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Alinor was not much conscious of the passage of time because the King had chosen to announce that the betrothal of William the Marshal and Isobel, Countess of Pembroke and Strigul, would be consummated in marriage at Salisbury Cathedral on August 22 and that of his "dearly beloved brother" Lord John to Isobel, Countess of Gloucester, on August 29 at Marlborough. Both Isobels were surrounded by well-wishers and the talk among the women was lively and, for once, good natured. |
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It was not until William came to claim his betrothed's hand for the first dance that Alinor realized Simon had failed her. She heard Isobel murmur, "William, no, there is no need," and William's deep voice replying, "Hush, Isobel. It is custom. It will not hurt me." Alinor's first reaction was a flash of rage. She thought Simon had not come because the sets were being led by the affianced couples. The rage was first drowned by anxiety and then intensified when she saw Bigod and de Bohun bearing down on her from opposite sides of the Hall. Then rage was drowned again when she saw Simon's red-gray head well above the crowd in close conjunction with an equally tall red-gold one. |
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To neither de Bohun nor Bigod would Alinor give her hand. To give it to someone else after refusing them would be an insult. To say she did not wish to dance would condemn her to inactivity for the whole evening. She was left with the unappetizing choice of saying she had promised the dance to Simon and he was too busy to claim it. She could just hear the remarks and jests that would follow such a confession. In addition it was not even a safe haven. Since he was not there, she would be pressed to accept another partner anyway. Alinor cast a flickering glance from one pursuer to the other and between them she saw a path of escape. |
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The young man was standing well back but also |
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