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Page 68
someone to ready Simon's horse?"
Her face whitened. "Do you no longer trust me, Richard?"
"With my own life, to the uttermost, sweet sister, butbut if I leave this house without attending the council, as you have urged me so strongly to do, it is most likely that, within days, your husband and I will be enemies"
"No, Richard, no!"
"Did you not just say he would support his brother? Now, now, Isabella, do not weep: I know you will not do me, nor anyone else, hurt apurpose, but there are questions I wish to ask thatwell, if you never heard either question or answer, no blush or look could give a hint to Richard that you knew more than you were willing to tell him. There will be strains enough between you and your husband if he and I . . . I do not wish to add to that. Go, my dear."
"It is monstrous," Isabella whispered, but she was a sensible woman and understood her brother was right. Her husband had enough problems without adding the knowledge that his wife was concealing information from him. She wiped her eyes and left the room.
Simon was puzzled. "I will tell you anything I can, my lord," he said, "but I do not know anything more than I have already said."
"I do not want information. That was just for Isabella's ears. I do not distrust her purposes, but she might say something thoughtlessly. . . . She is only a woman, after all. I wish to ask you where you stand in this."
"With you," Simon responded at once, his lips tightening. "Somehow the king must be constrained to obey the law."
"Do you understand what you are saying, Simon? To stand with me, if worse comes to worst, may set your hand against your own father and brothers."
"Not Adam," Simon said, and then swallowed.

 
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