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corum, at least long enough to ensnare her lover again. The flames of wrath mounted to her cheeks, her eyes lit. She turned toward her companion. |
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Simon smiled. "Ah, you look better," he said. |
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"I do, do I?" Alinor replied in a dangerous, dulcet murmur. She was aware of the other riders around them and would not raise her voice. The group was spreading out, however. It would soon be safe to speak in ordinary tones. "And what lacked my looks a moment ago?" |
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"You were so pale. I thought the Queen had driven you too hard." |
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"You thought my strength unequal to the fatigues endured by a woman near three-score and ten?" |
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"I have seen strong men melted away by her will and energy," Simon laughed. |
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"I assure you I am well able to endure the rigors of travel," Alinor snapped. "If I was pale, it was doubtless my own idiocy which caused it. I was fool enough to worry because I have received no word from you for night four moons." |
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"But, Alinor," Simon protested, "I had no news. We did nothing but sit still and do a round robin of feasts and entertainments. First Tancred did the honors, then Richard, then Philip, then the Bishop of Rouen, then Leicester, then the other great lords, then Tancred again. Did you think I would risk a man's life to send you word of what we had eaten and how often I was drunk? Messengers travel none so safely in Italy." |
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"And what of my news? Had you nothing to say to that?" |
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Simon turned his head and regarded the ears of his horse with passionate interest. "I did not know what to say," he replied uneasily. |
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"Any woman is de trop in a business like this, but I have no control over what Richard will do. With regard to you, my heart said one thing and my head |
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