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Page 231
teased gently, although her eyes were full of tenderness, "since it is said those in love need no other sustenance. But the men, my lord, are not in our happy condition and must eat."
"And I will continue to love you even if you are idiot enough to believe that people in love do not get hungry," Walter said, grinning. "I am starving right now. However, if I cannot seduce you into sweet talk . . . I do not believe I will take my whole troop. Why should Sir Roland have to feed them? And Richard may have use for the men if the trap he hopes to set is sprung before I return to him. Ten of my men with us and five of yours, and the same with the baggage. All your men, I presume, know the way to Clyro and can serve as guides?"
Sybelle nodded her answer to that question and said lightly that Walter should go attend to his starving condition. There was no sign in her face or voice that she had noticed his remark about the trap Richard was setting and that he expected to return to the earldoubtless before the trap was set, if possible. It had been said very casually, not as if Walter felt the words to be of importance, but Sybelle had developed a great respect for her betrothed's cleverness. She did not put it beyond him to have arranged this hasty departure just to slip in those words.
As she went about her business, Sybelle considered this problem and how to counter it. If Walter had given his word to return to Richard, she knew she would be unable to stop him. However, if this were some idea of his own . . . Her father had told her that the earl would not be ill pleased if Walter went about his own business. Thus, she would not be causing any enmity between her betrothed and his most powerful neighbor if she induced Walter to remain in Clyro somewhat longer than he intended. With luck, Richard's trap would have already snapped closed and then she could consider the next step.
Sybelle was ready to leave about an hour after Prime. The baggage wain was not completely packed, but their clothing was traveling with them by packhorse and Clyro was furnished, so the time of arrival of the wain was of no importance. To Sybelle's surprise, she had considerable trouble finding Walter. She had expected him to be in the hall, but only Gervase and Marie were there, idling by the fire, and they said they had

 
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