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Page 354
each was made up of would be exposed. Isabella was sure of her coming shame. Isabella did not care that the kingdom might be broken apart; she was too stupid to understand that neither John nor FitzWalter could guarantee anyone's safety in the upheaval of a civil war. Somehow, Isabella knew that Geoffrey would not protect her, or had even convinced him not to do so, Joanna thought.
Because fear is irrational, it never occurred to Joanna that there could be no less likely alliance than one between her husband and the queen. In fact, Geoffrey hated the queen so thoroughly that to know Isabella desired something was enough to make him go to considerable lengths to prevent that thing from happening. If Joanna's brain had been operating on any level at all, she would have realized that the queen's confidence must be based upon false premises. Isabella could not know that Alinor had had no maidenhead to yield up and that her daughter might be similarly afflicted. All Joanna knew was that Isabella intended to bring about her ruin and there was nothing she could do about it.
The players who appeared must have been skilled. Joanna had the impression of roars of laughter, stamping feet, whistles and shouts of appreciation. She had not the vaguest notion of what was presented. She laughed when the others laughed, drank a little more than she usually did, and endured with outward calm a hell unparalleled in all her happy young life. An enduring courage that would not break under any pressure supported her. When the first play was over, there was more dancing. Joanna was aware of being passed from one man's arm to that of another. There was a good deal of laughter which she shared, having not the slightest notion of its cause. From time to time, she heard Geoffrey's voice, protesting amid bursts of laughter, but he never danced with her and that frightened her still more.
There came a time when Joanna could scarcely breathe between terror and pretense and exertion. Before she could collapse into most welcome unconsciousness, however, she was back in her seat and another play, even more incom-

 
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