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flirting with men who nearly drooled as she mocked them. |
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There were a few more serious memories: the tears pouring down Joanna's face as she substituted for her mother as chief mourner in the burial of an infant sister; the tenderness with which she received Brianand an ugly sight he was, blind and half-dead from being taken too soon from his mother. But laughter and sorrow and tenderness could not point to the answer Geoffrey wanted. Could Joanna support him as he would need to be supported if he was to lead Ian's men successfully? |
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He told himself not to be a fool, that Ian and Alinor would never leave that responsibility on such young shoulders. But it was not possible to delude himself with that comfort for long. If Ian was willing to trust him with so much, it would not occur to him that Joanna might be unfit. Perhaps he should suggest that idea himself? Before he had finished formulating the notion, Geoffrey shuddered. To suggest to Ian that Joanna was not perfect, from the longest hair of her flaming head to the tiniest nail on her smallest toe, could produce nothing but a burst of rage. Besides, Geoffrey was not sure Joanna was unfit. She had been left behind more than once to care for the lands while Alinor went abroad with her husband. Geoffrey had been with Ian and Alinor, of course, so he could not know how much management had been in Joanna's hands, how much in those of Sir Guy or others. |
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Obviously, what was necessary was to speak to Joanna himselfand it must be before the betrothal. Once that agreement was signed, he would be bound by it. Before the terms were agreed, however, he might make conditions, might ask that Joanna have some advisor accustomed to dealing with money and supplies in large quantities. Perhaps Ela would lend Joanna one of her men. What was more, he must speak to Joanna alone. For him to appear to test her in Ian's or Alinor's presence would serve no purpose. Ian would either get angry or would give her hints, and Joanna was always subdued in Alinor's presence and would wait for her mother to speak. However, to get Joanna |
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