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court toady. No, do not look at me that way. They would both be happy. I do not hate Marie, but she is what she is." |
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Although he still felt that Richard was blackening Marie with Gervase's tar, Walter was not going to argue about it. He asked instead whether Richard wanted him to take the ladies on to Builth and was again amused when an expression of relief appeared on Richard's face. However, the expression was replaced almost immediately by a firm, if unhappy, resolve. |
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"No," Richard said. "Gervase has the right to expect me to escort her. To send her to Llewelyn alone would do harm to her dignity." He sighed. "I wish they had not been so promptbut I should have expected it." |
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"I can return and say you will be delayed a day or two," Walter offered. |
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"God, no!" Richard exclaimed. "I would never hear the end of it." He smiled wryly. "It was only that Bassett has planned a raid on the town of Monmouth tomorrow, and I wanted to look at the keep while the garrison came outif it came outto protect the town. Monmouth is one of the places I am thinking of attacking." |
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"There is no reason why we cannot go by way of Monmouth as well as by any other road," Walter said. |
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"Go by way of Monmouth!" Richard looked startled. "But Monmouth is to the east and Brecon to the west." |
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"Monmouth is also to the north," Walter pointed out with spurious gravity. "Brecon is to the north. Moreover there is a fair passage from Monmouth to Abergavenny along the Trothy River." |
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Richard burst out laughing. "You are right, there is," he agreed. "And Gervase will never know there is a much better way along the Usk from this place to Abergavenny. Very well, we will go with the army to Monmouthbut I warn you, I will cry craven and say you led me astray if we are blamed for being tardy or if my wife learns from someone that we went the long way around. After all, I have lived so many years in France I would not know, and south Wales is your home, Walter." |
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They talked lightly of the next day's venture after that. Monmouth was an obvious target for Richard's forces, being the most southern and westerly of the castles still held by the king or his supporters. The major problems were two: First, |
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