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think with half your mind of me or of Simon. You did not love me more before Simon was born."
"Of course not!" Ian exclaimed.
"Nor will you love me less if another daughter is born."
"You are quite right, Joanna," Alinor assured her, "but jealousy is not reasonableI know. You cannot argue about such matters. They simply are. The king hates Geoffreymad or not, he doesbut he cannot do him any hurt because he is not really mad. John knows that to harm Geoffrey is to lose William. It came near to that once, and the matter was made clear. Nonetheless, the king cannot resist hurting Geoffrey in ways that do not show on the body and that Geoffrey dares not admit to his father."
"Because he fears the king?" Joanna's voice was neutral, but Alinor heard the danger signal. Joanna might talk of fearing pain because her husband would do his duty, but she would have nothing but contempt for a fearful man.
"No! Because Geoffrey is tender of his father. He knows William holds himself guilty for his son's bastardy. Can Geoffrey complain that he is insulted for bastardy without driving a knife into his father's heart? He must endure in silence or take such revenge as he can."
That made Ian laugh. "I assure you the men of the court watch their tongues. Geoffrey has taught lessons to a few for speaking too freely. One, at least, speaks no more at all. He is dead. There is nothing Geoffrey can do about the tongues of the women, however."
"He may leave that in my hands," Joanna said quietly and flatly.
Alinor drew breath at the threat communicated by the flat voice. She shook her head. "Well, Joanna, if you are sure that Geoffrey will suit you and you have no special conditions that you would like to make, the matter is settled."
"I am sure, at least, that I have no objection to Geoffrey," Joanna said tentatively. "As for conditions," she added far more certainly, "I know the disposition of the lands. They are yours, then mine and my sisters'if I should be blessed with sistersbut what is given to me is mine, to be disposed of as I see fit."

 
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