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very strong and sweet. Beyond them, in brutal contrast to the delicate pink of the flowers and the soft green of the leaves, rose the enormous gray walls of the keep. With its customary alacrity the Queen's mind leapt from the flowers to the words and laughter she had heard. She judged the laughter correctly, and turned to look again at the girl who rode beside her. The child looked quiet and submissive, but the devotion of the vassals and Sir Andre's hints foretold fire and a strong will under the obedient demeanorthorns under the roses.
Alinor had fallen silent after a few moments, aware that the Queen's mind was elsewhere. Now she smiled and pointed ahead. "There is Roselynde, Your Grace." Her hand flickered toward the keep but a shade of anxiety crossed her face. "I hope all is in readiness for you. My maids, even those who are older and should be wiser, were in such a fever at your coming that they were fit to air the rushes and use the bedding to cover the floor."
"And you," the Queen teased, "no doubt you remained as calm as a nun telling her beads in her cell."
Alinor uttered a little chuckle, a delightful gurgle of laughter that warmly invited any listener to laugh also. "Not quite so calm as that, I am afraid. In fact, now I distinctly remember myself saying that the rose leaves should be carefully boiled instead of steeped. I pray you, Your Grace, forgive us our deficiencies. It is true that I have been the Lady of Roselynde for as long as I have been old enough to carry the keys, but we have lived very quiet and retired lives. My grandfather was old, and the KingI mean King Henry" her voice faltered.
"Of blessed memory," the Queen said gravely. "Do not fear to speak of him to me. We had our differences, Harry and I, but I forgive the wrongs he has done me and I pray most fervently that he forgives those I have done him. What were you about to say?"
"Only that the King did not call my grandfather's

 
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