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Page 513
Chapter Twenty-Nine
The plan that Joanna and Gilliane devised worked well, but unfortunately it worked too soon. Both women had expected that it would take a week or two to implant the idea of a hunt into Sir Léon's head. What happened was that no sooner had Gilliane mentioned the word venison than Sir Léon was off. At least, that was how it appeared to the startled plotters. Actually, Sir Leon took the time to apologize to Geoffrey for leaving, giving him the excellent excuse his wife had providedthat boar and venison were strengthening to an invalid. He also sent a messenger to his uncle and waited for the reply. That, however, was all he waited for. In two days he was off, promising to return within the week with fresh game enough to restore Geoffrey's health.
"We must try again," Joanna said to Geoffrey the night before Sir Léon left. "You are not strong enough. We will think of something else."
"No," Geoffrey replied. "We will go."
"You cannot!" Joanna exclaimed.
"Do not be a fool. If I must, then I can. I will not take the chance that 'something else' will work. Sooner or later Louis will ask about me, and Leon will tell the truthwhy should he not?that I mend apace. Louis will not be led away again."
From this position Geoffrey would not be moved although Joanna alternately wept and pleaded and raged and stormed. He proffered no other reason. He could not because his real reason would merely have distressed Joanna more. It had occurred to Geoffrey that, if he were to be slain, it would be necessary to kill Joanna also. Obviously, his body could not be presented as that of a knight casually come upon and killed while trying to resist or escape when

 
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