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but that was silly. He looked back at William. "None," he said bleakly. |
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"Lord John is no Richard," William commented with twisted lips. "If we fight him, he will never forgive or forget. There is no chivalry in him." |
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"I pray every night he will die of a bloody flux." |
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William grinned. "There we differ. I pray he will die of a festering pox." Then he shook his head. "Sometimes I feel so, but in truth I do not pray for John's death. If I were sure Richard was alive and would stay alive, that would be different. But I would rather have John than Arthur. You know what will befall us if a child should be seated on the throne. I pray for Richard's well doing, but if Richard dies my choice will be John." |
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At first Simon looked puzzled. Finally, however, he nodded his head. "Yes, I see. He will make himself so hateful that the barons will combine against him. William, there is sense in that. All together we could curb him. He has not Richard's recklessness. I think" |
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A page came scurrying in to say there was a messenger for Simon. He began to rise, but Lady Isobel said, "Let him come up, Simon, unless you wish to be private." And Simon sank back into his chair. |
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To their surprise the messenger was not a page from the Queen but a man-at-arms none of them knew. Yet he knew Simon, for it was to him that the letter was tendered. Simon looked at the seal, looked up at the messenger. |
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Doubt showed in the man's face. "You are Sir Simon Lemagne? Husband to Lady Alinor?" |
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William had started to raise a hand to scratch. The movement checked very slightly and then continued. Lady Isobel's needle hung for a brief instant idle. The news of the marriage had not yet been spread. Quite reasonably, Simon desired that his new vassals and castellans hear of it one at a time in his presence so |
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