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Page 158
the gash which needed stitching but which she now saw was not serious, and bound it firmly with pads and strips from her shift to reduce the loss of blood.
''We could not catch them, my lady," Beorn lamented, growing quite red with anger when he saw his mistress' disheveled condition.
"I think it is just as well," Alinor remarked calmly.
"We cannot hide this from the Queen," Simon sighed, then brightening, "Yes we can. We can say you had a fall from your horse."
"Ah, yes," Alinor agreed very gently, but with a sarcastic lift to her brows, "and doubtless you were so enraged at my bad riding that when you bent to lift me up, you burst. That is clearly why there is a rent in your hide."
Simon guffawed with laughter, then gasped and clapped a hand to his bandaged side. "Well, if you do not like my explanation, think of a better one yourself. The Queen has no need to know of my bruises. If I do not approach her until after we reach Windsor, a clean gown will cover all."
Alinor took his hand. She had made him remove his gauntlets when she saw the marks they made upon her gown and his own face. "My lord, my lord," she reproved him mischievously, "to save me a scolding you are prepared to perjure yourself before your liege lady."
"It was not your fault," Simon said defensively. "You did not ride off alone. If you were taken by surprise" His voice faltered. She had not ridden off alone, but perhaps she had separated from the group willingly, not understanding what was really meant by whoever arranged the tryst.
"Oh, no," Alinor said, her voice echoing her disgust at her own gullibility. "I was tricked." She related the entire sequence of events, adding, "The reason I am glad we took no prisoner is that I fear it would be an embarrassment to the Queen to have

 
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