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Page 313
men already had one foot in that camp, Salisbury spoke again.
"I hope you will not take it amiss, Geoffrey, if I should write to Ian and beg him to come home. It is not that I doubt your loyalty nor your ability, my son. I know the men would follow you in war without a hesitation or a second thought. It is only that you are young, and more weight in a matter of politics is given to the words of a man of wider experience. Moreover, it would be thought that your close tie to me and to your uncle would somewhat obscure"
He stopped because it was obviously needless to continue. The careful blankness of Geoffrey's expression, which had briefly given way to a flash of rage and resentment, had changed completely. His son was smiling, his eyes sparkling as bright with relief and pleasure as they had previously shone with anger. Salisbury blamed himself again for believing Geoffrey to be enamored of the power of leading Ian's vassals. On the contrary, it appeared that the task was a burden he would fain to be rid of.
In fact, neither consideration had brought the delight Salisbury saw to Geoffrey's face. It was, in fact, a purely personal joy that lighted Geoffrey from within. To him Ian's return meant the termination of his penance with regard to Joanna. With Ian came Lady Alinor and, hard on Lady Alinor's heels, his wedding. All other considerations, up to and including civil war, were of no account at all to Geoffrey in comparison with that. He was sure that, once married, he could sort out his wife's emotions. Perhapsoh, joyful thoughtshe flashed hot and cold because she was afraid to love him, afraid that her mother and stepfather were using the betrothal as some political ploy and never intended the marriage to take place.
It would be reasonable for her to withhold her love in that case. Joanna might have this quirk and that, but to the uttermost that she could command herself her husband would always hold her loyalty and devotion. It would be a hard and bitter thing to give that to one man while love for another tore her heart.
She should have known Ian better than that, Geoffrey

 
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