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Page 39
Chapter 4
Had Walter gone one step further in his talks with Geoffrey so that he felt himself committed, he would have suffered much less. Once oath-bound to do so, Walter would have taken a serpent to his bosom and tried to make the best of it. For the matter, had Sybelle shown the smallest sign that she expected him to make an offer for her, he would have been equally committed, accepted her for wherever she was, and blamed himself for carelessness if he were not content. But neither of these obligations bound him. He knew he was perfectly free to advance or retreat.
Needless to say, every moment that military duty did not occupy his mind, Walter debated the question. His desire for Sybelle grew no less because of separation. He had never before come across a woman who both excited and contented him in the same way; however, he did not dare allow himself to ignore aspects of her personality that disturbed him.
Nor could there be any questions of breaking Sybelle to his willnot without contemplating war with the Roselynde clan. One blow on that pretty face that Sybelle herself did not accept as just correction would bring Simon roaring out of Wales, Adam thundering up from Sussex, Geoffrey flashing down from Hemel, and even Ian riding forth with all of Roselynde's strength in his tail. Not that Walter wished to beat and torture his wife into total submission, but he felt it dangerous not to consider the catastrophe that could ensue from any misunderstanding between himself and Sybelle. Unfortunately, thinking about how unwise it would be to marry her only made him want her more.
Under the circumstances, Walter was delighted with Richard's commissions to fetch his wife and sister-by-marriage from Pembroke keep and bring them to Brecon. Naturally, ever since Walter had heard of Simon's wedding, utter turmoil had

 
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