“God's Teeth,' he says. 'I was only trying to wake you. You were crying out in your sleep.''I was not,' I say, then look from his neck to my knife.'When I tried to wake you, you stabbed me.' He sounds sore put out. and I cannot blame him.”

“I am sorry,' he whispers. 'I am sorry I treated you so ill. I thought only to protect Duval.''It was not I who was poisoning him,' I say.'No, but you had stolen his heart and I was afraid you would rip it from his chest when you left.”

“Do you need anything before I go?I want you to return my wits, I long to say.”

“A kiss for luck, demoiselle?"It is a magnificent, lusty kiss and I feel nothing but deep regret that it may be his last. Just before he pulls away, he whispers in my ear. "Duval said to give you that should I get a chance. It is from him.”

“Every time he glances at me I feel it just as surely as if he has reached out and run his finger along my soul. It is all I can do not to smile at the sheer wonder of it.”

“... then he offers me his arm. As I take it, I wonder what folly decreed that women cannot walk unassisted.”

“I will sit here but an hour or two, then leave."I yawn. "So very long as that?"When he answers, there is a wry note in his voice. "I do have my reputation to protect.”