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It was a useless discussion. Neither would ever convince the other. Perhaps it was for fear of the logic of women succeeding that boy children were removed from their mothers' influence so early. And Geoffrey had not had even those few years; his mother had died in bearing. There had been only his grandfather and Salisbury and then Ian who was, if anything, a worse fire-eater than the others. Yet there was no lack of softness in Geoffrey. She thought of how gentle his hard hands were when they stroked her shoulder, the tenderness of the way he bent his head over her. Once again she sighed. Men were men. Doubtless one of the reasons that women had been placed upon the earth was to keep them from all killing each other in a spirit of fun. |
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"What will you do now, love?" Ela asked in her normal voice. "Will you present yourself to the king?" |
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Geoffrey went back to his chair. "I was sent away and not recalled and, as for my own desire, I would not. I came because I could not understand why Joanna was summoned." His mouth twisted as over a foul taste. "If you are right about the reason for that, I must show myself. Even if John thinks he can frighten Joanna into silence, he must know he could not silence me." |
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"Oh yes," Ela said bitterly, "he knows that!" |
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There was the key to divide her husband and his brother. If John attacked Geoffrey openly, William would stand by his son. But the cost was too high. She listened with half an ear as Geoffrey said he would wait for Joanna to arrive and accompany her when she presented herself. Since this seemed as good an arrangement as any other, Ela turned the talk to that gossip which was necessary for Geoffrey to know to prevent him from making any faux pas. |
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Salisbury came in the late afternoon. He had dined with the king but was glad to have the excuse of Ela's frail health to escape the dancing, drinking, and wenching that formed the after-dinner entertainment of the court. He was, as Ela predicted, surprised and not too pleased to see his son, but, when he heard of the summons to Joanna, his eyes went blank with shock. He stared at Geoffrey and then at Ela, but neither said anything. There was nothing to be said. As dis- |
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