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Page 460
or by force. And if guile or force had been used, some evil purpose was intended.
What evil purpose? It was insane. Did Lady Grisel think she could force Alinor to cede the keep into her hands? Nonsense. She must know that the moment Alinor was free she would repudiate such an agreement and bring an army to revenge herself. Could Lady Grisel intend her death? That was even madder. Although the woman did not know that Alinor was marriedand what Simon would do to the perpetrator of her death was unthinkable even to Alinoreven an idiot like Lady Grisel must realize that to kill the mistress would only put the property totally in the King's hands and make the positions of vassals and castellans less secure.
Then Alinor's thoughts caught on the significant point. Lady Grisel did not know she was married. Probably that idiot thought she had only to deliver Alinor into the hands of whatever man desired her. Doubtless the man had promised to cede the castle into Lady Grisel's hands for that service. Alinor nearly laughed. What a rude surprise they would all have. She would not say a word. Let her unwise suitor come and offer what blandishments he wanted. It would make the joke even funnier. Alinor turned and spoke sweetly about the guarding and manning of the castle to the new master-at-arms. She did not know whether he was in the plot, but as the conversation proceeded she decided he would have to be dismissed in any case. He was too smooth, too cocksure, and too ignorant under the sureness.
Just after dusk the joke did not seem so funny. Lord John himself was ushered into Alinor's torchlit private chamber without warning. She rose hastily and dropped a deep curtsy. He might have nothing to do with this, she hoped. Perhaps his arrival was a pure coincidence. Kingsclere was on the road to London. Perhaps he had stopped for a night's lodging. However, even be-

 
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