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dancing the night before. When she saw the Bishop of Rouen and the King were with the Queen, Alinor's knees began to shake so that she could barely cross the room to make her curtsies in form. The black scowl on the King's face did nothing to relieve her tension. |
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"Ah, here is our little scribe," the Queen said. |
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Alinor made an effort and did not fall down in the excess of her relief and surprise. |
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"Madam, she is little more than a child," the Bishop of Rouen protested. |
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"Yes," Richard growled, "and I do not believe William would tamper with your people, mother. Whatever he has done or not done, no one will ever make me believe he is not loyal to me." |
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"To you, my love, he is completely loyal," the Queen agreed. "I have never said he was not. It may be that most of the trouble has been caused because he was too loyal, not seeing where you, yourself, would temper justice with mercy or make an exception." |
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"Then why should he set spies on you? You are my mother. How could you wish me harm?" |
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"My heart, light of my eyes, that he is loyal to you does not make him loyal to me. He knows that the English appeal to me against him. He wished to know whether I favored them and what I would do. He felt he needed to protect himself." |
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"Well, was he not right? Are you not here speaking against him?" |
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"Yes I am, and this I did not try to keep from him. I permitted his creatures to copy every letter I wrote to you. However, I did not see why William Longchamp should read my heart when I opened it to my daughters nor take vengeance on a man whose complaint I believed to be just. For these purposes I used a scribe I knew to be incorruptibleat least by Longchamp. I wish to point out to you what has come of Longchamp's meddling, Richard." The Queen's |
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