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him? Did Lady Alinor think he knew Joanna so little that he would suspect she told him such a tale to hide her daughter's depravity? Women were all idiots, even the clever ones. No, especially the clever ones. They were so intent on outmaneuvering their men that they caused themselvesand everyone elseendless trouble. His tension past, Geoffrey yawned widely and let his eyes close. Joanna stirred uneasily beside him. |
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"You do not doubt me," she said in a small voice, "but what of others? I wish to be sure that" |
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"Look then," Geoffrey muttered sleepily, "but I know the signs are there. I could feel when you yielded and the blood came." |
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Joanna lifted the covers and, sure enough, Geoffrey and she and the sheets too were well bedaubed with red. She sighed contentedly and lay back but, although the worst of her pain was gone, she was still a little uncomfortable and keyed up and sleep did not come. Instead a nasty, cold notion slid into her tired mind. Geoffrey did trust her, that was plain; he trusted her enough to be sure she had bled. But what if she had not? Would he have done for her what her father did for her mother? Of course he would, Joanna assured herself. It was ridiculous to think otherwise. Knowing her pure, would he hesitate to prove her so? |
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Restlessly, Joanna turned to one side and then to the other. In his sleep, Geoffrey growled impatiently. Joanna lay still again. It was unfair to bother him with such an idiocy. Eventually, Joanna also slept, but not soundly. For many years she had not shared her bed, and the presence of another body made her uneasy. She turned in her sleep, made contact with Geoffrey's sinewy back, and woke with a shock of alarm. Fortunately, memory of where she was and who was beside her came before she cried out for helpa fine joke that would have beenbut her troubled wondering returned with the awareness of Geoffrey's presence. |
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The bed made an odd sound. He would have saved her honor, Joanna insisted to herself, and, ridiculously, a lump rose in her throat. Now she would never know. She would |
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