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did he have much time to worry because he had hardly settled when Lady Ann came hurrying forward with two of the prettiest maidservants in the keep at her heels. Sir Heribert was led away in a stream of apologies for any deficiencies in his welcome that might have been caused by haste. |
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After his departure there was a little silence. Walter was trying to sort out his impressions; Sybelle sat at ease, but her eyes were on the comings and goings in the hall. There were several faces she did not know among the servants now, passing to and fro, some carrying items of baggage, some seeming to look about for something dropped or mislaid and those, oddly, often passed close to where she and Walter sat. |
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Perhaps great ladies did not, in general, know the faces of the serfs who did personal service in their subsidiary keeps, but that was not in the Roselynde tradition. From childhood, Sybelle had been trained to know her people, not only the castellans and their families but the servants and, to the best of her ability, those on the land. Since no new servants had been presented to Sybelle, it seemed clear enough that these were Heribert's people. Perhaps their movements were innocent, but it would be unwise for Heribert's servants to hear anything that could imply Walter did not trust him. |
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As Sybelle reached this conclusion, Walter said, "What do you think" |
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"Oh, I think it most charming, so thoughtful, of Sir Heribert to desire to meet me," Sybelle interrupted, in an unnaturally high-pitched voice. "Do you know if he is married? If so, I am sorry he did not bring his lady to meet me also." |
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Walter blinked once, then realized that although Sybelle's head was turned toward him her eyes were not. She was looking sidelong out into the hall. Walter did not need to be hit on the head to absorb a warning. Plainly Sybelle had noticed something he had not. |
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"I am ashamed to say," Walter remarked smoothly, "that I do not know. My brother and I were not on good terms, and I have never met Sir Heribert before." |
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Sybelle replied to that and then made some inconsequential remark about whether they could provide some entertainment, since they now had a guest. "For I will not be able to bear it," she said pointedly, "if all you do is talk about the war. You know, Walter, that you can take no part in it for some weeks longer, Please, do promise me that, at least for tonight, |
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