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Page 543
In spite of her awareness of Geoffrey sitting and staring in just the position she had left him, Joanna could not help smiling. All would be well with Adam, she thought, if he could evince so great an interest in Edwina. She signaled the maid behind her brother's back to let him tumble her if he showed a desire for it. Ordinarily, Edwina regarded Adam as a "child" and would have refused him, but she looked at Joanna as if to say she was no fool and knew as well as her mistress when a man needed such warmth and soothing. Tears rose and stung in Joanna's eyes. Geoffrey was beyond such ministrations, she feared.
Alinor and Ian arrived with the dusk that very day, and one could see Adam's spirit healing as they spoke, explaining and comforting. Geoffrey, however, did not change. He was perfectly sensible and, owing to wider experience, not nearly so distressed by the excesses of the foreign mercenaries, but his eyes were the color of mud and there was no life in his voice. He had given no response to Joanna's overtures when she bathed him, and she desisted, her own passion chilled. When they went to bed she tried again.
Although Joanna succeeded in rousing her husband, it was a dreadful mistake. He said all the right words; his hands and lips did all the right things. He was patient and considerate, waiting and waiting for her because she was very slow to reach orgasm. She came at last because the stimulation of her body blanked out the sorrow of her mind. Geoffrey was not therenot Geoffrey. This was someone remote and indifferent, cold even in the moment of climax.
The next day, Adam dragged Joanna out into the garden to tell her that she need not worry about Geoffrey. "He is as able as ever. The hurts he had do not hinder him in any way. God knows, he needs no guarding from me. I may be a little stronger, but he is quicker and much more subtle. I had enough to do to keep up with him."
That was not, of course, what Joanna feared, but it was impossible to explain, so she thanked Adam and kissed him and said she was sorry that he had come to harm through her. If she had not begged his help, he would not have been

 
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