Desire of the Heart

Violet was right. Why should she run away? She would stay, she would become the Mistress of Cotillion and what was more, she would make him suffer for the hurt that he had inflicted upon her.

Her weak and helpless sense of misery was now being superseded by a rising anger. It seemed to Cornelia, as dawn broke, that during the night she had grown immeasurably older. She was no longer a child, a child who trusted and had faith in those she loved. She was a woman, bitter and resentful, and determined that she should not be the only one to suffer.

He was the conqueror, the victor

He held her tighter still, his mouth on hers

I love you – Drogo. I love you – and I am – yours, completely and absolutely yours. I – always have been

He looked at her with love in his eyes

mine. I want to make sure that she has no future apart from me. I cannot quite believe as yet that I need no longer be afraid of losing you or of

all the life she has lived before she became

together both day and night

I had to be really sure,” Cornelia said again

and she saw behind his eyes the blazing