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Page 31
almost the full length of the great hall. "Otherwise I would suspect some dreadful event had taken place. What are you doing in full armor, Geoffrey?"
"I was practicing at sword play with William, my lady. These days I need my armor. He improves apace."
As he spoke, Geoffrey fetched a chair and set it near his father's. Lady Ela, who had traversed the great hall, sank into it as if she could barely keep to her feet. Then she waved a languid hand at Geoffrey. "Go and take it off, my love, do. You know it makes me short of breath to see you carrying all that steel."
"Let him be, Ela. It improves the strength to wear mail, and Geoffrey will need his strength."
There was no change in Ela's expression, but shockingly alert pale blue eyes flashed toward Salisbury and then dropped. "So you have pushed him into picking up Ian's burden," she sighed.
"How the devil do you know that?" Salisbury exclaimed.
"Do not shout at me, William. You make my head ache."
In fact, Salisbury had not been shouting. Now, however, he not only lowered his voice still further but used a less aggressive tone. "How did you know, Ela?" he repeated.
"Alinor wrote some weeks ago to ask certain questions about Geoffrey. It was not hard to put two and two together."
"But Lady Alinor knows me" Geoffrey began.
His stepmother's tinkling laugh cut him off and made him flush. "Dear heart, she did not ask me about your honesty or your military qualificationsand she knows of your ability to sing and play the lute."
"Whatever you answered must have been what she wanted to hear," Salisbury said heartily. "I have an offer of Joanna from Ian."
Ela sighed.
"Do you not approve, my dear?" Salisbury asked.
"I cannot see the future, William." She raised her eyes

 
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