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Chapter 14 ELEANOR: A LETTER
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Windsor Castle June 1172 My ladies were dancing for me in my solar, one playing the tabor and another, the lute1, when Amaria signaled for my attention. She went to my prie-dieu and knelt instead of genuflecting2. After she blessed herself with holy water, she stayed kneeling. This signal meant that the news she brought was dire3 indeed. I waited until the song was finished. Angeline and Mathilde, Margaret, and Joan all bowed before me, flushed with laughter. I applauded them, standing5, and they bowed lower, sensible of the honor I did them, not knowing that I had a different motive6. When they had taken their fill of my praise, I raised one hand. “Ladies, I must ask you to leave me alone. I feel the need to pray for my son’s safe return.” The whole court knew that Richard had been invested as duke in Aquitaine, and that he was expected to return to Henry’s court on the morrow. Alais was waiting for him. Even when sitting in my rooms, she always dressed her hair with the gold filet7 I had given her to match her ring. The filet was decorated with fleurs-de-Iys cast in electrum. It looked well on her dark curls. Though she loved my son, in the hall at each evening meal, I saw that her eyes tended toward the king. My women bowed and left me, save Amaria, who made my prie-dieu ready for my devotions. I knelt as my women left, drawing the door closed behind them. Amaria knelt beside me. We prayed together for two long minutes, long enough for anyone standing by my door to withdraw. Only then did Amaria reach into her gown and draw out a letter. “Clarissa sends this, my lady, with her compliments.” “How charming of her. She has no need to send me missives.” I knew the letter in my hand was not meant for me. I did not turn it over and look at the seal. I found, as I knelt in the sunshine as I had seen Alais do, that I did not want to know whose letter it was. Not yet. “As you know, Your Majesty8, while she is at court, Clarissa makes it her business to be your eyes and ears at Windsor.” “Yes.” The news must be bad indeed, if my
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lute
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n.琵琶,鲁特琴 | |
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2
genuflecting
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v.屈膝(尤指宗教礼节中)( genuflect的现在分词 ) | |
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3
dire
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adj.可怕的,悲惨的,阴惨的,极端的 | |
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4
wed
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v.娶,嫁,与…结婚 | |
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5
standing
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n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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motive
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n.动机,目的;adv.发动的,运动的 | |
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7
filet
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n.肉片;鱼片 | |
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majesty
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n.雄伟,壮丽,庄严,威严;最高权威,王权 | |
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dour
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adj.冷酷的,严厉的;(岩石)嶙峋的;顽强不屈 | |
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loath
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adj.不愿意的;勉强的 | |
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peek
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vi.偷看,窥视;n.偷偷的一看,一瞥 | |
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bruise
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n.青肿,挫伤;伤痕;vt.打青;挫伤 | |
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blase
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adj.厌烦于享乐的 | |
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14
spoke
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n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说 | |
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banished
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v.放逐,驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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brooked
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容忍,忍受(brook的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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pious
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adj.虔诚的;道貌岸然的 | |
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blessing
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n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿 | |
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figs
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figures 数字,图形,外形 | |
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horrified
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a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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generosity
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n.大度,慷慨,慷慨的行为 | |
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legendary
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adj.传奇(中)的,闻名遐迩的;n.传奇(文学) | |
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expedient
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adj.有用的,有利的;n.紧急的办法,权宜之计 | |
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possessed
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adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
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embroidery
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n.绣花,刺绣;绣制品 | |
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tapestry
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n.挂毯,丰富多采的画面 | |
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serene
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adj. 安详的,宁静的,平静的 | |
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scrutiny
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n.详细检查,仔细观察 | |
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tarnished
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(通常指金属)(使)失去光泽,(使)变灰暗( tarnish的过去式和过去分词 ); 玷污,败坏 | |
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decided
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adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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