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somewhat assuaged. It was the Queen, after all, who had made him warden and essentially his loyalty was to her. Alinor did not for a moment believe that the Queen had had marriage in mind, but she was not one to boggle at bending the truth in a good cause. |
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"I was very unhappy when I thought you were angry with me over the purchase of that office," Alinor began, and then said hotly, "Well, how should I know you were such an idiot as to think I would part with a huge sum of money because I did not love you? That I should give you a gift because I did love you is reasonable. The other way isis" |
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"Never mind that. Come to your answer." |
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"I am coming to it. The Queen Simon, it is very cold on this deck," Alinor said, shifting uneasily. |
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She hunkered up and rubbed her behind. "It is hard too. Let me sit in your lap." |
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Belatedly aware that their position was not exactly private, Simon glanced around uneasily. They were, however, more secluded than he had thought. Sometime during the argument the sail had been hoisted, and it effectively blocked the forward section from the main body of the ship. The crew and the men-at-arms were huddled as low and as close together as possible for the sake of warmth. What was more, between the noise the women were making and the noise the horses were making, it was unlikely that anyone had heard Alinor and him screaming at each other. |
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Simon folded his legs to make a comfortable cradle. "Very well. Sit." |
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Alinor moved promptly and rested her head on his shoulder. "That is much better," she sighed. |
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"Yes, and it is a great pleasure to me also," Simon replied, "greater, perhaps, than is meet or fitting. Nonetheless, I have not forgotten my question." |
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Alinor glanced up at him mischievously. "But I will |
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