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"It is out of love that I have neglected to give you your heart's desire," Richard continued. "We have lost so many noblemen over these two years that I can make you rich beyond the value of the woman's land. I will give you a good fruitful estate in a land where the sun shines and damp does not warp the bones." |
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Not knowing what else to do, Simon turned his head away obstinately. |
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"Man," Richard's voice cracked with its intensity, "she will break you and destroy you. Take what I offer and leave the woman alone. She is eighteen, and you arewhat?" |
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Simon's head snapped back, and he smiled. With little else to do, the King had obviously been considering the problems of his liegeman and had come to a logical and considerate conclusion. |
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"I am forty-eightan old man. But Alinor knows that. As God is my witness, I have told her often enough. I have even painted her a picture of me old and feeble and her in her prime. She laughs and says she has lived all her life with old men and likes them." |
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"Will she still laugh in ten years?" Richard asked. |
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It was a cruel question, but kindly meant. Simon shrugged. "My lord, I see these things also. I do not lie to myself. Alinor and I are not fitting in age, but in all else we are. In some ways she will benefit from my age also. I am no expensive young buck who will waste her patrimony, nor do I desire it for myself or to lavish gifts on other women." Simon grinned wryly. "I will scarce have strength to keep her content, let alone wasting my substance elsewhere." |
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He paused and looked away from the King again, not angrily but with dreaming eyes. "Moreover, my lord, I love that land of mists and rain. I have come, these two years, nearly to hate the sun. In England, when the sun shines, one thanks God for it with a joyful heart. One does not need to chew salt meat or stinking fish to stay alive. If you refuse me the guerdon |
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