How sweet you are,” she
said irrepressibly. “You have always looked out
for my best
interests.”
Sir Geoffrey bowed. “I am so very pleased to do
so. For I see that
you have changed and so much for the
better.”
She looked at him puzzled, curiously waiting for
his next words.
He raised an eyebrow and glibly explained,
motioning to the cup he
had returned to her. “See, you now accept what I
have to offer, no
matter how humble.”
Constance considered him cautiously, reassessing
the unexpected
stranger before her. This man didn’t seem like
the same one who had
treasured her and once thought nothing good
enough for her. At one
time, he would never have insisted she drink the
nasty water that
she wanted to gag upon now. He would have taken
it for her.
He nodded and continued, as if amused by some
secret joke. “And you
have become quite devout and pious as well, I
see.”
She wasn’t sure what he meant, but she wasn’t
afraid of him.
“Sir? You have the advantage of me because I do
not understand your
splendid and unexpected compliments.”
His gray eyes sparkled and she could swear he
was enjoying their
battle, though she didn’t see how. She almost
felt annoyed, but
reminded herself that he couldn’t play with her
emotions. She firmly
commanded them and would one day command his
too.
“Modest now too,” he answered softly with a
touch of humor. “I
remember how much you once loved my gift and yet
you now refrain
from wearing such a gaudy trinket in the very
place that it would
fit the best. Isn’t it scriptural for a woman to
refrain from
wearing pearls and gold?”
Constance couldn’t help fighting back. “Judge
not, lest ye be
judged,” she retorted.
“I am proven right,” he instantly replied. “You
have been studying
the Bible.”
She had to try something different for he was
definitely trying to
provoke her. He seemed immune to her smiles and
charm. Why not play
the girl he thought he wanted then?
“My dear sir.” She curtsied and then sighed. “I
am honored you would
find virtues in me that are so fine and yet
unmerited.”
“I have been known to have that fault,” he said
sarcastically,
showing her for a moment the anger that still
burned within him.
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