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that carried William Marshal. Alinor teased her a little about that, saying that she went to determine whether her orders had been obeyed. William had intended to ride and had yielded to Isobel's tears after all of Simon's logical arguments had been pooh-poohed. |
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Alinor had ridden back too at one time to talk to Beorn Fisherman. She had had virtually no contact with her men since she had been at Court, and she wished to know whether all was well with them. Beorn had a few complaints. Most of the troop had been quartered in Alinor's house and there had been some trouble about a woman. Alinor shrugged and laughed and approved of Boern's disciplinary measures. It was bound to happen when the men were idle, she thought. She must either send most of them back to Roselynde or find duties for them. |
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Soon after she was riding well ahead. A young squire, who was vaguely familiar but whose face she could not place, had fallen in beside her as she was about to return to her position near the Queen. He had admired her handling of her fresh mount, and Alinor admitted to being accustomed to the saddle. From this they had passed on to talk of hunting, which was a favorite sport for anyone who could ride well. That brought sighs and a confession that she had missed that pleasant activity sorely since being at Court. |
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The squire shook his head. "And I fear you will continue to miss it. Lord Richard is no passionate huntsman as his father was. He is more inclined to war. But even if he had been, he is like to be too busy with affairs of state to go ahunting." |
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If Alinor thought it doubtful that any ardent hunter could be diverted from that pastime by mere affairs of state, she had no time to express the idea. The talkative young man's tongue was still busy. |
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"And in Winchester," he said teasingly, "we will all be pent like prisoners, so that we may make a brave show for Lord Richard's arrival. It would not do to |
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