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"You love me!" he replied bitterly. "For how long this time? In the name of God, Alinor, cease from tormenting me. I swear I will serve you just as honestly, just as faithfully. I will not cheat you whether you love me or not." |
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"Torment you? I have tormented you? And what do you mean, how long this time? I could not love you longer than I know you. I have loved you almost from the first day. How much longer could I love you?" |
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"I do not understand you at all," Simon said quietly. "Are you pretending that you did not think better of this foolish love while I was in Wales, and pay me my dueand very lavishly you paid with a rich shire. I will say, Alinor, that you are not niggardly. It was the finest horse and armor with which you paid Ian for his service, and it was a fair, rich shire with which you paid me for mine." |
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"Paid for your service? Simon, you are a fool! I have told you before that I bought you that office to protect myself and my people. What has that to do with a horse and armor for a boy? What has that to do with whether I love you?" |
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"Has it not to do with that?" Simon said uncertainly. Then his voice firmed. "No. You will not take me unaware again. I will not have my heart torn out, then patched up at your pleasure and put back so that it can be torn out again. When I came to Court, I thought it might be as you say. You spoke my name in such a voice and tried to hold meBut by the time I returned and I wished to ask if you loved me still, you would not even look at me." He rested an elbow on his knee and dropped his head into his hand. "Let me be. I am too old to play your games. Young hearts crack a little and then heal. Old hearts are like old bones. When they break, they do not knit together very easily." |
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"I am sorry, Simon," Alinor said dully. "I did not |
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