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Page 493
"Yes, free him," Joanna concurred, thus lifting Sir Guy from the horns of the dilemma upon which he had been painfully perched. "I beg your pardon, Sir Leon," she continued, "I hope you understand that a woman must take precautions a man might scorn to take."
Joanna did not, however, turn her head toward him. Her eyes remained fixed upon Geoffrey, and she moved forward slowly, as if a sudden gesture on her part might topple him from his feet. Her soft gray eyes were misty with concern.
"How badly were you hurt?" she breathed.
Geoffrey's lips twitched with suppressed laughter even as tears of joy rose into his eyes. "Since I am now near well, it does not matter," he said to reassure her. "I have been well cared for."
"Will you mount my horse, my lord?" Sir Guy asked, having finished with Sir Léon's bonds and feeling that Geoffrey should not be on his feet any longer than necessary.
"No," Geoffrey protested, "that will hurt worse than walking back."
"There is no need," Sir Léon said, having also dismounted. "Gilliane will send out a litter and some men to carry it. Sit down here, Lord Geoffrey, and rest."
"It is not necessary," Geoffrey insisted.
"Please, Geoffrey," Joanna begged.
He turned on her, laughing. "That is a fine turnabout. A minute since, you threw your knife at my head. It was you and your crazy suspicions that dragged me out here. Now, of a sudden, you fear for my welfare."
Geoffrey teased and laughed because if he did not laugh and tease he would fall into Joanna's arms, weeping. His surprise past, there was such joy in him, such relief, that he did not know how to contain it. Yet it was too great a thing to display before others. Geoffrey denied his need for help only because his need to be alone with Joanna made nothing of his pain and weakness. All he could think was that it would take too long for a litter to be brought; that if he walked at once he would be sooner safe in her arms.
"If you will each give me an arm," he said, glancing at

 
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