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"For God's sake, Alinor, do not ask me!" Simon burst out. "Do not think of it! Be blind! Be deaf! And if God curses you with vision and hearing, be mute!" |
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Alinor's eyes widened, but she clamped her lips over what else she had to say. There was real fear and anguish in Simon's voice. Whatever lay on the Queen's heart was bigger and more dreadful than the problem of the notorious lady Alais which she had heard aboutand that was awful enough. Alinor thought of asking Simon about that, but decided against it. Men suffered from odd freaks of delicacy, and an interesting subject like whether or not the old King had fathered a bastard upon his son's affianced bride was certainly bound to bring out every bit of delicacy Simon had. Soon she would be able to ask other women, who took a more practical view of such things. |
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After they had reached London and Alinor had been settled into the chambers that held the high-born maidens in the care of the Queen, Alinor recalled her decision with doubt. Not that she thought she could have got much information out of Simon. Merely that she would get a great deal more than she wanted out of the busy tongues that surrounded herand most probably not a mote of it would be true. It was not that information about Alais was really of any importance to Alinor. It was just a straw to show the way the wind blew. If the women could not find out or would not tell the truth about a matter of such interest to them, it was highly unlikely that their views on any other subject would be more informed or more reliable. Feather-brained idiots, Alinor thought exasperatedly. Then, because she was capable of self-discipline when necessary, she admitted that perhaps the lies and the blank, stupid stares were more because the ladies did not like or trust her than because they were ignorant. |
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I am the stupid one, she admitted. Simon warned me. She did not blame herself too much, however. She |
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