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‘I thought you a man of honour,’ she said. ‘It seems I was wrong.’
Simon was leaning against the door, arms folded, with a carelessness that she despised. It seemed so contemptuous. She could not see any evidence in his face that her accusation had stung him at all.
‘Perhaps there is no room for honour in war,’ he said. ‘You have played into my hands by coming here, madam. It would be foolish of me not to take the advantages I am given.’
A
Simon straightened up and faced her across the room. His presence was intimidating, but A
‘You thought that I was different from whom?’ he enquired softly. ‘Malvoisier?’
‘Perhaps. Different from most men—’ A
‘I mistook you,’ she finished starkly. ‘You are just like all the rest.’
She saw something like anger flare in Simon’s eyes, but when he spoke his tone was still even.
‘I ca
A
‘No.’ Simon shook his head. ‘I will exchange your freedom for that of my brother, but Grafton must still fall to Parliament.’
A
This time she heard the answering spurt of rage in Simon’s voice. ‘I regret that you see matters that way, madam,’ he said. ‘This is war—’
A
‘Let us hope that Malvoisier thinks this bargain worth the making,’ she said. ‘I am not certain that he will.’
‘Of course he will,’ Simon said. ‘You are the King’s god-daughter.’
‘Ah, yes,’ A
There was silence. The fire hissed. The room felt very hot now and heavy with the turbulent emotions between them. A
‘Send to him, then!’ she said. ‘Why do you delay? Tell Malvoisier that you hold me hostage. My father is dying and I would rather be by his side than trapped here with you.’
Simon drained his second glass of wine and placed the goblet carefully on the table. His precision maddened A
‘I do not intend to negotiate with Malvoisier now,’ he said. ‘I will wait until the morning, when he drags Henry up on to the battlements to parley. Then I shall bring you out and strike a bargain with him.’
A
Simon moved between her and the door. He spoke quietly. ‘Do not resist me, Lady A
A
‘That would be a mistake.’
He moved before A
‘Yield to me,’ he said in her ear.
‘Never!’ A
Simon laughed. ‘No doubt I shall do so in my own time. Now yield to me.’
In answer A
‘Little wildcat!’ he said. ‘Surrender to me.’
A
She relaxed a little and felt his grip ease in her hair. Her mind was whirling. She could not surrender to him. She surrendered to no one. There had to be another way…
‘If I promise not to run,’ she said, ‘you must release me so that we may talk.’
Simon’s fingers slid through the strands of her hair as he let her go. It made her feel strange, almost light-headed. His touch was feather-soft now, gentle, caressing. She found that she wanted to turn into his embrace now rather than escape it. She remembered the hardness of his body against hers and the breath of his lips against her ear with the oddest quiver of feeling.
His hands slid down her arms to hold her very lightly. He kept his gaze locked with hers.
‘I agree,’ he said. ‘So promise me you will not try to flee.’
A
‘Well?’ Simon prompted.
A
‘Very well. I promise not to run.’
She expected him to let her go at once, but Simon also hesitated, still holding her close to him even though his grip was gentle now. A
But it was too late. The expression in his eyes changed and he pulled her to him, not hastily but slowly, inexorably, until her mouth was about an inch away from his. And then he stopped. She could see the stubble darkening his skin where he had not shaved and the shadow cast by his eyelashes against the line of his cheek.