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Page 69
Unfortunatelyor fortunatelyhe had begun to tremble and sweat a little. The hand was damp; the long, strong hairs clung to it. Geoffrey, all unintentionally, pulled Joanna's hair.
The pain was not severe, but it was sharp and sudden. On the instant, she was out of his arms, off his lap, standing before him, panting like a hunted doe. That was a piece of good luck that Geoffrey did not appreciate at all at the moment. Had Joanna's move been less sudden, he would instinctively have tried to hold her; she would have struggled; irreparable damage might have been done. Now, although she had left him and her eyes were wide with shock, she did not run away.
"Joanna," Geoffrey whispered, realizing that if he moved a finger she would run, "beloved, I did not mean to hurt you. I will never hurt you if I can help it."
"So that is what you meant!" she exclaimed. Her breathing was slowing, but she licked her lips as if seeking the taste of his mouth.
"Come back, Joanna," Geoffrey pleaded softly.
"Oh no," she replied, gathering up her hair and throwing it behind her as if she was afraid he would seize it again. Then, blindingly, she smiled at him. "Oh no. You were quite right, Geoffrey. I think we had both better hide from the devil."
"Love is not of the devil," Geoffrey urged.
She laughed softly. "I do not think it is eitherdespite what the priests say. It isit is a great pleasure."
"Then come back to me. I will do you no hurt. I willI will let you go if you bid me."
That made her laugh again. "But I do not think I could bid you let me go if I came back. You know that!" She put out a hand to fend him off and backed away as he rose. "No, Geoffrey. It would be very wrong, I am sure."
"How can it be wrong? We are betrothed. We are man and wife except for the final blessing."
"There you have said it," Joanna replied seriously. "We are only betrothed. I know that Ian and my mother intended

 
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