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Page 239
sire. She escaped without difficulty. Then, having tempted him down the stairs with offers of unspecified delightsincluding more wineshe bid Knud and Beorn put him to bed.
There would be no sense in arguing the subject the next morning, Joanna decided. She was not really fearful for Geoffrey. She had felt out the temper of the court in the past three days. It was very clear that what Salisbury had said was true. Everyone intended that the tourney should be a set piece of chivalry and excitement without death or serious injury to becloud the pleasure. What was less clear to Joanna was the reason behind the intention. Salisbury said it was because everyone liked Alexander. That the young man was a general favorite was true, but Ela saidand Joanna reluctantly agreedthat it was not for his sake that every face was wreathed in smiles.
Those smiles made Joanna's throat tighten with fear. They curved the lips of men who had very little reason to smile in John's presence. The king, knowing this, preened himself all the more, believing that all feared him so greatly that they dared do nothing beyond grovel, no matter what insult he put upon them. But it was not fear that Joanna saw in the eyes that were kept lowered when they fronted the king.
"They wish to smooth over all quarrels so that no questions need be raised on any subject," Joanna told Geoffrey before they left for the tourney. "Something is being planned. I know it."
"I know it too," Geoffrey snarled, holding a hand to his throbbing head. "What do you want me to do? I have told my father and seen him look near to weeping while he shrugged my warning away. He knows also. Do you think he has not tried to make John moderate his ways? At least whatever will happen will not happen today. I will think about it tomorrow."

 
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