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not appeal to her as a possible husband. It is clear enough that she likes the man, but woman can like a man without the smallest desire to lie with himin spite of what most priest thinkand that would not serve for a marriage." |
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"It serves for many marriages," Sybelle remarked. Her voice was indifferent but she did not have equal control over her complexion, and her color was high again. |
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"Not for a woman of his family," Alinor said firmly, and then laughed. "It is only love that tames us of Roselynde." |
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"And not too well, even so," Ian retorted sardonically. |
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"How can you say that?" Alinor exclaimed, widening her eyes with a totally false expression of injury. "Have I not always been most meek and obedient to your will, my lord?" |
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Ian groaned and covered his eyes with his hand, and Sybelle giggled. "Grandmama!" she protested. "Consider poor Father Edgar. You know he is not so young, and that stool in the confessional is very hard. He will be forced to sit on it for hours if you claim to be meek and obedient." |
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"There is no need to confess meekness and obedience," Alinor remarked with deliberate miscomprehension, her eyes sparkling with laughter. "And, you unnatural child, you should first consider the discomfort for your grandmother's rheumy knees in kneeling rather than that of Father Edgar's well-padded posterior." |
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"Rheumy knees!" Sybelle exclaimed. "There is nothing rheumy about your knees when you want to mount a horse. They only become rheumy for kneeling, which you detest." |
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"Did I not say she was unnatural?" Alinor complained to Ian. "Such disrespect for an aged and enfeebled grandmother!" |
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"There is nothing unnatural about it." Ian replied with mock gravity. "Were you not only now saying that her grandfather Simon was more honest than diplomatic? It is perfectly natural for Sybelle to have inherited that honesty." |
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"She also seems to have inherited his ability to divert me from my purpose," Alinor said wryly, but she put out her hand and touched her granddaughter affectionately. "But it will not do. If you wish to come to Wales with us, Sybelle, my love, you must at least be ready to say no at once. I am sure that if Walter sees you in the suggestive atmosphere of a wedding, he will be catapulted into a declaration." |
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And if he is not, Ian thought, Alinor will arrange it, but he said nothing. He, too, had noticed the varying color in Sybelle's |
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