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Page 58
of unspoken pain in his son's face, and he suspected that a private hurt of which Simon would not speak kept his son in England.
"One thing I do not see," Adam said suddenly. "How can the king be sure Pembroke will hear of thisoh, of course, Isabella will write to him, I suppose. She is his sister, after all."
"Well, I will write to him whether Isabella does so or not," Ian said. "Do you think I want to take the chance that he will be surprised by such news when he comes to court?"
"Why should he come? Possibly he will think this summons will be canceled as the last was," Sybelle pointed out.
"Do not be such a goose," Geoffrey replied. "This is the third summoning. If he does not come, that will be considered open defiance."
"But I thought he had already defied the king last winter when he convinced so many not to come to the first council," Simon said.
"That was a warning, not defiance," Ian stated. "Richardall old William Marshal's sons are honorable men. I know Richard does not wish to come to blows with the king. This was one way, after his protests and explanations did not move Henry, to show the king how many men agreed with him. I did not go to the first summoning, nor did Norfolk, nor Ferrars, nor even Geoffrey."
"Then why"
"Simon, I have shown our disapproval by silence. At the second council I wished to speak it aloud. I suppose Richard did also, but the council was canceled. This time, he has no choice. You know as well as I that a man may be outlawed without trial if he does not come to a third summoning."
"Yes, but does he know it is a third summoning?" Adam asked, his mouth grim. "If the second was canceled by the king, Richard might think this is only the

 
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