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Page 355
Richard's eyes wandered around the room, then when he saw he and Simon were alone they lifted to Simon's. "You sent them away?"
"I did not wish you to grieve for killing your servants, my lord."
The King's eyes closed and his lips trembled. "God help me," he whispered, "God help me." Tears slipped down his cheeks.
Simon wrung out a cloth and wiped Richard's face. The King's hand came up and gripped Simon's. He returned the pressure reassuringly.
"How much did they hear?" Richard asked.
"Nothing," Simon replied.
Richard's eyes opened and he studied Simon's face. Then a tired half smile curved his lips. "You do not really like whores, do you Simon? I thought I did not remember you had much recourse to them even when you were a young man, but then I thought perhaps you had hidden it from me."
"They serve my need," Simon said stolidly.
A choked sound, part laugh, part sob, forced itself from the King's throat. "My need," he gasped, "my need, not yours. You are a clever devil, Simon, as my mother swore you were. But you will not need to roister in the stews again. That burden will be taken from youI swear it. When we find the women, I will marry Berengaria on the first day I can. I swear it!"
"Of course," Simon soothed, swallowing convulsively. "Soon now, very soon we will find them. But we cannot look until you are well, my lord. Rest now. When you are well, all will come right. You will see. All will be sweet and easy."
Simon's prediction was not competely accurate, but there was some improvement in the situation. Although Richard's fever returned in the afternoon, the attack was less violent and, after that, his mind no longer wandered and he grew better each day. First he was impatient to leave as soon as he was sure that

 
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