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feel surprise because there were no exclamations of amazement or disbelief. Marie, who had been examining the letters Gervase had laid down, suddenly jumped to her feet and began to whisper into Gervase's ear. |
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The interlude gave Walter time to realize that these women knew nothing of the political situation; possibly they had no idea that there was a war in progress. He wondered whether to tell them, then decided he had better not do so, at least, not immediately. In her present mood, Gervase was likely to refuse out of hand to go if she hoped her refusal would do her husband political damage. And Walter did not know her well enough to be able to guess whether she would later reconsider, knowing that whatever damaged Richard must damage her, or whether she were so foolish or stubborn that she would cut off her nose to spite her face. |
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Walter was prepared to answer more questions, but did not expect the one that came next. After picking up Richard's letter and studying it again, Gervase laid it down once more and stared at him with knitted brows. At last she asked, "Are you uncle to the Earl of Gloucester?" |
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"Yes," Walter said, wondering what relevance his relationship to poor little Richard of Gloucester could have. |
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"My dear man," Gervase cried, getting up and coming toward him while Marie rang a little handbell to summon more servants, "why did you not say so? And why are you running Richard's errands?" |
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Walter could think of no sensible answer to the first question at all. Did the woman expect him to march into the hall, crying, I am Richard of Gloucester's uncle? And of what value was his relationship with a helpless boy, whose estates were in the king's hands? Later, Walter realized that it was his birth in a titled family that had made the difference to Gervase, but at the time his attention was fixed on her second question, which he knew well how to answer so as best to forward his purposes. |
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He smiled, lifted his brows, and said, "Surely you must know why I came? Is it not plain that I greatly desired to meet you? Perhaps England is the end of the world, but we are not so far from the center as to be ignorant of your reputation, Lady Gervase." |
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This gross flattery went down very well. Although she did not reply to it directly, Gervase immediately busied herself |
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