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exchanged so much as a civil greeting. Walter was not offended, however; he was grateful to Marie for her discretion and complimented her for it when they were briefly out of the hearing of others in the great hall. |
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She glanced up at him under her lashes and said, ''Oh, you will find me a model of propriety when it is necessary." |
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"And a model of impropriety at other times?" Walter teased suggestively. |
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"If I am provoked," she rejoined, and quick as a flash reached out to draw a finger down Walter's cheek and along his neck. |
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"I am very desirous of knowing what will provoke you," Walter urged, his voice somewhat thickened. |
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She did not reply to that other than by a glance because Gervase came up to them and said that she believed Richard wanted Walter. This was true, and Walter was busy giving orders and, in general, being Richard's voice for the rest of the day. Nonetheless, he found odd moments to wonder about Marie's behavior. He could not understand how she could be so openly inviting and yet not take the first chance that would not betray her interest to ask him why he was limping and moving his left arm as little as possible. |
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Walter did not want Marie to love him; that would be both dangerous and undesirable. However, considering her display of sexual attraction, a friendly interest in his physical well-being would seem natural. Had he loved her himself, he would have been crushed, but since his feeling for Marie was all in his loins, it was not important to him, only slightly puzzling. And the next day, which was spent in traveling from Brecon to Builth, he became so disgusted with both women that his desire for Marie was much abated. |
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Unlike the journey from Pembroke, Marie did not come out of the traveling cart to ride with him and talkfor that Walter was at first grateful. The distance was only about twenty miles, but it took all day. Part of the way was very hilly, and it was necessary to unhitch the team from the baggage wagon and combine it with the team drawing the traveling cart in order to get the heavy vehicle up the steep slope. Then, of course, both teams had to be unhitched from the traveling cart, allowed a period of rest, and brought down to pull the baggage wain up the hill. |
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Several repetitions of this process, which was also neces- |
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