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he was all but laughing. He had bested John at every point by the simple expedient of keeping his own temper. His lips grew a little rigid as some of the provocations offered him returned to his mind, but the memory of John nearly foaming at the mouth when he was dismissed relaxed him again. His amusement faded before long. There really was nothing funny in a king who found his pleasure in enraging his nobles. |
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Over the next few days, Geoffrey found less and less to amuse him. The Welsh matter seemed well in hand, although the news from Wales was not good. John had obviously realized that this was more than petty restlessness. The army summoned to attack France had been redirected to assemble at Chester. Geoffrey was not looking forward to another campaign in Wales, but far worse than that was the ugly feeling in the court. FitzWalter and de Vesci strutted and were continually surrounded by knots of men who spoke in too-soft voicesunless the king was present. Then they avoided each other and made loud, senseless jokes about destroying the Welsh and driving the French from Normandy. That the king seemed unconscious of this behavior did not trouble Geoffrey. He was sure that John's suspicious mind had noted it well. He regretted only that the king should choose the sly path of entrapment rather than open rebuke, and he hated the tension which grew and grew, noting that even the most loyal had drawn faces and eyes heavy with lack of sleep. |
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The latter might have been owing to the restless peregrinations of the king. The court was moving toward Chester, but not directly. They rode this way and that, more as if John were seeking something than with any intention of overseeing the muster. Geoffrey asked twice for leave to go to his men and was refused without reason but with looks that insinuated much. Those times, had it not been for his father's presence, Geoffrey would have lost his temper despite his resolution. Perhaps, he thought later, it was because what the king hinted this time really was a temptation deep in his heart. He had sworn his oath to uphold John, and |
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