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Page 559
"Do not spoil it," Joanna warned, laughing gently. "Even if I am the breath of your body and your life, I know where my influence ends. I will not beg you to stay with me, nor even beg you to take me with you. My mother said to me once, and it is true, that when you love a man you do not bend his soul all awry. I only wished to askwill you play and sing again for me, Geoffrey? You have not done so in a very long time."
"This very day," he said joyfully, "as soon as"
The lightness passed. This very day they would be parted again, only God knew for how long. Love remained, confidence in each other, but joy was gone. They rose, dressed, heard mass, ate breakfast, and went to see if Ian was well enough to give Geoffrey orders about his men.
They found him somewhat stronger, although still rasping in his breath. He said what he needed to about the men, and Alinor handed Geoffrey the letter she had written and Ian had managed to sign and seal. Then he looked from one to the other as they stood, handfast, facing again the sorrow of parting.
"What I wished to say when you all overbore me, was that I do not think any large armies will be on the march in the next few weeks. Many who hated John do not hate young Henry, and many have come to realize what Louis and his men really want here. I doubt there will be any hard fighting until the lines are drawn clear again and the sides are sorted out." His voice was weakening.
"Let me finish, love," Alinor interrupted. "The west will be hard for the prince. He is known there and that is where Pembroke is strongest. In fact, the worst danger will be around London where Louis's strong points are. Ian thinks this is no good place for Joanna."
Geoffrey's hand tightened on his wife's and his eyes lit. He would not ask, but if someone else suggested it "I agree. Hemel is not really strong enough and it is too close to London."
"Then what will be best," Alinor said gravely, although her eyes were sparkling with laughter, "would be for you to take Joanna with you to the swearing. It is proper also that

 
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