< previous page page_44 next page >

Page 44
The repetition of the first verse, having rounded off the song, the last note trembled into silence.
''I did not know you could sing in English."
Slowly, almost reluctantly, Geoffrey turned his eyes from the dim hall to the bright vignette of Joanna seated at the window. It was an exceptionally warm May. The shutters stood wide and the sun, blazing in at an angle, lit sparkles in the fine beading of perspiration on Joanna's upper lip and turned her thick braids into rivers of fire. Geoffrey should not be looking at those braids. They should have been decently coiled and concealed under a modest wimple, but Joanna had said flatly after they had returned from a session of sitting in justice that she was through with melting in the cause of propriety. Off had come the wimple; out had come the golden pins; down had tumbled the braids.
Geoffrey had watched at first with unabashed pleasure. Joanna was usually a pattern of propriety, but when she decided to act outside of the common norm, she did so with such assurance that the unusual seemed to become the only reasonable or rational thing possible. Certainly there was nothing at all provocative in her manner then. Geoffrey was wearing a good deal less than Joanna, having stripped right down to shirt and chausses as soon as he could rid himself of his armor. Cooled wine had slaked one thirst, but now it seemed to be raising another. All the time he was singing, Geoffrey was as aware of Joanna's presence as if she were pressing herself against him.
It was odd that this should come over him now. When he had arrived at Roselynde the previous day, he had been decidedly uneasy. He had not seen Joanna since their betrothal on the first of April. The ceremony over, the guests sped, he had done a grueling six weeks' round of the estates with Ian to summon the vassals and castellans to Whitechurch and to take oath of them that they would obey him. That had been easier than Geoffrey expected. The men all knew him, and they seemed flatteringly pleased at his advancement. Alinor and Joanna had been traveling also, although on a different route, but Joanna had returned directly to Roselynde when

 
< previous page page_44 next page >