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Page 127
"Women," Walter sighed, "have no sense of honor."
"And it is just as well," a cool, new voice interposed, "or the world would be in an even worse state than it now isif you mean by honor what I think you mean."
Both heads turned. Walter bowed. "Lady Joanna, I regret to say that you are probably quite correct." Then he laughed. "I must also apologize to you for not thanking you earlier for the efficacy of your treatment. I feel a new man this morning."
"So I see," Joanna remarked, her lips quirking, "but you will soon feel much older if you do not sit down and put up your leg. And I assure you it is not yet in such condition as to permit too active a pursuit of game."
"Not even if the game does not run away too fast?" Walter asked innocently.
Sybelle uttered a small, outraged gasp, but her mother did not look at her. "Not even if the game runs at you," Joanna said dryly, "which, if Lord Llewelyn's huntsmen are not mistaken in what they have markedtwo fine boarsis likely to happen. I have come to tell Sybelle that her father is waiting for her."
"Oh, gracious," Sybelle cried, "I had forgot. Excuse me, Sir Walter."
She dipped a curtsy at him and ran off, feeling annoyed and relieved at the same time. Walter's remark to her mother was the outside of enough, yet she had deserved it. She had thought herself very clever, laying that trap of a pretense betrothal. It was an invitation for Walter to act like a milksop, agree with everything she said, and behave in all ways like a pattern piece in a romance. Such behavior, Sybelle had thought, would be a warning of a basic dishonesty with regard to women, which many men who were in other ways the soul of honor did not think mattered. It was clear that Walter was not going to fall into that trap. Far from it. But his lighthearted lovemakingappealing though it waswas no guarantee of his future sincerity, either.
Walter watched Sybelle run off, holding up the skirt of what he realized for the first time was a riding gown. He had not looked at what she was wearing, only at her. Then he had been so startled by her rapid retreat that he had just watched her go. When she was out of sight, he turned to Joanna.
"Boars? Do you think it wise for Sybelle to go boar hunting?"

 
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