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would not have reacted to Sybelle's unstated doubts. He might have been slightly puzzled by the abrupt way she left this room, but that was not important enough to mention the day after. Thus, all he had to do was ignore the whole situationand get Sybelle away from Builth as soon as possible, that very day if he could manage it. |
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A single doubt flashed through Walter's mind because the solution seemed so simple and painless. Should he instead tell Sybelle the truth? He recalled her shaking hands and trembling voice and recoiled from the idea of admitting that he had made contract for her, come near to coupling with her, and rushed off to bed another woman. From a man's point of view, the sequence of events was perfectly logical, but it was too much to hope that a young girl would not be hurt. Better never to mention the incident and forget it himself, if he could. The chances were that Richard would rid himself of his wife and sister-by-marriage as soon as he left Builth so that Sybelle and Marie would not meet again in the near future. |
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That thought started a new worry. Would Richard expect him to take the ladies back to Pembroke? Walter wondered. He shuddered at the thought and nearly leapt out of bed in his haste to go to Richard and tell him he intended to leave for Clyro that very day to begin his attempt to gain control of Knight's Tower. |
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A call brought a servant to his aid to help him dress, after which he asked at the door of Richard's apartment for him and was admitted at once to the antechamber, where the earl, still tousled and in a bedrobe, listened to his request for leave and his reason for it. |
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''Yes, go," Richard said, nodding with enthusiasm. "It will serve my purpose very well to have a strong point in that region to which we may retreat in case of need. I do not foresee that need, but a safe haven is never amiss. Lady Fortune's wheel can spin at the most unexpected times." |
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Since Richard's expression was as cheerful as possible, considering the peeling scabs on his face, Walter recognized the words as a propitiation to those evil forces that seemed to gather around the overconfident rather than a result of any tenuous fears as to the success of the enterprise. He made some reply and started to bow before saying farewell. |
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"Wait," Richard said. "Come to meI will be either in |
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