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Page 458
other letter that day that was occupying her mind. She would have given up the whole chestful of tokens for half an hour's speech with Simon or even knowledge of where to send a letter to ask for advice.
The chaplain at Kingsclere had written to say that the castellan of the keep was dead. Alinor was sorry because he had been a reliable servant and still a young man, but illness cut many down in their youth and strength. What troubled her was that his wife, Lady Grisel, lived and there were children, two small sons and a daughter. Some might have put the woman out without a thought, trusting that she had relatives who would take her in. Alinor had been raised with a stricter sense of responsibility. Moreover, the letter contained a frantic plea for sympathy and comfort which, in spite of dilution by the chaplain's transmission, touched Alinor's heart. She was too young a bride, too much in love, to ignore the need of a woman who had lost her mate.
The first thing should have been to choose a new castellan for Kingsclere, but this Alinor did not wish to do without Simon's advice. Perhaps he had a friend he would wish to advance to such a desirable situation, and she had no one in mind. More important, Alinor knew she was no judge of a man's ability as a warrior, and Simon and she had spoken enough of the troubles that might easily overwhelm England. Every keep would need a doughty warrior to make it safe. It would also be kinder to go herself to comfort the widow, to assure her provision would be made for her and her children if she desired it. Simon could follow with the new castellan as soon as he returned to Roselynde.
In the next three days Alinor cleared all the most important business. With Brother Philip she left the letter from Kingsclere and one she wrote herself explaining why she had gone and asking Simon to find a castellan and come with him as soon as was conven-

 
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