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Page 369
suspicion that makes him all the hotter in her defense and will drive him mad? The thought amused John and put him into an excellent humor. He stepped aside from the doorway, allowing the remaining witnesses to pour into the room. In the hurly-burly of jest and counterjest, of exclamations both sympathetic and envious, over the condition of Geoffrey's skin, Lady Alinor found a moment to tell Joanna urgently to be quiet and look sad. The morning then ran its normal course until they breakfasted and prepared to ride out to hunt.
Joanna had scarce said a word and had kept her eyes fixed upon her food. Geoffrey was not surprised. He was still furious himself and thought Joanna shared that emotion. It was thus with considerable relief that he rose to join the hunt, knowing that the exercise would permit him to calm himself. He saw Joanna begin to rise also and walked out toward the door. Joanna's movement, however, was never completed. Passing behind her, Alinor held her daughter firmly in her place.
"You are no doubt too sore to ride, Joanna," Alinor said kindly. Color flooded Joanna's face. Alinor patted her consolingly on the shoulder. "You are a good girl to try to put a brave face on, but there is no need. I will stay also. I will comfort you and explain to you that marriage is a good thing despite this trial that women must bear."
Joanna uttered a muffled sound that could have been a sob and her body was seen to heave once convulsively. Then she raised a crimson face and tear-filled eyes to her mother. "Oh, thank you," she murmured softly.
By the door Geoffrey realized he had lost his wife. He stopped but was shoved forward by his father-by-marriage. "Joanna does not ride with us," Ian said. "She has been used too hardily to sit on a saddle today." Geoffrey opened his mouth on an indignant protest, but Ian gave him no time to voice it. ''Lady Alinor will explain to her again that such things are necessary and lead to great pleasures," Ian went on pointedly. "And I think I should explain to you how to be more gentle."

 
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