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to her morally. It was perfectly true, but he never thought of it. He wanted Sybelle, and every check and difficulty only made her more desirable and him more determined to have her on terms with which he could live. |
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As Sybelle fled out to the hunting party that was gathering in the bailey, she considered the interruption of her conversation with Walter. She had not desired any interruption, despite her confusion, yet she knew her mother's coming had been timely. If she had not been off balance, she would have offered to remain with Walter, since it was obvious he could not join the hunt. That would have been a mistake, however, implying that he could expect her always to put aside her pleasure to suit him. She would do so when she was his wife because it would be her duty. But he should not expect it, nor suspect, Sybelle thought, smiling, that it was a greater pleasure to remain with him than to do anything else. |
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Her eyes danced as she thanked her father for lifting her to her saddle, and Geoffrey asked, "What has put you into so high a good humor, mistress? Lusting after blood, are you?" |
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The question made Sybelle laugh aloud. "Yes, Papa," she replied merrily, "but not the kind of which you are thinking." |
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She remembered, then, her mother's warning about not confiding her willingness to accept Walter too soon to her father, but the sounding of the horns and the excited yelping of the hounds saved her from having her answer investigated. Geoffrey uttered a warning that Sybelle not allow herself to be carried away into trouble, then set spurs to his horse and cantered out in the forefront of the hunt. |
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Sybelle had loosened her rein, and her lively mare, Damas, went ahead at her own speed. Her mistress's whip, which was usually busy at the beginning of a hunt to assure Sybelle of a good place to see the kill, hung untouched from the wrist. This time Damas was allowed to canter along with the other ladies who had come and were generally less eager than Sybelle both for the thrill of the ride and the thrill of the boar's charge. Sybelle had discovered that the management of a man could be more thrilling and dangerous than any hunt. |
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