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Page 101
When Simon and Alinor met at breakfast the next morning, he had achieved a balance weighted down evenly on each side by a thick gloom. Alinor, thus far concerned only with her own feelings, was shocked by his red-rimmed, dead-looking eyes and hard-set mouth. Unfortunately, if Sir Andre was correct, there was nothing she could do for him. To ask the Queen for a new warden would involve Simon in great trouble and disgrace him. To treat him coldly could only cause him greater pain and probably would not achieve the purpose of killing his love. Besides, Alinor was not at all sure she wanted to kill it.
Simon chewed and swallowed with effort and replied to the inanities of the Lady Grisel with practiced politeness. He had revolved various explanations for the sudden departure he was about to announce and had decided that nothing he could think of would satisfy Alinor. Thus, when the meal was over, he merely stood and thanked the castellan for his hospitality. Then he turned to Alinor.
"My lady, I will ask you to bid your maids to pack. We will leave for London before the prime."
"Leave for London?" Alinor said blankly. "But why in such haste? My furniture"
"You will need none for the nonce, my lady. Doubtless until you are established, the Queen will house you with her maidens."
"And my men? And my servants? And Sir Andre? Where are they to live?"
"If Sir Andre wishes to come to London, I cannot prevent him from doing so. However, I can see no purpose to anything so ill-advised. You will be guarded by the Queen and by me, if needful. Sir Andre's place is in Roselynde which, if he deserts it, will be masterless. If he wishes to come, or you wish for it in spite of my wordwell, he is not a witless child, I hope. He can arrange to have the furniture and servants brought to your house himself."
Alinor lowered her eyes and bit her lip. She was

 
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