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Sybelle was a little girl, I spent of my time at Roselynde because my mother was with Ian all over the country. And then, when Geoffrey was so much at court, Sybelle still remained mostly at Roselynde because I do not think a royal court is a healthy place to raise a girl. Besides, she had to learn to know the lands and people that would be hers. And she adored Simonwell, who does not? But Simon, as you must know, has very little common sense." |
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Walter burst out laughing. "Indeed, I know it. It was my sad duty all too often to chastise him for his lunacies. I do not know whether I beat him harder for fear I would not beat him at all, or whether he got away with half his punishment because I was laughing so much." |
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"Yes, that would be the way of it. But you see, Simon adores Sybelle, and between being unable to deny her anything she asked of him and the fact that he never saw the danger or lack of propriety in his pranks, when he was at home he led her to do the most astonishing things. And I am very much afraid Sybelle has never got over the notion that climbing cliffs, breaking horses, shooting with the longbow, and suchlike are ordinary, everyday things. I have told her, of course, that those activities were not ladylike, but all she said was that she was not likely to engage in any of them in fine company. This is true, but she is quite likely to engage in them in the presence of her husband. I thought you should be warned." |
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This time it was Walter who sighed. "Yes, I am very glad you told me. I will do my best not to forbid what Sybelle will think me a fool for forbiddingor what I cannot enforce. But none of this matters. We will learn each other's ways. I want her to wife, and, to speak the truth, I believe she wants me." He paused and looked steadily at Joanna, his eyes demanding an answer. |
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"She told me that you were attractive to her," Joanna answered truthfully, if somewhat reluctantly. "She has never said that about any other man. However, she said to my mother that she was not sure you would make a good husband." |
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"In God's name, why should she doubt it?" Walter cried. |
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"I suppose she fears what other women fear, that once you have her and she is yours by right, you will find the hunt for a doe that flees more interesting than the docile cow in the byre." |
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