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that his wounds could be dressed. Doubtless when he was fevered he fought against the pain, being unable to realize it was for his own good. To the best of his ability then, he relaxed his body and lay still, merely turning his head to look curiously at his attendant. It must have been the older woman who had treated him at first and thus he had associated her with torture. It was not she, but the younger one who salved his wounds now. |
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Although she must have realized he was conscious from the change in his behavior, she finished what she was doing before she lifted her head to speak to him. When she did so, her face was hard, her eyes cold. Geoffrey never learned what an effort that had been, which was just as well. |
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"So you have your senses again," she said. "Now, who are you?" |
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Shocked, Geoffrey hesitated a moment. He had associated this woman with gentleness, but her voice and manner showed nothing of that. Tears of weakness rose in his eyes; he swallowed them back and replied, "I am Geoffrey FitzWilliam." |
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The woman cast her eyes up to heaven with impatience. "There cannot be more than ten hundred Geoffrey FitzWilliams in England, France, Brittany, Normandysay true, what are you to William, earl of Salisbury?" |
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"Say true!" Geoffrey exclaimed indignantly. "I do not lie on greater matters nor on those for which I feel shame. Why should I lie when I am proud. William, earl of Salisbury is my father." |
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"Salisbury's heir," the woman breathed like a prayer. |
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If Geoffrey had blood enough, it would have risen into his face. Nonetheless he replied steadily, "I am his son but not his heir. I am a bastard, out of Lady Margaret of Hemel." |
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That pleased her less. She looked at Geoffrey sharply. "Upon what terms do you stand with your father?" |
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All at once Geoffrey remembered the last time he had seen Salisbury, falling from his horse limp as a dead man. lie himself had been the cause. He had called out a warning |
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