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would have been extremely difficult to avoid granting one of them the post of honor, to fight at his left shoulder and guard his back. His mother's foresight had just removed that problem. |
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"Very well. My word upon it. As long as you are able, none but you shall hold my shield." |
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"The second matter is nothing." Simon made a slight brushing gesture. The matter might be first to him, but it would not be important to Richard. "It concerns the governance of Lady Alinor Devaux, your ward, entrusted to me. As you may remember, Lady Alinor is of a turbulent nature." Simon grinned and Richard laughed outright. ''In spite of this, or perhaps because of it, the Queen loves her. She will not have Alinor or her lands entrusted to anyone but herself in the event of my death." |
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"By all means," Richard responded readily, seeing a way to rid himself of Longchamp's importunities and the entire problem. "An excellent idea. The Queen is best fitted for so onerous a task. Do you come to me after the Court and I will transfer her, her lands, and her vagaries to the Queen's care this very day." |
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"Then that is all my business, my lord," Simon said, being very careful not to allow his eyes to stray to Longchamp. "When you pick up your cross, I shall also." |
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The business of the Court moved on to other matters, land disputes that needed settlement before the King left, castellans to be sworn, a tax on traveling merchants to be adjusted. Simon paid little attention and was glad when the short session was over. The assignment of Alinor as the Queen's ward, retaining her revenues to the King's use, took little time, although Simon insisted stubbornly that Longchamp sign the charter as witness so that he could not later say he knew nothing of the matter. At last Simon was free to consider his own affairs. |
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No more had been said about his deputy. No more |
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