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the fleeting change of expression. However, Sir Andre's voice was very deliberatepurposely deliberatewhen he continued. "My doubts are only for the use the King will make of his ward. I am tied to my lady by more than my honor. To speak true, I love her dearly, having known her from a babe. It is not sufficient that we vassals be content with the man chosen for her. For us, it is needful that she, too, be content." |
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"The Queen is very wise," Sir Simon assured the men. |
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"No doubt," Sir John put in drily. He had been one of the barons who fought in Aquitaine. "But queens are constrained by circumstances." |
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There was a pause just a trifle too long, just long enough to draw Sir Andre's and Sir John's eyes to Sir Simon's face. What they saw therea brief consternation quickly schooled into iron-hard determinationwas not reassuring. |
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"If the Queen is constrained," Simon's deep voice was steady and hard, "then we must also be constrained." |
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"Oh," Sir John said easily, "the King's will through the Queen's mouth must be doneif it be for the good and quiet of the realm. Only, the Lady Alinor might be a very young widow." |
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Sir Simon looked from one face to the other, and his lips twisted. "You are loyal vassals, indeed." |
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"Lady Alinor was the sun and the moon to Lord Rannulf, and we are all beholden to him," Sir Andre pointed out. "For me, there is even more in it. We are in some way tied in blood. My wife was a natural daughter to Lord Rannulf. It is no claimworthy blood bond, but it is there." |
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Suddenly Sir John laughed. "If you come to know her better, Sir Simon, you will be of our party in her defense." |
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"You have had some work in that direction already," Simon said quickly, as if he did not wish to respond to Sir John's remark. |
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