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Page 18
"No," Joanna replied, "I do not feel that."
"Think about coupling with him, child," Alinor urged. "Is there anything distressing to you in that idea? Think about children that look and speak and move like Geoffrey. Would you prefer your children to be different? Like unto someone else?"
It was a great relief to Alinor to see the expression of interest on Joanna's face. Obviously her daughter had never considered Geoffrey in the light of lover and husband. That was reasonable. For a girl to allow such thoughts about her father's squire to get into her head was dangerous and might lead to great unhappiness. Joanna was too practical to fall into such a mistake. Alinor, far more headstrong than her daughter, had not taken that into consideration enough, she realized now. Fortunately, it was equally obvious that there was nothing displeasing to Joanna in the notion. Now, if only the girl did not come to realize that thinking about such things would swiftly lead her down the path to love. Alinor rose and shook out her skirts.
"When you have decided, come and tell me. Whatever you say, we will accept. If you refuse, we have another equally worthy to suggest."
"I do not need more time, mother," Joanna said. "I am willing, if"
"If what, love?" Ian asked from the doorway.
"If Geoffrey is willing," Joanna said simply.
Color flooded into Ian's swarthy face, turning it dark red. "What do you mean, if Geoffrey is willing?" he roared. "We are offering him a pearl without price. Where could he find your match for beauty and virtue"
"And lands," Alinor put in, but she was laughing merrily and Joanna was also. Ian always overreacted to the faintest slur cast upon his stepchildren.
"But Ian," Joanna protested, seeing he was still angry, "Geoffrey might think of me as a sister. That would be terrible." Then her eyes widened. "Oh, Ian, Lord Salisbury would not force Geoffrey, would he?"
"Do not be silly, Joanna," Alinor said sharply. That was one idea she wished to avoid above all. Joanna might well

 
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