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ambassador in mind." Simon waved the parchment he still held. "Alinor can talk a mule into standing on its headif she so desires." |
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"Your ward?" William asked. Simon nodded. "Then all is easy," William said eagerly, "tell her what to say, and she will tell Isobel." |
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Simon looked at his friend blankly. "Tell her what to say! I hope, my friend, that you have not tried to employ any other woman as your messenger." He studied William's face, which showed a slight heightening of color, and sighed. "Who was it?" |
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"Isobel of Gloucester. They are the same age and have known each other long. I" |
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"Oh, God!" Simon exclaimed. "No wonder you had no results. It is easy to see, William, that your service has been with men. The bitch of Gloucester will do an ill turn instead of a good even if she lose by it, such is her spite. Also, one does not tell a woman anythingat least, not unless you really desire the opposite of what you have told her." Simon grinned. "And more especially one does not tell Lady Alinor. That is like to lead to the loss of one's ears. They would doubtless be burned off by her reply." |
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It was now William's turn to look blank. "I had heard from the Queen that you did not welcome this wardenship. If the woman is such a termagant" |
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"She is not a termagant," Simon replied shortly. "She is young and very strong willed." |
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"Then a sharp lesson with the flat of your hand should be of great benefit to herand to you also." |
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Simon guffawed. "I have come near to it from pure bile, but it would benefit no one. Alinor would more likely take her knife to me than learn obedience. More important, her vassals would kill me. No, do not shake your head, I mean it. We had words in her keep, and before I knew what was happening, there were the two vassals that were in the keep and every servingman in the hall." |
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