"He came for me. But the Vicar never got very far with what he intended. I was not raped." A sudden, rather awful thought assailed her. "You do believe me, don't you?" A wide grin spread across his handsome face. "Darlin', I don't believe in God, but I believe in ye." "Michael, that's blasphemy," she chided, even as she couldn't keep the corners of her own mouth from turning up. "No," he said, very serious now, "that's love. I hear ye, I believe ye, and I love ye, me darlin'." She looked at him mutely, too afraid to ask. But he nodded as he drew her into his arms. "I love ye, Silence O'Connor, with all me black heart." "I don't think your heart is all that black." She smiled though tears sparkled in her eyes again. "I love you, too."