She lay motionless, her head under his, resting on his arm. "I will not. I cannot." Her tone was leaden, despairing.
After what had just happened, how could she still refuse him? Was she ashamed? Did she feel she had sinned?
"We are as good as married now."
"Oh, Simon." She sounded as if she were talking to a hopelessly innocent boy.
"There will be a new pope, and the alliance will be sealed, and my work will be done," he said. "I agreed to do this, and I will see it through. But I do not have to be a part of the war between Count Charles and the king of Sicily, and neither do you. All I want is to go home and to take you with me. With you beside me, my home will be all of the world that I want."
Her arms were tight around him, but she was silent. It did not matter if she did not answer him. After what had just happened between them, he felt as if he knew her mind as fully as he knew her body. She loved him and would marry him. He was sure of it.
Overhead, wild geese called.
LX
Why did I ever make love to him?