ving. S t her hard nor dismissive.

    quot;Dont be angry,quot; Alienor said softly. quot;You oo splendid to be leaving in anger. Im telling you trutes and it is o find your  a lig; Sated a moment, t;And I  alone since my husband died.”

    Devin said not  , , a more complex ttered pillo e t ir his desire again.

    But as   t surfaced from  fe o claim one of the candles in a brass holder.

    Surned on o follo o  as a gift, a glory in ting lig, her smile generous, even kind.

    quot;Good-nig; s;I dont kno you are welcome back so come one day.”

    expected t.  o be told, t s ,  from before rong noermingled , alturn and nodded, it  .

    quot;Good-nig; urned to go.

    At topped and, as muc t er—Devin turned back to her.

    S moved. y of tood the room.

    quot;Is t o us?quot; Devin said tly, reaco frame t. quot; o our love?”

    ance and in t and dark. For a long time s him.

    quot;You are clever,quot; s;Alessan has chosen well in you.”

    ed.

    quot;A; said Alienor tily, simulating astonis. quot;ually s an ansrue ans t; It may rick of tain lig so look aood, even beyond tapestried walls of her room.

    quot;It is one of t o us,quot; s last. quot;A kind of insurrection in t someands against t bind us and cannot be broken now.”

    Devin t about it.

    quot;Possibly t,quot; ly,  t;Or else an admission some goes deeper. Since  free and ed t.”

    hen, and close her eyes.

    quot;Did I deserve t?quot; she asked.