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he was old, she was young; they had nothing in commonnothing. He had nothing to offer the King or Queen for which they might barter such a prize. Even if he had, it would be a sin and a shame to take that prizea sin and a shame to bind a blooming girl to an aging hulk like himself. |
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He rose abruptly to his feet and bowed. "My lady, nothing would give me greater pleasure than to sit here all the rest of the day, but fortunately for you I may not permit my pleasure to rule. Little as I like it, I must hie me back to my duty, thus releasing you from your duty to your pleasure." |
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"Now that," Alinor replied, laughing as she also rose, "was very polite, but not very clever, my lord. If you were ugly as an ape and stupid as a sheepwhich you are neitherI would take more pleasure in your company than in anything else here. My duty and my pleasure must be one while you speak to me of strange places and great affairs. I pay you no idle compliment," she insisted as he shook his head, "for you compete against no more than my embroidery frame and my maids' complaints against each other. |
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The compliment was certainly not idle, even though what Alinor said was quite true. If Simon intended to ride out again, she wanted to go with him. In that direction, however, she had wasted her effort. Simon had had his bellyful of questions that obtained no answers. He would need to find "my Lady Alinor's book" and know specifically what to look for before he attempted to obtain information again. |
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The effort had not been totally wasted, however. Simon glanced toward the window recess across from them where benches stood invitingly in the sweet-scented breeze of summer. He looked at Alinor and almost yielded. She saw his hand half raise, as if he would lead her where his eyes had wandered. Then he sighed and dropped the hand. |
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"Then I must condemn you to your duty and me |
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