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Page 190
sake of company, but her sense of duty would not permit her to deprive the people of Roselynde of their celebrations for such a small thing as a little loneliness.
In the end, she had more pleasure from the holiday than she expected. On the morning of the first day, Sir Guy came riding in with a chest full of gifts from Alinor and Ian. He had come from Ireland and had concealed himself in Roselynde town just to give her a pleasant surprise. The afternoon of the same day brought two more welcome gueststhe eldest son of one of Geoffrey's vassals and Salisbury's eldest squire, the former with Geoffrey's presents and the latter with those from Salisbury and Lady Ela. All her loved ones had remembered her, Joanna realized with warmth, and each intended to make every day of the holiday pleasant.
The first-day gifts were pretty trinkets. The second-day brought more valuable articles of clothing and jewelry. And so, in progression, culminating in a sapphire and gold necklet from Ian and Alinor, an exquisite gown and tunic, stiff with gold thread and gems from Salisbury and Ela, and, from Geoffrey, moonstones set in silver, glowing with the same misty light as Joanna's eyes. Next best to the joy she felt in being so thoughtfully remembered was that Joanna was not alone. The high table rang with laughter, for the young men were just about Joanna's own age and Sir Guy did nothing to damp their innocent merriment. For that time, womanly gifts and her sixteen years notwithstanding, Joanna was again a child intent only on ludicrous pranks and silly jests.
Even when the merriment was over and the two young guests had said their goodbyes, Sir Guy remained. It was very quiet in Ireland, he told Joanna, although neither Lord Pembroke nor Lord Ian believed the country could yet be left to itself. There was good hope, however, that ultimately the land would truly be content with England's rule. To Pembroke's and Ian's pleased surprise, John Grey, the bishop of Norwich, had turned into a fair and efficient administrator once out from under the king's influence. There

 
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