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"Ask William Marshal where Sir Simon is, and give Sir Simon the message. Tell Sir Simon that he is to see that Sir Andre gets my letter. Tell him also that I send it to him because I was told it was not permitted for me to send messages freely. Do you understand?" |
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"Very well, then. Thank you." She watched the boy leave, then turned to Isobel of Clare. "Do you know Sir Simon well?" she asked innocently, curbing a strange desire to tear out Isobel's very lovely eyes with her fingernails. |
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"No, not at all," the fair girl faltered, blushing even redder. |
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Isobel of Gloucester tittered. "It is the other name that has set her all aflutter. Of course, she does not know William the Marshal very well eitherbut she hopes to know him better." |
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"Oh, hush, Isobel," the fair girl said, her eyes filling with tears. "I do not hope for anything. I will marry as the King commands." |
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Alinor opened her mouth and then shut it firmly. She deplored such a poor spirit, but she had sense enough not to make matters worse by saying openly that Alinor of Roselynde would marry to no one's taste but her own and Isobel of Clare should have sufficient courage to feel the same. Nonetheless, she had already done enough to make the lesser maidens wary of her. Only the two Isobels were rich enough and well enough born not to fear contamination and she was constrained to their company. In it her taste for news and worldly talk could find little outlet. |
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They were almost diametrically opposite types, both, Alinor decided with disgust, full of the sweet womanliness Simon was always harping on. Or, she corrected herself grinning, not alwaysonly when their opinions conflicted. Both Isobels were outwardly meek and mild and obedient. Isobel of Clare was naturally so. She seemed intelligent enough, but had never been taught to think and, because she was a greater lady than Ali- |
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