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Page 186
the Welsh were making ready to cast the English out of Wales once again. And Geoffrey himself was frantically busy.
He had not had the largely enthusiastic response from Ian's vassals that Joanna had had from Alinor's. It was not that the men wished to be free of their overlord. Ian was deeply respected by his men and even loved. The trouble was that the king was so much hated that a strong conflict was aroused in them. They argued loud and long that, if Ian was absolved of his vows, he above all men should turn his back on the king. John had tried to have him killed more than once. John hated the lord and the lord's lady. It was mad, flying in the face of providence, to cling to one who was not only a bad king but a personal enemy.
"There is no one else," Geoffrey said wearily. "There is no one else. Would you rather have French Philip? Some man must be king or worse will befall us than John's hate."
"There is young Henry," one baron answered, "young Henry with a council to guide him"
"Do not dream of it," Geoffrey snapped, maintaining his countenance with some effort. "You know as well as I what that would mean. Instead of the exactions of one man we would have a whole flock of crows plucking at us."
"Perhapsperhaps not. But if it is God's will that the king not be king"
Geoffrey had been in the south with Adam when Joanna sent him word that the sentence against John had been published on the Continent. It would not be officially published in England, of course; John could prevent that. However, he could not prevent the information from leaking out unofficially. Geoffrey made one swift round of Adam's southern keeps, then returned the boy to Leicester on his way north. He had a letter from Ian to show the vassals and he wanted the news and Ian's letter to reach them at the same time. If the news preceded him, there was more chance that the men would commit themselves to some lord opposed to the king before he could fix their interest and loyalty.
Thus, Joanna was on her own. Her fears did not show on

 
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