<em>I doubt he's laughing.  You forget how delightful a prize you are in a man's eyes.  And with your innocence stolen, there would be no way to know if another wooed you into his bed.  Or perhaps he sees you as a means to elevate his own position.  Or.. He might actually be as foolish heroic as he plays at and feel sorry for your plight.</em>The last came with a mental chuckle.<br/><br/>"Your Highness.  I am already your's.  I give you my word, I hold your words in confidence.  I understand how a woman might need to speak freely without her every word being carried back to her father.  It must be so difficult to live such a guarded life, with people ready to latch onto any careless or unintentional thing you say."