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Page 21
Ian whistled softly between his teeth. There was plenty of Alinor under the outward resemblance of Joanna to her father. If Simon had had a good horse and good armor, he would have given away the bread out of his mouth without knowing or caring whether there was any more to be eaten. Alinor, much as Ian loved her, was a different kind. She was not ungenerous, but she had an inordinate sense of possession. She counted the grains in every head of every stalk of wheat that grew on her land and demanded an account if even one grain should be missing. She might easily give you a bushel or a wagonload, but no one could steal or take by force even a single grain. Under her stewardship, her estate had grown, but it was care and attention that increased it. She did not squeeze or oppress her people. She merely made it very clear that the best was expected of them and, with justice and often even kindness, she got the best from them. Joanna had been trained from the cradle, and it was apparent she would be a worthy successor to her mother.
"When the contract is written, you will see it. If you find fault, it will be amended," Alinor assured her daughter.
As soon as he was certain Joanna was out of hearing, Ian said to his wife, "I do not understand you, Alinor. You swore you would not press her into marriage until her own desire moved her, and you brought me to see that this was best. Now you have virtually ordered her to take Geoffrey. If you are doing this to Joanna to shield me"
"No, I swear it. It has nothing to do with you." Alinor explained as best as she could the conversation she had had with her daughter and the reasons for her change in opinion. A few times Ian nodded in agreement, but mostly he looked puzzled and unhappy.
"I do not like it," he insisted when Alinor was finished.
"Have you come to distrust Geoffrey?" Alinor asked anxiously, "Or Salisbury?"
"No, not at all. To my mind Geoffrey is perfect for her. I have always thought so, but by now I have come to know Joanna. She is biddablebut only because she does not care about most things. When she does careas she does about that accursed dogshe is neither to hold nor to bind."

 
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