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Welsh support," Richard exclaimed. "And what the devil does your message from Llewelyn mean, if" |
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"No, no," Simon hastened to say. "I did not mean you to include Prince Llewelyn. He has had long experience with your father and your brother and my father, of course. He will fulfill with exactness any agreement he makes with you because he knows a failure will prohibit any future agreement at all. Indeed, my lord, that is why he has been so chary of making any promise of assistance to you at this time." |
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"You are his vassal and love him, and you wish to marry his daughter," Richard said, frowning in perplexity. |
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"I am also my father's son," Simon pointed out, his voice suddenly cold. "If you do not trust me, I will call my men and go, having delivered my message." |
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Richard raised a hand and covered his eyes. "Sorry, Simon, that was not meant for you. I am sick at heart, that is all. I know I am doing wrong, and yet to do otherwise would be an even greater wrong. The world is black to me now, and everyone I look upon is smirched with my own dishonor." |
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"You have done no wrong," Simon cried. "My lord, you must stand fast or we will all be slaves." |
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"Yet I gave fealty to Henry. How am I better than those" |
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"My father says King Henry is possessed, is sick," Simon interrupted. "He has known the king from a babe and says this is not his will or his spirit, that the Bishop of Winchester has infected him with evil notions. It is Winchester and Seagrave and those evil councillors you are standing against. Freed of them, King Henry will return to reason and you may return to your duty." |
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"That is what I tell myself." Richard sighed, dropping his hand. "Well," he went on, "so you advise me to trust in Lord Llewelyn's promises." |
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"Yes, and even without an alliance he will be of |
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