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lands and what will be easiest for you to defend and administer." |
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Walter looked taken aback again, but he made a quick recovery and enthusiastically accepted Sybelle's suggestion. The question of what lands would come with her had troubled him. Since he was not being asked to contribute to the bride's shareto provide her with a more comfortable widow's portionand therefore could not say he wished what he gave to march well with what her family provided, he felt he had no right to do other than accept whatever was offered. However, if the dower properties were far to the east or north, it would add to his difficulties. |
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He should have known better than to doubt Lady Alinor's good sense and goodwill. In one way he did not, but he was unaccustomed to dealing with women in business terms, and the things the priests preached, men said by rote, and Walter himself had sometimes found to be true in dealing with his mistresses and casual whores, colored his instinctive responses. Although he knew better, he still subconsciously expected Lady Alinor to take some sly advantage of him. |
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Thus, much time was spent in describingto the best of Walter's knowledgethe whereabouts and extent of his putative holdings. Sybelle was able to match properties to some of these. Clyro keep, on the border of Wales, was very nearly midway between Foy, south of Hereford, and Knight's Tower. It was not on a direct line between them, being well to the west of Foy, but it would make a comfortable day's travel from either Foy or Knight's Tower. |
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Then there were the rich farms at Braydon. There was no true keep there, only a strongly fortified manor house on the shore of a small lake. Braydon was no great distance from Barbury keep, about ten miles, and would be easy to oversee and protect. Other, somewhat less attractive alternatives were also discussed, and the more they talked, the more comfortable Walter became. More and more it seemed only natural that his chosen wife should know as much and care as much about the essentials of defense and administration as he did. He rejoiced in the knowledge that he need never agonize over the choice of a man or men to manage his lands when he was absent. He would leave behind Sybelle as a deputy who was almost part of himself when he was called away to warand |
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