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about each other. Alinor would have seen to it that the full weight of ordering supplies and overseeing their use fell upon her daughter. Geoffrey would have been sent out to hunt, not for pleasure but like a butcher for meat for the table. And she would have harried both with constant complaints until every spark of fear or uncertainty would have been channeled into anger at her unreasonable demands. Lady Alinor's one comfort was the memory of how miserable her first wedding had been and how happy the marriage that followed it. |
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At last, however, the first day of December dawned. Joanna, both out of fondness and superstition, had chosen her mother's wedding day to be her own. She lay in her bed, watching the cold light of winter grow slowly stronger, remembering her mother's glowing beauty and sparkling happiness on that day six years ago. She hoped her long sleepless night would not be too apparent in shadowing her eyes and draining the color from her cheeks. She wished the queen had not been so generous in providing a magnificent wedding gown. It was true that Isabella's choice was tasteful and appropriate for Joanna's coloring and normal complexion, but the rich blue tunic and cloth-of-gold cotte would make her look like a corpse if she was as pale as she felt. |
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The morning was not nearly as bad as Joanna feared, however. For one thing, the ladies were much better humored than usual, given over as they were to the intense pleasure of dressing in their best. For another, Joanna was cheered by the obvious pleasure that her mother and Lady Ela showed in the event. If Geoffrey had taken ill the information Lady Ela was supposed to have given him, surely Lady Ela would not be so easy. Geoffrey's wedding gift also aroused hope. A cascade of shimmering gray water spilled from the box he sent when it was opened. Moonstones! He must have spent the whole year collecting them, Joanna thought, for the stone was not common. Most people preferred the brilliant colors of emerald, ruby, or sapphire. But moonstones were the color of Joanna's eyes and |
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