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stalk of flax. "I think this has soaked long enough," she said.
Alinor took the stalk in her hand and teased at it with her nails, then felt the fibers. "Yes," she agreed, "but send one of the maids to tell the women to get on with the work. I want you to write to your mother and father and tell them that Ian and I will leave for Wales in five days' time."
"Wales?" Sybelle repeated, her beautiful amber-colored eyes widening. "Is something wrong with Simon?" she asked in a frightened voice.
"No, no," Ian assured her, and, simultaneously, Alinor said caustically, "Aside from his being even more insane than usual, I do not believe so."
Sybelle looked from one grandparent to the other. "Whatever has Simon done now?" she asked apprehensively.
Simon was Sybelle's favorite, a dearly loved playfellow in her youth; although he was her uncle he was only six years older than she, and now he was her dearest friend and confidant. However, there could be no doubt that Simon was a sport, an unusual growth in a family dedicated to the expansion of its lands, wealth, and power. Thus, Simon was often in disgrace with his parents, more particularly with his practical and hot-tempered mother. However, rather than showing signs of rage, Alinor's bright eyes glittered with laughter.
"For once he has done something right," she said, "since we have just received a formal invitation from Prince Llewelyn to Simon's marriage to Rhiannon."
"Oh, wonderful!" Sybelle exclaimed. "I knew he would convince her." But then her eyes widened again. "But why do you go to Wales now? Surely"
"Surely Lord Llewelyn is as full of mischief as a dog is of fleas," Alinor remarked tartly. "Unless it is Simon who has conceived this lunacya wedding in the middle of a war! The date is the first day of December."
Sybelle smiled again. "That is not lunacy. It is superstition. Simon always said he would marry on the day you did, Grandmama. He said it worked for my mama and papa, for surely they are very happy together."
"Happy marriages are not made by the date of the wedding," Alinor replied, but her expression had softened and her voice was softer, too, as she went on. "Happy marriages come of goodwill, good sense, and honest desire on both parts. In any

 
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