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Page 346
Chapter Twenty-One
The small irritation with Alinor's seemingly superior knowledge was pushed into the back of Rhiannon's mind by the fact of starting home, which was by no means an unalloyed pleasure. Rhiannon desired her home and her freedom and told herself that, once there, she would be free of the mingled joy and pain of desiring Simon. It was a great surprise to her that this idea did not lift her spirits. Instead a pall so black settled over her that it made even the sunlight seem dim.
Simon did not notice Rhiannon's depression. He had a subject of absorbing interest to chew over in his mind. Just before they left, Ian had told him Hubert de Burgh would be returned to the church near Devizes keep. Then, seemingly dropping that subject, Ian had asked Simon to take a somewhat southerly route toward Wales, due west from London, so that they could stop at Kingsclere to see old Sir Henry. The old castellan was failing fast and had asked if ''the young devil" would visit with him before he left England.

 
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