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Page 141
''In what do you fear they deceive you, my lord?" Joanna asked, rolling up her parchment and smiling up at him.
"I hardly know which of two marvels to name as more unlikelyyour beautiful eyes fixed on a roll of writing or your beautiful person all aloneunless you have Lady Ela concealed under a rose bush."
Joanna laughed, although she was annoyed for she had gone to some trouble to conceal her abilities. "The one is the cause of the othera little. Not wishing to be looked upon as out of the ordinary, I came here to read in private. You have found out my unmaidenly secret, but I hope you will not spread my disgrace about."
"Oh, no. I will keep it quiet," Braybrook assured her. He found it rather disgusting that Joanna should be literate. Such a woman was a freak, like a calf with two heads or a chicken with four legs. It was as unnatural for women to think as for men to produce children. Nonetheless, he would keep her secret because it would give him a little power over her. Also, it must be admitted that Joanna did not seem to have been much spoiled by her learning. She was always interested in everything he said and never contentious. What was more, she knew how to keep a confidence. He had tested her several times with juicy bits of gossip and, when he bid her be silent, she had not breathed a word. It was fun to tell Joanna things. She gazed at one with such wide, admiring eyes, with lips a little parted in wonder.
"If you believe it unmaidenly," he said gently, "why do you do it?"
"It is my mother's will," Joanna whispered, lowering her head and her eyes.
"Poor beautiful one," Braybrook murmured.
Joanna's hand tightened on the scroll of Geoffrey's writing as anger flashed through her. Amusement followed swiftly. The ass had not realized she was teasing. And what a cod's head to ask such a question! If she could not read, could Geoffrey write such a letter as he had written? Imagine allowing a clerk to read what he had said about the king.

 
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