|
|
|
|
|
|
It was known that no ransoms had yet been paid to Philip. Thus, any wounded knight who could not identify himself as Philip's man was fair game. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
With herculean effort, Joanna maintained a placid demeanor during the next week. Geoffrey was winning his battle for health. His appetite was greatly improved. All the small cuts were clean and closed, and the large ones were less red and swollen and much drier. His bones were not so prominent, no longer threatening to pierce through his tight-drawn skin, and he did not tire quite so easily. If they had been at home, the satisfaction Joanna felt in this improvement together with the demands made upon her time and energy by her mother's estate would have kept Joanna relatively content. At Baisieux, however, there was nothing for her to do but attend Geoffrey. They talked together, ate together, played togethereverything except slept together. And it seemed to Joanna that every accidental touch of Geoffrey's hand, every word out of his mouth, stoked her fire higher. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Her manner grew daily more strained. By the end of the week, Geoffrey's health had improved considerably and he was very aware that something was wrong with Joanna. He was horrified at the way she winced aside from his outstretched hand when he prepared to lead her from the dinner table, at the way she seemed anxious to look anywhere, at anything, except him. He made a few tentative efforts to discover what was wrong, only to be rebuffed more and more coldly and finally lost his own temper. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Since I seem to be unwelcome to you, "he snapped, "I will go back to my bed." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Yes, yes, do," Joanna responded. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Geoffrey nearly slapped her. He would have done so had they not been in a stranger's hall. The worst of it was that she did not seem aware of what she had said. His judgment was quite right. Almost weeping with frustration, Joanna fled to find Gilliane as soon as Geoffrey was gone. She knew she had given Gilliane no reason to like or wish to help her, but she was desperate. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"At home I am busy all day," Joanna explained |
|
|
|
|
|