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Page 279
wager I could make you forget. No, Simon! Do not push me off," she giggled. "Indeed, I wish to answer."
"Then do so, and quickly."
"Listen, beloved. I misread what the Queen said to me becausebecause I was not so old or so wise as I thought I was. What I saw among the ladies and their gallants sickened my mind so that I began to doubt all men."
"There I was a fool. I should have warned you." He saw the set of Alinor's mouth and, even though her eyes and half her face were hidden, he guessed at her thoughts. "I was never a part of that. I do not say I am a monk, but whispering in corners and sighing love songs is not my forte. I cannot sing. Besides, my shoes are too big. Had I been taken unawares, I would be too easily know."
That made Alinor laugh, as he had intended. Also the lightness somehow lessened the revulsion with which she had regarded cheating for the sake of the sick excitement it generated.
"I would like to hear you sigh a love song," she teased.
"You are more like to hear me box your ears. Will you come to this answer you say you wish to give me?"
"As I said, you made me unhappy, and the Queen saw that and questioned me straitly. I avoided what I could, but her eyes are keen and she saw easily where my heart was. She said she could not help me, but if it did not keep you from your duties with her, that I could deal with you as I pleased and that what was impossible to avoid might easily be forgiven. You came from her chamber with such joy, I thought she had said the same to you. Forgive me, my love, that I thought you wished to have it both waysthat like those others you could have me and yet my lands could be free to the Queen's use."
Had Alinor expected any reaction, she would have

 
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