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Page 193
her more amenable than usual to listening to Marie's advice. Gervase did not wish to go to Ireland. She did not like Wales and did not think she would like Ireland any better; however, if Marie married a man Richard liked and trusted, it was very likely that Gervase would be allowed to stay with Marie in her brother-by-marriage's care. This, Gervase decided, would be better than being dragged along in her husband's tail from one war to another. Walter it must be, and Gervase and Marie had discussed at considerable length the problem of separating Walter from Sybelle.
Marie contended that Walter showed a strong personal preference for her and had offered for Sybelle only because Richard refused to provide any dowry or suggested too insignificant a marriage portion. Gervase did not contest this opinion, but pointed out that there was no way to induce Richard to increase his offer to Walter. War cost high; perhaps when it was over, Richard would consider a higher bride pricebut it might be too late by then or, still worse, Richard might be defeated and then fined so that he would have less to give Marie. Even if Richard won, the situation might not improve. It would be just like him to rush off to Ireland, dragging Gervase and Marie with him.
Something would have to be done and done quickly, before the informal agreement, of which all the men seemed to be aware, became a written contract. Gervase pointed out there was no evidence that Walter felt any active distaste for Sybelle whether or not he might prefer Marie. And Gervase was not so sure that Sybelle did feel distaste for Walter. After all, it was Sybelle who had told nearly every man in Builth that she was betrothed.
Under the circumstances, Gervase and Marie agreed, drastic action would have to be taken. It would be necessary for Marie to allow Walter to seduce her. Then, depending upon the amount of time they had, she could hope he would get her with child. If that were not possible, they could set a trap in which Gervase would "discover" them in the act of coupling. Either circumstance should bring him to abrogate what they believed was a casual agreement with Lord Geoffrey and marry Marie instead. And if he did not offer to do so voluntarily, Gervase would carry the information to Richard, who would force his liegeman to fulfill his responsibilities.
At first Gervase counseled caution, fearing that forcing

 
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