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Page 195
ing and harmless a piece of information despite Geoffrey's remarks about not spreading the news. Neither Gervase nor Marie was likely to be talking to King Henry before peace or a truce was declared, and all women were interested in news of a marriage.
Neither did Walter consider that Richard might not have had time to speak to his womenfolk. To Walter it seemed as if hours and hours had passed since the morning conference, whereas it was less than one hour. In addition, Walter was already growing accustomed to the pleasure of hurrying to Sybelle with any bit of news and discussing it with her. If he had really thought about it, he would have remembered that Richard was not on the same terms with his wife as he was with Sybelle. But Walter was not thinking clearly at all.
Thus, he was sure that Marie, like himself, felt the need for a physical pleasure that had no significance beyond the pleasure itself. He was eager for that, yet was aware also of a vague discomfort, half his mind manufacturing excuses to offer should he come across any member of his new family. Guilt was not new to Walter, but in the past it had been associated with the husbands he had cuckolded. Then, the guilt was not difficult to assuage. The ladies who had betrayed husbands had good reason to do soor had told him they had good reason. Now it was Sybelle who was being betrayed, and that was not so easy to excuse.
But there was no betrayal, Walter told himself, while murmuring compliments and suggestive phrases to Marie. What he was doing had nothing to do with Sybelle; in fact, it was in a way for her that he wished to relieve his need for a woman. If she remained in Wales, he would be less a danger to her honor if he were drained out. It would be easier to refrain from tempting her and himself. Although these rationalizations did not satisfy him completely, the unease that remained made him irritable, reminding him of his resentment at Joanna's and Sybelle's assumption that he was no longer a free agent, no longer the only judge, under God, of his own behavior.
Among rationalizations, resentments, and lust, guilt could make little headway. Walter simply pushed away all considerations beyond his physical need as he walked into Marie's chamber, which was a single one with a hearth but no antechamber. She had chosen with care, her purpose in mind,

 
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