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say the king was calling a council of war and excluding all the vassals who have chosen to stay in camp with their men?" |
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"That was not the intention. I am sure it was not," Salisbury said, with just a shade too much emphasis. |
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Fire glowed in Geoffrey's eyes, and he opened his mouthbut he said nothing, merely clutched his father's forearm comfortingly. He could not add to the worry he saw on Salisbury's face. Then he glanced to the window seat where Joanna still sat quietly. Salisbury followed his eyes. |
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"Go back to her," he urged, "she is waiting for you." |
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Geoffrey uttered a bark of laughter. "You are wrong about that," he said caustically. "She is waiting for me to leave." |
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"For God's sake," Salisbury snapped impatiently, "go out to the garderobe and stick your finger down your throat. I will talk to Joanna. When you are sober, come back and tell the girl you are sorry for whatever you said to offend her." |
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"I am not drunk now," Geoffrey protested indignantly, "and I said nothing to offend Joanna." |
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"Nor did I do anything. I am greatly in her way, she tells me. She cannot talk freely to the gentlemen of the court while I 'glower' at her across the room." |
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"What? You are making that up, Geoffrey. Joanna would never" |
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"Her motives are most pure," Geoffrey snarled. Then he realized he could not describe Joanna's motives to his father. "Oh, curse me that I ever agreed to have any part of her. All the women of that breed are devils. I am going to bed!" |
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Salisbury did not try to stop him. He had been a fool to interrupt Geoffrey in the middle of coupling and a worse fool to force him, drunk and unsatisfied, into the presence of a girl who would increase his frustration. Geoffrey must willfully have misunderstood something she said. He made his way toward Joanna purposefully, unaware that four |
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