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new friend took on a broader aspect. The Queen was aware that Alinor was ill-suited in years to be one of her ladies. She often asked kindly whether Alinor was lonely without friends of her own age. To this Alinor had always replied quite truthfully that she had never had any until she had been drawn to Isobel of Clare. Although she could now see what pleasure there was in such a relationship, it was still too strange to her for lack of friends to breed unhappiness. She wrote to Isobel, she told the Queen, and William was kind enough to permit his wife to employ a scribe to reply. |
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Doubtless Berengaria's situation was far different from Alinor's. She was a princess to whose father's court many maidens would be sent for fostering. All would strive for the princess' affection. But Berengaria was about to be separated from her friends. Perhaps a lady or two, like those dependent upon the Queen's favor, would accompany her, but not many. Moreover, doubtless Berengaria would be curious to know what sort of nation her husband ruled and what sort of a man her husband was. The former the Queen might tell her gladly; the latter, unless Berengaria was utterly a fool, she would seek to discover from another source than the King's mother. It should not be difficult to win a place in the princess' heart and then to become one of her ladies rather than the Queen's. |
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If it was possible, much or nothing might follow. Possibly the King would consider his tastes above his duties, wed and bed in haste, and send his wife away in the Queen's care hoping the quick-sown seed would take root. If, however, he had been wakened to responsibility, he might keep his wife with him for some time, perhaps until she conceived. As long as that was, Alinor too would remain, if she were one of Berengaria's ladies, and thus she could be near Simonand see him, speak to him, kiss him. There was little chance that Simon had yet won the King's consent, but a few months of her company would stimulate his efforts. |
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