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Page 85
you succeeded," he confessed. His lips twitched. "What had you said?"
He would remember as soon as he looked at the accounts again, Alinor knew. It was useless to lie. It would be better to make a virtue of necessity and speak out. Besides, she had thought of a very good explanation and wanted to use it.
"I admitted that I wrote false accounts."
Again Simon's impulse to laugh died aborning. "Why?" he asked, horrified.
Alinor shrugged. "Because, my lord, I did not know you would be named King's warden."
"What? What has that to do with your accounts?"
"My lord, what I have heard of you makes me sure you would not rob me to fill your pursebut many men are not such as you. Thus I made it seem that much money had been wasted on foolishnessfine clothes, spices from the East, any matter that would be used and discarded. I swear I did naught that would lessen the King's right. I only changed what would appear to diminish the castle hoard. Perhaps that was not honest, but I did not expect to be treated honestly."
Now it was Simon's turn to shrug. He could not contest what she said. In fact, she had acted wisely if not virtuously. And, thinking back on the figures he had been studying, Simon was convinced Alinor had spoken the truth. His expression began to lighten. In fact, she had not lied at all. She had The whole thing came flooding back on him. Poor Brother Philip's confusion and the clever little witch with her straw babies and wet nurses. Simon began to chuckle. Alinor glanced sidelong at him; her lips curved upward tentatively.
"You are a very foolish and extravagant young woman," he said reprovingly. "You will have to cease from eating cinnamon cakes."
"If I promise never to eat another cinnamon cake

 
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