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Page 158
"Did you expect me to confound myself in apologies and back away?" Walter asked, also smiling.
"Some would have done so," Alinor replied.
"Not one worthy of taking Sybelle to wife," Walter riposted.
"Oh, good hit!" Llewelyn cried.
Simultaneously, Ian laughed aloud, saying, "He has you hard against the wall, my love. I think you should yield this match."
Alinor laughed also, and her eyes were contented. Here, she thought, Sybelle will find the strength she needs while she is young. "Very well," she agreed, "but it is not so easy to decide on a time. Tomorrow will be the wedding, the next day the joustings, and the day after that the melee."
She watched the conflict in Walter's face. Quite obviously he was very eager to have the details settled and get a marriage contract written. He knew it would be impossible to do this on the day of the wedding, but the thought of being penned up doing business while a tournament was taking place was also close to sacrilege. Then, a flash of uneasiness passed over his face.
"Let it be the day after tomorrow," he said quickly. "I cannot joust, and it is more important to me to make sure of Sybelle than"
"But not to me," Ian interrupted, smiling. "Geoffrey and I cannot do business that day. William is to be matched against his peers in the joust, and we must be there. I would like you to look at his skill also, Walter. You have some claim to be a jouster, I have heard." Ian stood up and put a hand on Walter's shoulder. "You will not lose by this, I can assure you. A few days cannot matter. We were all agreed some months ago that if Sybelle could accept you, you would be welcome to us. Is this not true, Alinor?"
"In truth a few days cannot matter," Alinor agreed soothingly, although she was puzzled by Walter's uneasiness. "If Geoffrey made clear to you that what will be Sybelle's is to be hers and not under your direction except by her will, then you need not worry about coming to terms. We will have no demands to make upon you. Let us set the day after the melee, after the breaking of our fast, for a formal sealingat least by kiss of peace. Will that content you?"
"Yes, of course," Walter said, but rather flatly.

 
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