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Page 401
quick recovery from this disorder. The King had been attacked by "arnaldia."
Simon looked at them. "In here you must say what is true. If that is His Grace's illness, we must know so that we may better be able to help him. But, for the camp at large, you must say he is ill of a mild quartan fever which he has long endured. If the word "arnaldia" is spread abroad, the camp will be poorer by some physicians. I will find you and cut out your tongues, and then I will use your guts, while yet you are alive, to string my men's bows."
Word was sent to the ladies that the pressure of his labors had brought a slight fever on the King. For fear he would bring the contagion among them, he would dine in his own tent for a few days. For the same reason, on no account must his wife or his sister think of visiting or nursing him. Although she asked anxious questions, Berengaria did not protest against this order. It was Joanna who bade the messenger wait outside for a few moments.
"My love," she said to Berengaria, "I think you should go no matter what Richard says. It is all very well to play at being worshiped from afar, but Richard should know his goddess can descend to earth at need and wipe his sweat from him and hold his head when he vomits."
Berengaria's delicate color faded. "No, oh no. I will never disobey him, andand I think he does not wish me to see him other than perfect."
"But you are his wife!" Joanna exclaimed. "How can you see him as perfect? You share his bed. Does he not snore? Alinor, am I not right? If your knight lay ill, would you not go to him no matter what foolish messages he sent? Men take such crotchets, but a woman must have more sense."
Alinor was totally at a loss. In any normal situation, Joanna would have been absolutely right. Simon would almost certainly have sent the same message and would

 
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