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feared, but so was Walter. It was also true that he was making all the right moves in his wooing, but that was more a result of his extreme responsiveness to Sybelle than to his previous cleverness in handling women. |
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The intent conversation that Joanna had noted between Sybelle and Walter had begun prosaically enough with Walter's questions about the hunt and Sybelle's animated description of the chase and kill. Then, naturally, she had asked what he had been doing all morning. |
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"I missed you," he replied. |
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Sybelle laughed at him. "You have paid your dues. Now tell me what you really did all morning." |
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Walter was a trifle nonplussed, wondering again if Sybelle had heard of his conversation with Marie. In defense he decided to abandon compliments and actually tell her about the task Prince Llewelyn had set him. |
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"Now that is odd," Sybelle responded, immediately thoughtful. "I believed it was characteristic of the Welsh to live off the land during a war." |
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Walter blinked. He had expected a moue of distaste and a remark about the dullness of his occupation. Sybelle's answer produced the need to reorient his thinking that he always experienced at the beginning of their conversations and concurrently a strong sense of comfort and pleasure. There was no need to hunt for pretty words. It was possible with Sybelle to talk about what really interested him. He brought his mind to focus on what she had said. |
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"That is true," he agreed. "I had not thought of it. Perhaps it is something Richard wanted done. No, that cannot be. Richard can do that kind of thing in his head." And before he thought, he asked, "Could your father or grandfather have suggested it as a test for me?" He was appalled as soon as the words came out, but Sybelle did not look offended. |
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"I suppose it is possible," she replied, "but Grandpapa is not at all devious, and, truly, I think in your case Papa would just have asked you himself. I know he likes you very much. No, I will tell you what I think. Lord Pembroke will object to the Welsh raiding promiscuously, of course, and I will lay you odds Prince Llewelyn wished to know how much he can ask to prohibit them from doing so." |
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"The old fox!" Walter exclaimed, for Sybelle's analysis |
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