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Page 354
was really nothing besides personal service that Richard could ask. That, however, soon took more time than Simon had expected or desired. On the night of April 18, Simon heard Richard muttering and went to see what his lord desired. To his horror, he found the King wild-eyed, burning with fever. The King's physician was urgently summoned and diagnosed a violent return of the quartan fever that had afflicted Richard for years. Simon and the King's squires spent the night alternately bathing Richard and trying to keep him well wrapped to induce sweating. The fever abated a little in the morning, but by the time they made port in Rhodes the next day, Richard was so ill that it seemed to Simon quite reasonable that none of their vessels had been seen. Nothing good could happen now, Simon told himself, as he supervised having the King carried ashore. He was the only man in the group big enough to control Richard's delirious struggles so that he was present when the King began to talk. Simon drove the squires and servants from the sickroom and watched alone beside the bed, sometimes weeping with pity as Richard laid bare his tormented soul.
Morning brought peace; sense returned to the King's eyes, and he asked for news as Simon lifted his head to give him a drink.
"I do not know, my lord," Simon soothed. "I have been here with you."
Richard smiled. "I must be sore sick if you have been too busy to ask after news of 'your Alinor.' You do not wish to tell me bad news?"
"Truly, my lord, I have heard nothing. The ships are not in this harbor, it is true, but I have had no leisure to enquire further." Simon found a tired grin. "It is not that you are so very ill, only that you are so very strong. You threw little Harry de Vere right across the room when he wished to change the cloth on your head, and you nearly broke William's jaw."

 
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