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tisement that they did not wonder too much about what made their mistress crosser than usual. In fact, it was not really unusual. Lady Ela had been in so terrible a humor the last few months that the subject was not really worth discussing any longer. |
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Inside the withdrawing chamber, Geoffrey had poured his own wine after Ela refused. "Did you come from Hemel?" she asked. |
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"I am not a liar," he said, smiling a little. "I was there last night, but I came from Ian's keeps in the north and, as you thought, in haste. Joanna wrote to me that she was summoned to court." |
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Lady Ela's lips tightened. "By the queen?" |
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"I am surprised she did not send me wordno, of course she would not. She knows I am here in London." |
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Geoffrey watched his stepmother's face. She was not saying anything even vaguely relevant to what was going on in her mind, he thought. Suddenly she rose and walked away to a window that looked out into the long garden leading down to the river. After a moment, Geoffrey followed her. His father's boat was not at the steps, which meant that Salisbury had gone down river to the Tower or up to Westminster to be with the king. As he reached her, Lady Ela put out a hand and gripped her stepson's arm. It was so unusual a gesture that Geoffrey looked down at her hand. |
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"I am afraid," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I am afraid." |
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Lifting his eyes, Geoffrey caught his breath. She meant it this time. Ela was always saying she was afraidafraid of heat, of cold, of exertion, of illness, of the sight of armor, of everything. But Geoffrey knew there was really very little that his stepmother feared. Only doubts of her husband's personal safety could really unnerve her. Instinctively, Geoffrey's hand reached for his sword hilt. The gesture was abortive both because the maids had removed his sword and because Ela clung to his arm, crying, "No! That cannot help. That is what I fear." |
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