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Simon's hands dropped from her shoulders. "Do you mean to tell me the Queen said I wished to take you That I wished to dishonor the girl entrusted to my care?" |
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"No," Alinor admitted, smiling through her tears. "Mayhap I could use a cleansing of the mind. The Court is no wholesome place, but I swear, Simon, I will never take its ways to be yours again. And I will thank God for that on my knees every day of my life." |
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"Well," he temporized, "I am no saint. I have sinned my sins, but they are nothing to do with you. Now, how came the Queen into this affair?" |
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Alinor rubbed her cheek. The hood of her cloak had cushioned the blow, but Simon was a strong man and her jaw ached. "Will you grow angry again if I speak the truth?" she asked. |
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"Probably," Simon growled, "but I will not hit you if you do not insult me again." He stared at her expression and his own changed from anger to revulsion. "Alinor, do not tell me you are of those who take joy in being beaten!" |
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Her clear laugh rang out. "No, indeed, and if I deserved it less, I would have made you sorry for it." |
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"You would have made me" Simon began angrily, bristling as he always did at a threat. Then he looked aside. "Ay, I have no doubt you have the power to do that. But," he continued, looking back at her sidelong, "you have not the power to lead me round by the nose. I ask again, how came you to name the Queen when I asked who gave you such a thought of me?" |
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Alinor's mind had been very busy. It would be easy enough to lie and say she had built the idea from some talk she had with the Queen regarding one of the Court ladies, but it seemed better to tell the truth. In the end it might be necessary to get herself with child by Simon in order to force a marriage. If she planted the idea that the Queen had hinted approval of such a plan, Simon's strict sense of honor might be |
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