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hand to her lips. "Oh, how stupid of me, Alinor. Forgive me. I should have thought" |
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Alinor shook her head. "I beg pardon, my lady. The Queen summoned me to write a letter for her." |
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"It must have been a long letter," Joanna said softly. |
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In spite of the suspicion on Joanna's face, Alinor rather warmed to her. Richard's sister had apparently taken Berengaria's measure and wished to protect her. Alinor often felt the same way, although sometimes her mistress' good nature and credulousness annoyed her. She was not afraid of Joanna since she was not given to taking advantage of Berengaria. |
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"No, my lady," Alinor responded pleasantly. "By the time I arrived the King and the Bishop of Rouen were with the Queen. I had a long wait before she was free." |
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"An important letter, if my mother kept you so long in waiting to write it." |
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"Not at all. I think my lady, the Queen, forgot I was there." |
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Suddenly Berengaria laughed, her soft eyes sparkling with gentle malice. "There is no use in asking Alinor questions about what she writes for the Queen. You will receive no answers. She will recite to you the pious openings and all the philosophical passages, but not one matter of fact." |
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Alinor was somewhat startled. Berengaria had picked up her method of circumventing questions more cleverly than she would have expected. "I am sorry, my lady," she said. "I love you dearly, I do, but I cannot speak of whatto meis almost like what is said in the confessional. I do my best to put the few matters of state the Queen might mention right out of my mind" |
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"Do not beg pardon," Berengaria cried. "I think it was your care for the Queen's business that first made me love you. I saw that what went in your ears did not flow out of your mouth in the next instant. I have been less trustworthy than you, for I have given your |
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