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"I know. Your beloved prince," he said softly. So he had heard
that. He took my hand in his. "But this morning, you told me. Why?"
"I thought I was going to die. I couldn't die without a kiss
from you, and I knew you'd never do it unless I told you the truth."
"Why did you think I wouldn't do it without that?"
I turned my face away. "Why would you ever want to kiss me?"
"I've wanted to kiss you many times, and I never let myself do
it."
"Why?" I gasped.
"Because I was afraid," he admitted honestly.
"Afraid of what?"
"The depth of my feelings for you. And fear that you didn't
return those feelings."
My head whirled, and I fell back against the pillow.
"Don't die on me now," he whispered. And lifted my head to
drink more of the tea.
"I think I must be dreaming," I said, tears racing down my
face.
"Don't cry. You've lost too much fluid already. Just drink
this and then sleep some more. We'll talk later."
I obeyed him, too weak to do anything else.
Every time I woke during the next two days, he was there to
take care of me. And finally the time came when I was able to make it
over to the bath with his help. I settled back into the hot water with
a sigh of relief. He left me there to go change the sheets on the bed,
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