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Page 272
The plan had failed, in Marie's opinion, because Walter was so greedy he would eat filth if enough wealth and power were offered as sauce, and Sybelle was so much a dog in the manger that she would not let go what she knew was worthless to her for fear another would have it. Disgusting people, Marie thought. They both deserved to be deprived of what they grasped at so greedily. But if neither would let go, what could wrest Sybelle's dowry from Walter's grasp and make her family into his enemies?
As soon as the problem formed that way in her mind, Marie had the answer. If Walter could be shown to have made contract falselyif there were a claim of prior contract, for examplesurely the proud Lord Geoffrey, cousin to the king, would repudiate the agreement. Marie mulled that idea over, and the more she thought of it, the better she liked it. Not only would the whole Roselynde clan hate Walter, but Richard would hate him, too. After all, she was Richard's sister-by-marriage, and it was a gross insult to him that Walter should promise her marriage, seduce her, and then make contract for the daughter of one of Richard's enemies who offered a greater dowry.
Then a snag caught Marie. If Walter had promised her marriage, why had she not spoken as soon as Sybelle began to spread the word that there was a betrothal agreement? She could say, of course, that she had been ashamed and had not wished to make trouble, but then she would have to explain why she was speaking out now. All the next day she wrestled with the problem, unable to find an answer; on the day Walter and Sybelle started for Abergavenny she discovered her flux had begun. At first she only cursed the blood that had stained her shift and tunic, wishing she could be rid of this useless burden, for she had no desire to bear children. And then the thought of children solved her problem.
Obviously, if she had been Walter's mistress and had just discovered she had got with child, she would have had to expose their relationship, despite shame and her willingness to sacrifice herself for her lover's profit. Unfortunately she had already tossed her shift and tunic to her maid to clean, so the girl would know that she was not with child.
Marie's brow wrinkled into a frown. A far greater danger than her maid was that Walter would deny everything, but surely Richard would believe her. A woman would not admit

 
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