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The rage that Alinor had feared would burst into violence had gone from John's face, but something worse was there now. "I do not know, my lord," Alinor got out. "He went to tell the Queen of our marriage and he wrote to me that he would stay awhile with her." |
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It seemed the safest thing to say. John would do her no harm, but Alinor was not so sure he would not make some attempt against Simon. However, he would do nothing while Simon was with the Queen; he knew how well she loved her old servant. There was no harm in agreeing to Alinor's marriage to a decent man like William of Wenneval to pacify her youngest son, but she would never allow John to hurt Simon. |
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There was an uncomfortable silence. Then John said in an entirely different tone of voice, "So you are a wife already?" His eyes raked over her. "Sir Simon is not young. I suppose you were not much pleased with the King's choice." |
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"I was very well pleased, indeed," Alinor said indignantly. "I have known and loved Sir Simon long. The King did but fulfill the dearest wish of my heart." |
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John laughed aloud. "So much the better. I could never stand that honorable idiot. So much the more will I enjoy cuckolding him and so much the less will be the danger that you, loving wife that you are, will ever speak of it." |
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Alinor's throat closed. Her lips parted, but she could force no sound past them. Her hands gripped the embroidery frame so hard that the knuckles showed white, but John was not looking at her hands. |
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"I would not have plucked William's bud," he said softly, "but since it is plucked already and the flower open, there is no reason not to sip of the nectar. And it will be all the sweeter for having been stolen from that righteous prig Simon." |
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He held Alinor's eyes as he approached. They were so wide open that the white showed all around the |
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