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and Aire, and Ferrand, emboldened by Dammartin's offers of help from John, had demanded the return of those towns to him before he would lend his aid in an invasion of England. |
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Geoffrey was most grateful for the news and said so. His usual source, his father, had been silent for some weeks because he was not at court. The strain of the past year had been too much for Lady Ela. Shortly after Christmas she had really fallen ill, and Salisbury had taken her home where she would be at peace. She was improving, but was not yet strong enough for her husband to leave her. |
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So far, Geoffrey's visit had been a miracle of smooth agreement, considering the times. He had been welcomed into the keep with cries of joy, hustled out of his wet, muddy clothing, bathed and warmed by the fire, pressed to drink hot spiced wine to ward off a chill, and generally cosseted as if he were a prodigal son. Now that the most urgent items of news had been exchanged and the women and children retired to their quarters, Sir John and he lounged alone by the fire. There was wine in goblets at each man's elbow, but neither was drinking much. Geoffrey was faced with the unpleasant need to assure himself that Sir John's warm welcome was not a blind; that his talk of preparation for war was more than just talk. He was puzzling over how to introduce this delicate topic without implying any distrust of Sir John when the problem solved itself. |
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"If Dammartin should fail," Geoffrey said, "the Flemmands will come with Philip. You are somewhat north of where they might be expected to make first landfall, but winds are variable and Mersea does lie in a direct line from the ports of Flanders. Moreover, the Flemmands, as you know, will be familiar with the ways of overpassing your marshes." |
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"I thought that was what brought you here," Sir John said. "Thank you for waiting until my wife left us. She does not like to hear of such thingsand you are quite right. That is what I have been busy about. Will you do me the honor, my lord, to look over what I have devised to defend us and |
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