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Page 136
parting she had been paying so close attention, as she had promised, to Geoffrey's kisses that she had forgotten to tell her betrothed to write to her. And the news would take days to filter down to her, she knew. Then she called herself a fool three times over and set out with determination to find Richard Marsh. It was the most natural thing in the world that she should ask openly for news about the campaign in Wales when her betrothed husband was involved.
Before she found the chancellor, however, his page found her. Geoffrey had not needed a reminder. The page handed her a thick roll of parchment, closed with Geoffrey's seal, showing the rampant lioncel of Salisbury above the bend sinister, and the Danish axe of his mother's family below.
Somehow, Joanna felt that the only proper place to read it was the garden. She looked down at Brian, who looked up hopefully. "All right," Joanna said, "I will take you, but only if you are quiet." At the small cost of a few flower heads and a few sage and basil leaves, Brian was convinced to lie down at his mistress's feet while she read.
"To Lady Joanna, greetings. I hope this finds you as it leaves me, well. As we spoke of matters when I last had words with you, so has it fallen out. We came swiftly across into Gwynedd and pursued that will-o'-the-wisp Llewelyn until our supplies failed. I am almost sorry now for my foresight for it has brought much labor upon me and upon the poor men given into my care."
Joanna looked up from the letter momentarily. They must be in sore straits, she thought, to make Geoffrey sound so pettish, but so long as he was well and safe other matters could be mended.
"Because we were best fitted for that task, it has been our fate to bear the brunt of this pursuit. We are more weary and angry than hurt. Forewarned though I was by Lord Ian, still they tricked me finelyand not only me but Sir Peter and others better versed than I in warleaving such signs as I could swear they were just ahead out of sight. We pursued the more eagerly until men and horses dropped from exhaus-

 
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