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Page 454
"Simon?" Alinor repeated, and then choked when she realized the Queen meant the blood-flooded sheets the morning after they were married. In the night, the cut in Simon's groin had opened again and there had been more bleeding than was wanted or expected. "That was months ago andand it was an accident," Alinor faltered unsteadily.
Berengaria misunderstood the cause of Alinor's failing voice. Her eyes softened. "Stay with me," she urged. "He cannot force you to leave me. Let him have the lands. We can live together always, you and I and Joanna, and play and sing and read."
Alinor was tempted to tell Berengaria the truth in the hope that it would remove at least one shadow from that unhappy lady's mind, but she did not dare. Berengaria's experience had soured her. Usually she meant to be kind, but sometimes a dangerous streak of spitefulness was visible in her actions.
"Forgive me, Madam," she said instead. "Your life and mine have been very different. I am of coarser stuff. I cannot be satisfied to play and sing. I need to ride and hunt and oversee the building of ships and tell my villeins what crops to sow."
"I will find work for you then," Berengaria said.
Alinor sighed. She had hoped to avoid this but she saw that no matter what other excuse she offered Berengaria would find an answer. "You mistake me. It is my desire as much as Simon's that takes me to his bed. He takes from me no greater pleasure than he gives to me, I would be clear. I urge him to mating as often as he urges me."
"You are indeed of coarser stuff," Berengaria said distastefully. "That is God's curse upon women for Eve's sin. It is necessary for the breeding of children and not for pleasure."
The mild sorrow Alinor felt at having disappointed Berengaria was completely overshadowed by her relief when they reached Rome. Here Berengaria summoned

 
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