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Page 350
dishes in each course. First came a jellied dish of minnows, followed by a baked salmon belly. Stewed eels were next and then a dish of boiled porpoise with peas. Sweet followed spicy in the form of a herring rolled and baked in dark sugar, which was accompanied by a relish of greens. When the palate had been refreshed by this change of pace, broiled pike, roast lamprey, roast sole, and roast porpoise were presented. The course was completed by a magnificent subtlety, a towering sculpture of cake and jelly, representing a young maid and young man, handfast.
The musicians had, of course, been playing throughout the meal, but when the subtlety was set upon the high table, and lesser sweets upon the other tables in order of their importance, they struck up a livelier measure. Well aware of his duty, Geoffrey stepped over the bench, assisted Joanna to rise, and led her to the clear space on the floor. A column of willing dancers followed swiftly and for the next half hour they worked off the intake of food and wine with lively exercise. By the time they were blown and panting, the servingmen were waiting impatiently at the doors. Laughing and chattering, the dancers returned to their places. Joanna's eyes were alight with pleasure and Geoffrey's hair was curling a little on his damp forehead.
Now the tumblers came on to the floor to entertain. They were quick, the jesters lewd and rude. Joanna had almost forgotten by now that this was her wedding and that the pleasant young man on one side of her was her husband and the heavy man on the other the king. She was animated and merry, her eyes glowing as softly lucent as the great moonstones that decked her bosom, arms, and wimple. No matter how wonderful the feat performed by the entertainers, Geoffrey's eyes often strayed from them to his prize. The king's eyes did not do so, but his thoughts were not really much different. He regretted that he could not sup from Joanna's cup right after her husband had filled it. He had seen old Sir Simon in her and knew that fear would not shut her mouth. Nonetheless, all the smoke that beclouded her virtue had to come from some fire. Let him only hold his

 
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