to barter with now, Lord Greville,’ she said. ‘Mine for yours. It is a fair exchange. Step away from the door. Slowly.’
Simon did as she ordered. A
‘Put up the blade,’ Simon said. He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. ‘I will let you go.’
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Simon nodded. ‘I acknowledge that. But you would not get five yards without my men capturing you. I demand parley. Put up the sword and declare a truce.’
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‘Malvoisier did not respect the rules of parley,’ she said. ‘Why should you—or I?’
Simon did not move. ‘You are not Malvoisier and neither am I, Lady A
There were rules of engagement. He knew it. She knew it. The fact that Gerard Malvoisier had no honour should not, A
‘If I agree to parley and then you betray me,’ she said, ‘I will kill you.’
Simon nodded. He was not smiling now, but the respect was still in his eyes. ‘That,’ he said, ‘is understood.’
A
‘It is a fine weapon,’ she said. ‘A cavalryman’s sword.’
‘It was my father’s.’ Simon rubbed his brow. ‘He gave me his sword and now I use it to fight for his enemy.’
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‘I am sorry,’ she said softly.
Simon shifted slightly. ‘It may be sentimental in me, but I would like to take that sword back from you, Lady A
A
Simon’s hand moved towards the pocket of his coat and A
‘Not so fast, Lord Greville.’
‘I beg your pardon.’ Simon said. ‘I merely wanted to give you back your knife in case you hold it of similar worth.’
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She blinked back the weak tears. ‘Put the knife on the table,’ she said, a little huskily. ‘Do it slowly. Do not come any closer.’
‘I will not make that mistake,’ Simon agreed.
A
‘Good. So…’ She made her tone a match for his earlier. ‘You asked for parley. What would you like to discuss?’
Simon rubbed his brow. ‘There is nothing to discuss,’ he said. ‘I promised that I would not play you false. You are free to go.’
Once again the hope flared in A
‘What are you saying?’ she whispered.
Simon gestured fiercely towards the door. ‘I am telling you to leave. Go back to Grafton Manor. You came here to negotiate and I will not accept your terms. I have changed my mind about exchanging you for Henry. It will not serve. So there is nothing more to say.’
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