[ It's so small. How can her heart jump at something so small as the press of his nose in her hair? But it does, and she pulls his hand to bring his arm tighter around her waist. ]

You will not speak offhand affection to me when I go so far as to demand it of you, my Byerly. Nor do you take more of what I would so readily offer you than you can hold.

I do not think you could allow yourself to weave pretty twisting falsehoods to trap me, and if I left, I think you would too easily let me go.

[ The soft stir of his breath like this draws so much of her attention that she could not tell him where they were, if he were to ask her now. ]

I am no limed bird, because you can see no other reason I should choose to stay.