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Geoffrey would certainly respond to Henry's call to arms if one should be issued. Then relief brightened his eyes. ''And not Papa either. If I am with you, he will take the excuse of his age to send his men out in Geoffrey's care. I do not need to worry about Geoffrey coming to blows with me. Wherever I am, he will not be. Papa always said Geoffrey was too clever by half. He will manage to avoid me somehowif I cannot avoid him." |
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"And you may be sure that I will do my uttermost that you avoid each other. But this is going too far. I have no intention of making war on the king. God forbid! He is my lord. I have given my oath to support him" |
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"In all that is right," Simon inserted quickly. "Not in oppressing his people, robbing them, imprisoning them" |
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"That is true, but still I would not wage war against my overlord if any other path is open to making him mend his ways. Let us not talk of such extreme measures. Perhaps I am too much moved by what you have told me. What I should have asked is whether you would be willingshould it become necessaryto be an emissary for me to Lord Llewelyn." |
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"Of course," Simon answered, almost too quickly, then flushed. |
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A violent joy suffused him. When Rhiannon had bid him go at the end of May, he had done so, telling himself furiously that she was quite right. No doubt he was ensorceled by her presence. If he returned to the civilized and elegant women of England, he would soon grow disdainful of her wild, primitive charm. Only he had not been able even to try. Such a sense of disgust filled him each time he began a flirtation that he fled away. He could not even take joy in those old partners he did not need to woo, who did not demand sweet words but only desired the sensual pleasure his strong, skilled body could provide. He could ease his |
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