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Page 357
as soon as you are ready tomorrow. Now allow me to fetch you some wine to refresh you while we wait for the evening meal to be brought."
Enormously relieved, Sir Roger thanked her fulsomely. They would be well away, he thought, long before Simon returned from the visit he was making. And once Rhiannon was a hostage among his men, the time factor was no longer important. He was so satisfied with his accomplishment that he did not stop to wonder why Lady Rhiannon should fetch wine for him herself rather than signal for a maid to bring it.
As she poured sufficient sleeping draught into the cup to lay out a horse and laced it with usquebaugh to hide the taste, Rhiannon also smiled with satisfaction. This was much better. She could blame any delay on Sir Roger himself, and she certainly would not leave before Simon came. Since it was his family that would suffer if she did the wrong thing, he must make the decision.
Sir Henry was very much surprised, and quite pleased, when the offensive messenger dropped asleep right in the middle of a lofty sentence before supper was served. Rhiannon said, with twitching lips, that he must have been very tired from his long ride. She summoned two hefty menservants and instructed them to carry Sir Roger to bed in one of the wall chambers. When he was gone, Sir Henry commented that Sir Roger must be an idle popinjay to be so tired from a little ride. Then he became embarrassed and said he imagined Rhiannon must be sorry.
"I am sure you would rather listen to his talk of the court"
"I certainly would not!" she exclaimed. "I prefer greatly to listen to you."
"That is very kind, my dear, very kind, even if I know it is not true. I was never veryvery clever at talk."
"Sir Henry, if you were mute as a wooden board, I

 
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