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It was fortunate that once the Queen decided to take Alinor with her, she began to make use of her. Only a very few of the ladies-in-waiting would accompany her. Some were too old; some did not ride well enough; most had husbands and children in England. Alinor was the youngest and also the most competent of those who were going. She was made responsible for the Queen's personal effects, her dresses and her jewels, partly because her fifty men-at-arms could be used to guard them at no cost to the Crown. |
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In addition there were the letters to write, farewell notes, notes to old friends to say the Queen would be in a certain area at a certain time and inviting a visit, and notes to the Queen's regular correspondents to inform them of where to direct future letters. Alinor had little enough time to consider her own clothing and jewels and furniture and none at all to spare on Simon's intentions. |
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Her relative calm was encouraged after Simon's return because he was, if anything, busier than she. Nor was he long at Court. After a day to determine the size of the cortege, he was off again to arrange shipping. Returned from that task, it was necessary for him to assign each group to a ship, determining how many men, how many horses, how much baggage each vessel could accommodate. Only twice did Simon and Alinor have any contact. On the day he returned, Simon sought Alinor out, ostensibly to ask how many men would accompany her. For the first moment, panic gripped her. There was so sweet a smile on |
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