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Page 335
politeness and an automatic self-defense mechanism prevented her from "noticing" him.
"You have spent a good deal of time alone with Geoffrey," Alinor began.
"Not really," Joanna replied, rather puzzled.
Alinor laughed. "Twenty minutes are enough if both be willing. My love, are you still a maiden?"
"Of course," Joanna assured her. "I knew there was some reason that you and Ian wished me to be betrothed rather than married. I would not permit" Joanna blushed. She had come near doing more than permitting Geoffrey to couple with her. She had nearly urged him to do so the night of the fire.
The blush was a delightful sign. Alinor knew she had been right about her daughter, that hidden behind that placid exterior was a healthy lustand apparently Geoffrey had awakened it finely. Good for him! But what in the world was the girl talking about?
"Reason?" Alinor repeated. "Our only reason was to protect you. We feared that you and Geoffrey, young as you were and burdened with more than you should carry, would rub each other wrongly and, instead of love, would grow into hate."
"Oh!" Joanna's blush deepened. "That was what Geoffrey said, but I thought he was just urging me because"
Alinor laughed heartily. "You guessed well. Geoffrey may be truthful enough in a general way, but in such a cause all men develop tongues as quick and agile as snakes. But you look quite regretful Joanna," Alinor went on mischievously. "Would you have yielded?"
"Yes," Joanna replied simply.
The dutiful self-sacrifice of her daughter always surprised and faintly annoyed Alinor. "What in the world held you back? What reason could we have had that I would have concealed from you?"
"I thought it might be something to do with the king that you did not wish to come to Salisbury's ears. It does not

 
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