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their heirs. He would be cosseted, left in a gilded cage, and stifled.
    It depressed her.
    Taking his hand, she led him across the floor to the arched doorways and out onto the terraced logia.
    There were several pairs already strolling the inlaid stone logia. Most of the first-seasoners were closely dogged by their retained scinose.
    "How fortunate we are that you are not in your first season," she remarked drolly as she led him past the potted plants and down the few steps that led into the shrouded gardens.
    "Why is that?" he whispered low and close behind her, bending near her ear. The action made her aware, once again, of his unusual height.
    "Because then your scinose would be trailing our every step—almost before we took it." Men in their first season were required to have a scinose. It was feared that a youth's first outing into society, with its rich offerings, might turn a lad's head and the better judgment he had been taught would be in danger of leaving him. No family wanted to take that risk. It was imperative that a son make the best match he could. Any smear to his reputation became a threat to the family.
    Generally it was reasoned that if he showed good sense his first year then he should be able to withstand any untoward influences, although many a family retained a scinose until the son was safely fastened.
    "I never had a scinose," he responded smoothly.
    She stopped and gazed at him over her shoulder. "Never?"
    "Never. The Duchene knew I would never tolerate it."
    "It is good that she trusted you so. It speaks highly of the relationship between the two of you."
    "Yes." One corner of his sensual lips lifted. "But there was something else involved, too."
    "What is that?"
    "Do I seem to you the kind of man who is easily led astray?"
    No, he did not. "You seem like the kind of man who makes choices based on dangerous pretexts."
    "Really."
    "Yes." She resumed leading him deeper into the hanging shred-moss. Why was he following so readily then? Did he not know the danger he could be in?
    When they reached a secluded spot under the branches of a massive shredder plant, she motioned to him to take a seat on the carved bench.
    In front of them the water of a placed pond lapped against some rocks. Once, long ago, she had read that Forus had partially been formed to resemble the Origin place. For some reason, the natural rhythm of Forus had allowed such reshaping only to a certain extent. The innate charm of the mysterious moon yielded just so much before reclaiming its own wild beauty.
    Parts of the land were rugged and exotic still—even after a millennium of colonization.
    She stood before him, looking down at him. "You are not worried that you may lose your control, Jorlan?"
    "No."
    That was a challenge if ever she heard one.
    On the one hand, she was impressed with his confidence; on the other hand, she was surprised that he had so underestimated her.
    "I haven't, you know," he said in a low voice.
    She arched a brow. "Haven't what?"
    "Underestimated you."
    That was the second time. "How did you know what I was thinking?"
    "I don't know what you're thinking... I just felt to say it."
    She wondered. "Why are you out here with me?"
    "Perhaps I'm simply curious."
    She laughed at her own expense. "I can't tell you how wonderful that makes me feel."
    "No... no... I did not mean it like that... It's just... I don't know."
    But she did. She was too experienced not to. The ever-aloof Jorlan Reynard had finally found himself attracted to someone and he wasn't quite sure what to do about it.
    Again, she did.
    She sat next to him on the bench.
    "Why do want to live your life alone?" She faced him and reached up to smooth back his hair. It felt incredibly silky and supple. Even more luxurious than she had imagined. He flinched slightly at the touch of her fingers.
    "Why do you?" he rejoined softly.
    Her lips twitched. Yes, he was a handful. Smart, angry, with a wildness just barely under control. Green really liked him.