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Page 41
He looked down at his own hands, pale against the dull color of Joanna's everyday working garb, equally surprised at his words and his violence. He did not know what he had expected from Joanna, but it was neither the passionless rationality of her first statement nor the flat indifference of her second. She must marry someone, must she? And any turd on the ground was as good as any other. Doubtless there was no man she would consider her equal.
"Do you think I am an idiot?" he continued sarcastically. "Where could I find an equal offer? You are very beautiful and very richand very virtuous also, Joanna. I only wished to be sure I was notnot swallowing an unwilling sacrificial victim whole. But I see you know what you are about."
The sarcasm came a few heartbeats too late, fortunately. Joanna was aware of little beyond the passionate repudiation of her accusation. Pleasure flooded her, to be checked by the vague sense of some awful dangera danger she knew she must flee and yet desired to examine more closely. Safety lay in immediate practicalities; perhaps from behind that bulwark, one could peer out and see the face of what really threatened.
"You mean you thought my mother would sacrifice me to Ian's need?" There was only the faintest quiver of uncertainty in Joanna's voice. "I do not think so," she went on hastily, not wishing to examine that subject. "And, in any case, the question did not ariseat least, not in connection with you. Really, Geoffrey, I was very well pleased when you were suggested to me. I know you long and well. It seemed to me most suitable."
"I am scarcely your match," he offered stiffly, infuriated by all this calm reasoning, wanting to strike some spark, any spark, from her.
"How can you say that?" Joanna urged, again missing the taunt and intent on practical, rather than emotional, things. "You are of good blood on both sides. You are well endowed with landsor will beas I am. You are the son of an earl and close to the throne. And you must be of merit in battle or Ian would not trust our men in your hands."

 
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