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with his own. They were fast in talk ten minutes after John brought them together and still talking an hour later. Engelard d'Atie and William de Cantelu had joined them and they were making a good deal of cheerful noise arguing about the relative merits of various hunting hawks. Obviously, words would change no one's opinions, so Geoffrey suggested they go out to try the birds the next day, offering to get his uncle's permission to use a royal hunting preserve in easy distance. This offer was greeted with enthusiasm and soon the plans were widened to spend a night or two in the royal hunting lodge and see what other game they could come upon. |
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Very faintly as they made final plans amid a good deal of laughter, Geoffrey's conscience pricked him. Joanna had sent for him so that his company would shield her from unwanted attentions, but then Geoffrey reminded himself that she did not seem to want his attention either. He certainly no longer suspected the king of offering any threat to her and told himself that Ela could manage anyone else. He was annoyed too by the fact that, as usual, a group of young men had collected around Joanna like ants around a honey pot. At least Braybrook was not there. The relief was short-lived as Geoffrey's quick glance around the room soon fell upon that gentleman. He was not, as he should have been, paying assiduous attention to another woman to indicate he had no interest in Joanna. Instead he stood by himself, ostentatiously trying to appear to avoid her while now and again making a gesture or casting a glance from her to Geoffrey that showed where his attention was truly fixed. |
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Geoffrey was not the only one who noticed Braybrook. Joanna was also horribly aware of what he was doing. What she could not decide was why. Had the queen ordered him to continue to make advances? If so, he was both ways a sniveling cowardtoo afraid to deny Isabella and too afraid to obey her and face Geoffrey. There was also the possibility that the idiot was truly attracted to her and thought he was concealing the fact by the way he was behaving. Within minutes Joanna did not care why. All she wanted to know |
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