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that her own father's memory should not die. Sybelle had been told everything that Joanna remembered of her father's appearance and personality. |
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Much of what Joanna had told her daughter was idealized, of course, but Sybelle did not realize that. And although Alinor spoke less frequently of her first husband, what she said confirmed Joanna's tales. Sybelle, too, adored Ian, but a powerful admiration for her natural grandfather had been driven into her. Alinor's identification of Walter with her first husband meant more to Sybelle than her grandmother guessed. However, the connection between the men made Sybelle feel oddly shy, and she took refuge in avoiding the subject. |
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"But you always say it is Grandpapa who is so honorable that he runs his head into stone walls," Sybelle teased. |
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"It is Simon who was your grandfather, Sybelle," Ian reminded her. Although Ian thought of Alinor's children from her first marriage as his own, he had been Simon's squire and best friend. He did not wish Simon's memory to die, either. |
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The double reminder brought a faint flush to Sybelle's cheeks, but she only said, merrily, "Yes, I know. Mama often talks of him. It is comforting to have three grandfatherstwo here and one in heaven. No matter how wrong I am, I always have someone to take my side." |
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Alinor raised her brows as she watched her granddaughter's lovely face. Perhaps the faint flush of color had some special meaning, but perhaps it was only a result of the memory of some piece of mischief. Sybelle was a perfect blend of mother and father in appearanceJoanna's brilliant red hair and Geoffrey's light brown mingling into a glowing bronze, Joanna's milk-white skin, and Geoffrey's golden mingling into a soft, lustrous, creamy complexion. However, the eyes were all Geoffrey's, and, unfortunately, the sense of humor was all Joanna's. Sybelle, too, would butter a path to see someone carrying an armful of eggs slide down. |
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"Now, mistress," Alinor said with mock severity, "you may distract your grandfather into talk of other subjects, but I am not so easy to befool. It is both good and bad to have a man like Walter, who will live and die by his honor. God knows it has cost me much pain and worry to have husbands of that kind. I must warn you that Walter de Clare is not the man to turn aside, even from a disaster staring into his face, if honor bids him go forward." |
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