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Page 293
have gone. Joanna was not hypocrite enough to tell herself she had gone to help the alderman. He had wanted her men, not her; in fact, he had done his best to convince her not to come. Another fact was also clear. Had she not been separated from them by accident, she would have been a useless burden and a grave danger to her men-at-arms when the mob broke loose. As it was, two men were dead and a dozen injured. Had they needed to protect her, more would have been hurt and dead.
Worse than all, Joanna had known she was acting foolishly, had known that Geoffrey would be furious when he discovered what she had done. Still, the impulse to seek him had been irresistible. Joanna did not remember suffering much from fear for him, except very briefly when she heard that Geoffrey had stayed to fight the fire. There had simply been this overpowering need to find him and be with him. It was a subject that needed to be examined very carefully. If this was love, then it was too late to say she would not love Geoffrey.
There was then something else to be decided. She still had the option to annul the betrothal. That was not a thing to decide in a moment or even in an hour. It would require serious consideration. Such an annulment would cost much money and much pain to others beside herself. Joanna knew she would need the peace and security of Roselynde around her before she could make so serious a decision.
Geoffrey stared at his betrothed's withdrawn face. He had to accept the fact that she was not angry. Joanna did not chew the cud of bitterness. She expressed her feelings with openness within the circle of her family, never having been given any reason to conceal them. The warmth with which she responded to his lovemaking was a simple proof. Then what was troubling her? Geoffrey could see nothing at all in her face and eyes now. He took a step closer, about to chance his luck on sweet words and a warm embrace when Edwina entered to announce that an alderman of London was below seeking Lord Geoffrey.

 
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