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''She must be cured of that," Joanna snapped. |
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"I am afraid it will cure her love also. Besides, I am sore afraid she would not show herself to advantage before the King. The wife must be able to be firm against the whims and wails of a sick man, and the man must be able to remember that succoring of his weakness with gratitude instead of shame." |
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Joanna looked thoughtful but then shook her head. "Richard is not vain in that way. He would not hate her for serving him and comforting him." |
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"But could she?" Alinor asked pointedly. "Can she outface the King? I sorrow for it, but I will speak what I believe to be true. She is not wise with regard to His Grace. You saw when he came to her on the ship that day. He wished to be angry with her. He needed to be angry with someone, someone safe, but she did not see that." |
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"Perhaps she is only one of those who cannot endure harshness," Joanna began, but she saw the fallacy in that before Alinor replied. "No, I tried to make him angry with me, and she oversoothed him so that he needs must swallow his bile instead of spitting it out." Then the dark eyes narrowed. "But that is naught to do with this. It needs no understanding to wash a man and feed him." |
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"It needs a strong stomach and a firm spirit to make a man do what is good for him when he does not wish to do it." |
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"There would be no need for that. There are others to force Richard to drink a bitter draught or take a purge if needfulyour Simon for one. You have some reason for fearing Berengaria's attendance upon Richard. What is it?" |
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Backed against the wall, Alinor tried another tack, just skirting the truth. "Men in a fever babble. Berengaria dreams too much. She might be hurt by what you or I would know was nothing." |
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"Nonsense. She is not such a fool as to care if Rich- |
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