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Page 447
then asked for favors from Salisbury. I wanted him to know that a woman can be with a man for pure pleasureasking nothing but the exchange of joy."
"That is a good thing to teach a young man," Alinor murmured. "Perhaps my daughter has much for which to thank you." There was a silence as both women realized that now Geoffrey no longer was at all.
"Is it true that his body has not been found?" Lady Elizabeth asked.
Alinor sobbed, choked it back. "Yes, it is true."
"Then I must speak," Lady Elizabeth sighed. "I know it is very likely he is dead, but if there is the smallest chanceYou see, he was the only one whowho remembered. I taught others also, butbut after they found aa better partner"
"I am sure they could not find a better," Alinor said impulsively. "No one could be kinder."
Lady Elizabeth cast Alinor a grateful glance but was not deflected from what she had been saying. "The others did not think me good enough to spit on when I had no more to offer. Geoffrey was different. He was never ashamed to talk to me, no, nor 'too busy' to come to me when I wanted him, even when he had another mistressuntil he married. Then he came no more, but I understood that. We were friends you see. He still" She broke off again.
"He was of very sweet and tender heart," Alinor sighed, tiredly wiping away tears, "always kind."
"I did not come to increase your grief or to ease my own heart by talking of him," Lady Elizabeth said apologetically. "I am Isabella's lady, and I really like her. She is stupid, many say, but I suppose so am I. We suit each other, and usually she is very good to me. You know this. That is why I spoke of Geoffrey and me. I wanted you to understand why I seemed to be betraying the queen. To speak the truth, I do not know why she has this hatred for Geoffrey. She is a good woman. I have never known her to hate anyone before."
Because she is so selfish she cannot be bothered to feel

 
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