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had of Walter showed him blamelessly occupied and seemingly at ease. |
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This last impression was mistaken, although Walter had suffered no rebuff from Lady Alinor. He had found her quickly enough, sitting between her husband and Prince Llewelyn, who were happily reminiscing about events that stretched over thirty years. Lady Alinor's eyes had brightened with laughter when she saw Walter's purposeful advance toward them. |
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"Here comes our future grandson-by-marriage," she said. "Perhaps the middle of a dance is not the time to discuss a marriage contract, but I could scarcely object after I agreed to attend a wedding in the middle of a war." |
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"It was a most felicitous moment," Llewelyn said, perfectly straight-faced, although his eyes twinkled. "Simon wished to be married on the first of December. All the soothsayers were agreed that the aspects were extraordinarily favorableand I wanted to speak to Ian and Geoffrey." |
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"You have this in common with the young man about to join us," Alinor remarked with a lifted brow, "that it would take a blow from a war ax to let out of your head any notion that came into it." |
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"Lady Alinor," Walter said as he bowed, having reached them at that moment, "Sybelle has given her consent to our marriage. I would like to know when the terms of the contract can be, discussed and decided." |
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He was somewhat startled when all three burst into laughter, but smiled himself when Alinor explainedin more tactful terms than she had used to Llewelyn and her husbandwhat they had been saying just before he arrived. He pointed out, however, in the most guileless fashion, that he was not asking to discuss terms then and there, only requesting that a time and place be set. "Thereby," he finished, "proving myself more reasonable than your prediction." |
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Ian chuckled. "Touché," he murmured, as if he were adjudicating a sparring match and Walter had landed a hit. |
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"But no less determined," Alinor pointed out, a slow smile curving her lips. |
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