Valley of Dragons (The Secrets of Ormdale, #5)

by Christina Baehr

I took a quick breath. “Then you came along for yourself? Because you—wanted something?” He flushed and looked ashamed. “Yes.” “You didn’t come because you thought it was your duty?” I persisted. “Why are you smiling?” he asked, astonished. I was beaming. “Because it means that you can change! You’re not frozen, not semper eadem! I never change? My sainted aunt!” I scoffed. “Or rather, my aunt is Jewish, it turns out. So I suppose she can’t be a sainted aunt. They don’t have saints. Though they do treat Abraham rather like one. And Jacob, though I can’t understand why, since he was such a sneak!” I stopped and took a much-needed breath. “I mean, Simon, that I haven’t given up hope. Like all of those irritating suitors in all of the novels when the heroine turns them down the first time. What is it they always say? Ah, yes! Will you allow me to hope?”