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rivalry between Milo de Bohun and Roger Bigod for possession of her estates and, stemming from that, their courtship of her. She did not mention the attempted abduction. There was no evidence of which, if either one, had been involved. From there she continued to her reluctance to give the first dance to either of them and told how she had summoned Ian to deputize for his master. The King's eyes moved briefly to Ian again. However, he did not address any remark to the young man. |
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All he said was, "And which do you favor, Lady Alinor?" |
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"Good God, neither!" she exclaimed. "Nor any other man. I am your ward, Your Grace, and have no desire to change my state. I hope you will favor me in so much." |
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"You wish to remain a ward of the King?" Richard asked incredulously. Then his eyes dropped from her face to Simon's arm, which still enfolded her. "You are happy in your warden, I see," he said drily. |
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"Oh yes!" Alinor replied with enthusiasm. "Sir Simon is as kind to me as my grandfather." Then she laughed. "And as unkind too, for he checks me sharply for just the same things." |
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Richard's brow climbed upward again. "He is scarce as old as your grandfather," he warned. |
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"No, of course not," Alinor agreed readily, stealthily compressing Simon's arm against her body with her elbow. Had it not been for that pressure, Simon would long since have released her guiltily, betraying what both felt. Alinor laughed again. "But it is hard to remember that. I assure you, Sire, he is as old-fashioned and as carping on the subject of propriety as ever my grandfather was. Except," she offered, with an earnest air of attempting to be fair, "about clothes. Sir Simon does not concern himself with my dress but leaves direction of that to the Queen. You may ask Her Grace if" |
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