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Page 405
into a deep well. There might be ways of finding the coin, but not without destroying the entire well, and even then it would be most doubtful."
"She could have said the same of you."
"I hope so," Alinor said steadily.
Again Joanna made an impatient gesture, but this time it signed the end of her attempt to get information. If Simon had spoken to Alinor, nothing would make her admit it. If he had not, what could Alinor know for certain? In any case, her brother's taste in bed companions was irrelevant as long as he was discreet. Since he had been careful enough not to bring thundering denunciations on his head in the past, doubtless he would continue to be careful. The problem, as Alinor had seen but not said, was not Richard but Berengaria. She did dream too much. It was plain Berengaria did not even want to believe Richard could be ill, like any other man. What would she do if her dream of the perfect knight was shattered in this peculiarly unnatural way? Joanna was fond of Berengaria, but she was fonder of her brother and her interest was bound up with him. She shrugged.
"I think you may be right. Perhaps it is as well that they remain 'lovers.' I will not press her again to seek his company."
For the next two weeks, unless she went to nurse Richard, that was out of the question. A few days after the King had taken to his bed, it was known that Philip of France was ill with arnaldia and, whatever the physicians said, Richard's condition could no longer be kept a secret. Rumors of his death swept through the camp bringing hysterical questions from Berengaria. Simon himself came to assure her that, far from being dead, Richard was driving his attendants to distraction by demanding to be carried out to watch the progress of his siege engines.
"No, no, do not let him," Berengaria cried.
Simon opened his mouth, closed it again, and then

 
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