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Simon coming to throw her "gift" back in her teeth? |
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Alinor was so absorbed in her fears that the brief scrape of a spur on stone as Simon stepped through the doorway and onto the carpet was all the warning she had. She had hardly leapt to her feet, eyes wide, cheeks flaming with excitement, when he was bending gracefully to kiss her hand. Her eyes ate him in the moment his own were downcast, but there was nothing to see. Simon looked exactly as she remembered, the gray velvet surcoat impeccable, his hair neatly brushed back; he was still in mail but had doffed his helm and pushed back his hood. |
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"You are welcome," Alinor faltered, and her eyes filled with tears. |
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"What is it, Alinor?" Simon asked anxiously. "What is wrong?" Then the soft anxiety of the first two questions hardened into exasperation. "Are you in trouble again?" |
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Terrified of what she would see in them, Alinor had been avoiding Simon's eyes. Now, however, she met his irritated glance openly. "Nowell, yes, but it is nothing new or worse than usual. Oh, Simon, have you been summoned to Court?" |
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"Of course I have been summoned. What else could draw me from the duty you laid upon me?" |
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His voice had changed again, smooth, hard, cold as ice. Alinor's breath caught. "Do not be so angry with me, Simon. Please. I meant no harm. I" |
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"I am sure you did not. You meant only good and, in fact, only good will come of what you have done. I will grow rich. You made a good bargain for Sussex at one hundred marks. The people will have an honest sheriffI dare pride myself upon my honestyand you and yours will be protected against any unreasonable prosecution." |
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"Simon" the name was a whispered plea, but he did not seem to hear. |
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"I must go to the Queen." |
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