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Page 195
about accepting FitzWalter's "protection" to avoid what she would think of as falling into Salisbury's power. The child-prince loved his uncle well, but the child would have nothing to say. There were doubtless many men who would prefer Salisbury to rule in the prince's name. However, if the queen held the prince's person, the honor of the loyal barons would drive them to obey whatever orders were issued in the child's name. The best that could come of such a situation was bloody civil war.
"Is there any present threat to the king?" Geoffrey asked tensely.
"I do not know," Ela sighed. "If there is, it is too secret as yet for rumors to have begun, but it cannot be long before some men's patience gives way." She stared out into the garden, then turned her eyes back to Geoffrey. "And you are one that is likely to be tried high. Geoffrey, go and sit down and promise me you will not fly into a rage. No!" she cried, high and sharp, seeing his eyes flame and his body tense, "Nothing has happened. Nothing! I only wish to warn you."
"An interesting warning it must be, if I must promise not to be angry beforehand," Geoffrey snarled, but, after staring at his stepmother for a little longer, he did go and sit in one of the cushioned chairs.
"You had better hear it from me," Ela said, following him. "Your late lights of love will make the matter sound worse."
The rage faded from Geoffrey's eyes. "Whores," he sighed. "I knew some of them would seek to make trouble. Do you think I would believe any filth they spewed?"
"Believe it? Not on consideration, perhaps, butIt is not only the ladies. Perhaps they are whores, Geoffrey, but none of them suffered any heartache over you as you suffered none over them. Most of them would have teased Joanna a little, but no more than that."
"She took it ill?" Geoffrey was surprised. He had seen Joanna several times after she had heard the gossip about him and she had made no reference to it nor had she seemed

 
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