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Page 73
A brief stunned silence was followed by a burst of unmaidenly laughter. "I am sorry," Joanna choked, when she had mastered herself. She had had a vision of Brian's great bulk landing on them right in the middle of lovemaking. "I can see that something will have to be arranged. It is just as well you mentioned it." She began to giggle helplessly again. "He learns so slowly, and it would be a trifle distracting to have him howling outside the door or dragging half the castle folk to the door to open it for him."
"Joanna!" Geoffrey said repressively. He knew her puckish sense of humor and was well aware that her public modesty of speech and manner did not result from any prudery of mind. "If you teach that dog any silly tricks"
"No, no, I will not," she assured him, laughing, and then more soberly. "It is very funny to think about, but I do not believe I would enjoy being interrupted any more than you would."
The sincerity in her voice gave Geoffrey enormous pleasure. He was proud of having awakened her enough so that she would look forward to their union with anticipation. It was also well done to let her go.
"I hope so," he replied, stroking her hair and her arm. "I will do my best to please youalways." Then, seeing she did not tense or flinch away, he took her gently into his arms to kiss again. This time, however, his embrace was planned, not a result of the desire that had seized him when he saw her unexpectedly in the moonlight, and his kiss had more tenderness than passion. "Do not rise to bid me farewell," he said softly when their lips parted. "I will leave before lauds, and it will be hard enough for medo not come down, Joanna.''
Joanna did not answer at first, merely bid Brian "stay" and opened the gate so they could come through. Finally she said, "If that is your desire, I will obey you, my lord, butGod go with you then, Geoffrey. God keep you."
In the shadow of the forebuilding he kissed her again, not quite so tenderly as before, but he broke the embrace quickly. "Farewell, then, beloved. God keep you also," he

 
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