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Page 135
once in an evening with any gentleman (except those old enough to be her grandfather), sitting out rather than seeming to show favor to anyone. Her conversation was absolutely unimpeachable; she spoke by preference of national affairs or trade, or, if that was impossible, of hunting or other sport. It was impossible, the gentlemen discovered, to sigh a love lyric to Joanna; it was also impossible to catch her alone to do so. Had that been the total sum of her behavior, Joanna would soon have found herself bereft of young male company in spite of the lure of her lovely features and ripe body. What kept Joanna's court around her was an indefinable hint of promise. Something in her eyes said, "I am not really good, I am only careful and fearful. Catch me at the right time, and I will yield."
In fact, Joanna would have been happy to dispense with the company of her young admirers if she could have obtained what she really wanted from the older men. She did glean some information from them by indirect routes, but they could not really be drawn into political indiscretions. Not only were they more experienced, but Joanna did not dare use the same techniques with them. Also, the older men could not believe that such a pretty little girl could be interested in such dry and difficult subjects.
It was from one of Richard Marsh's squires that Joanna learned that a legate of the pope had requested and received permission to come to England to try again to settle John's differences with the Church. A young knight in Oxford's service told her that matters were at the breaking point between Renaud of Dammartin, count of Boulogne, and the French king. That news sent Joanna to her writing desk to dispatch a warning to Sir Giles to transmit to the guildsmen of Roselynde town. The merchants would need to be prepared in case the French triumphed and wished to change trade arrangements.
Even so, time hung heavy on Joanna's hands. When, in the third week in June a battered troop came in bearing letters, Joanna nearly wept with frustration. In that delightful

 
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