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that he could take fealty of them before they had a chance to combine against him, if rebellion was in their minds. |
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"I come from Sir Giles, castellan of Iford Keep." |
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Simon dropped his eyes to the letter again. "Very well. Go below and take what rest you can, and some refreshment. You may need to ride back again in haste." There was silence as Simon read the few lines. "He begs me to come to him most urgently on a matter he dare not write." |
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"Could Alinor have told him of your marriage?" Isobel asked. |
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"She might, for some reason I do not know," Simon replied, "but surely it would be told in confidence to an old friend. It would not be a thing to spread among the men-at-arms." |
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"Something stinks!" William exclaimed. "Do not go." |
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"Something stinks to high heaven," Simon agreed, "but go I must, and at once, as soon as I have spoken to the Queen." |
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"Then I go too," William said, getting to his feet. |
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Isobel took her lip between her teeth, but she said nothing. |
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"No," Simon refused promptly. "If you come, nothing will happen, and I will not learn who my enemy is." |
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There was no difficulty in obtaining access to the Queen. Simon was a little annoyed. Of late, she had often sent a message that she was too busy to see him when he asked for audience. He had hoped she would do so this time so that there would be no chance for her to deny his request for leave to go. He had prepared a letter explaining everything. The effort of writing it had not been wasted, however. It permitted him to present the situation briefly and with great clarity. |
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"Madam, I beg you to let me go. I must" |
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Simon stopped abruptly. The Queen looked so white, so old, so frail that he dropped to his knee and |
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