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finish it at all. If Rhiannon chose a bull at random, de Vipont might be unwilling. . . . That was ridiculous. If he was of the kind that cared so much for a maidenhead, or could not see that such an act of desperation had nothing to do with true feeling, then Rhiannon was far better off without him. When that thought had been formed and absorbed, Kicva smiled again and her shuttle flew faster. It was not likely she was so wrong about Simonor about Rhiannon either. |
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The blow that Walter and Geoffrey predicted the king would deliver fell on Sir Gilbert Bassett before Richard of Cornwall returned from the funeral in Oxfordshire. Without apparent cause, Henry disseisined Bassett of Upavon, a manor in Wiltshire, and gave it to Peter de Maulay. Ian blamed himself for what had happened. He felt that his conversation with Winchester had confirmed the inevitability of war in the bishop's mind. Thus, Winchester had urged Henry to disseisin Gilbert Bassett to start the conflict before his opponents could be ready. |
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Simon and Adam told him in one breath not to be ridiculous. Certainly, they pointed out, he was not the only one who had warned Winchester that the path the king was treading would lead to violence. Geoffrey agreed with them. |
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"This action cannot be a wild start on the part of the king. It is too clever, too apposite to the purpose. It must have been planned in June, after the first summons to council was so ill-answered," he said bleakly. He was heavy-eyed and drawn, and his brothers-by-marriage looked at him with concern. "Henry might act out of furious impulse, but Winchester would have restrained him if he had not approvedand Winchester does not act on impulse. It has nothing to do with you, Ian. The fact that it is Upavon and Bassett shows planning." |
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