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Page 33
Chapter Two
''Simon."
There was an urgent tug at his sleeve, and Simon was shaken out of his unhappy memories. He turned from them gladly, however, a smile replacing the rather grim set of his mouth when he saw that it was Sybelle, Joanna's eldest daughter, who was demanding his attention. Simon loved all his family, but Sybelle was someone special. She was only six years younger than he, and he had played with her in her cradle and been her closest friend and confidant all her life.
"Where have you been?" Simon asked.
"Keeping the children away from Grandpapa and Grandmama or they would never have been ready. You know what he isalways willing to listen or to play or to tell another story. Tostig has young Adam now, and the girls are at their weaving. What are you looking so black about?"
"Rhiannon," Simon replied shortly.
Sybelle was Simon's confidante as he was hers. It

 
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