QUOTE : And yours? What is your opinion? Truly?” She turned to face me, her green eyes brilliant in the lamplight. “Would it matter?”<br />“No. I love him and, damn the world, I will have him.” <br /><br />She grinned. “Good girl. And since my opinion doesn’t matter, I give it freely: Brisbane is worth twenty Marches and dearer to me than most of my own brothers. If you do not marry him, I will do so myself, simply to keep him in the family.” <br /><br />I turned away quickly. “Are you weeping?” she asked. <br /><br />“Don’t be absurd.” My voice was muffled and I swallowed, blinking furiously. “I have a cinder in my eye.” Portia dropped a swift kiss to my cheek. “Happiness is within your grasp now, pet. Hang onto it, and do not let it go, whatever you do.