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brought me that they were safe arrived. I expectMy lord, I think Lord Oxford wants you." |
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Salisbury saw that Aubery de Vere, who had freed himself from Marsh, was indeed signaling to him. He patted Joanna's shoulder and moved away quickly. The young men who had been hanging hesitantly at a distance promptly began to converge on the window seat again. Joanna smiled modestly, allowed her head to drop, but glanced up under the long, thick lashes whose dark red color gave her eyes so odd and yet so lustrous a gleam. |
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The young men who had been watching for their chance were not the only eyes bent upon Joanna. Queen Isabella did not like Joanna. She had decided that quite firmly soon after Joanna presented herself. It was not so much that the girl was beautiful that troubled Isabella, although she did not like rivals to her own dark perfection. Joanna was a prude and not at all amusing. Isabella rather liked Lady Alinor in spite of John's hatred of the woman. Lady Alinor said delightful things and was always most interested in Isabella's beautiful clothing and jewels. Joanna, on the other hand, was stupid and sullen. She was interested only in drawing the young men's attention to herself. |
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A slut, that was what Joanna was, Isabella thought, a slut who covered her nature by silence and pious mouthings. And that bastard of Salisbury's was as hot after her as all the other young fools even though he was betrothed to her. An enchanting smile touched Isabella's perfect lips. Proud as a fighting cock was Geoffrey the bastard. Well, she would abate his pride. He should have a whore for a wife. That would quench both his heat and his pride. Isabella's dark eyes shone with such beauty that her husband smiled at her. Automatically she preened, stretching her long neck and pulling in her chin to better display the exquisite line of cheek and jaw. |
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A delightful thought had come to Isabella. Joanna should be broached, if she still happened to be a virgin, and well used. Then if a court wedding could be arranged, the clean, dry sheets would blazon Geoffrey's shame to the whole |
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