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"Oh, Mother, there is time enough for that," Richard said lightly. |
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"There is no time," the Queen rejoined passionately. "Do you think you will set your seed into a maiden the first time of your going in unto her? Are you so certain a manchild will be vouchsafed you for your firstborn? Richard, Richard, you must set aside these" her voice faltered again and then went on as if she were choking, "these appetites of yours and take a woman to your bed. If it is not Alais, name another, any other, that pleases you." |
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Alinor almost fell off her stool. So that was what Simon meant when he said the King was not fond of women! That was why Baldwin, the King's favorite, would be no good to any woman! Alinor's eyes ranged frantically round the tiny alcove in which she sat for a place to hide. She had not feared being discovered before. The Queen knew she could hold her tongue. But this! For hearing this dark secret she would be imprisoned in the deepest dungeon of the strongest keep the Queen could findif she were not slain outright. |
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Terror made her deaf to the next exchange. When she could hear again, the Queen was saying, "I could wish your eyes had fallen on another, but if Berengaria of Navarre pleases you, I will take her to my heart joyfully." |
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"Yes, but that must wait until I think of some way to save Gisors and Vexin." |
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"I have passed my word. I do not go back from that," the King said angrily. There was a brief pause and then, as if he had thought over what he said, he added, "Truly no excuse. Truly she pleased me and, even then, I thought of her. No, as soon as Philip is well out of France and cannot try to take back by force what we hold of Alais', I will take Berengaria." He |
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