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dess should emit waves of rage. Both ignored the dog, merely raising their voices to overpower his bellowing. Lady Maud put her hands to her ears. |
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''You idiot!" Geoffrey snarled, "I tell you I did not come there apurposehowever fortunate it was for you that I did come there. I fell asleep on my horse, which took the widest, easiest road. I would have been safe home, without half these burns, if you had not thrust yourself where no sane woman should be." |
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Having already explained several times that she had been assured that all danger from the fire was over, Joanna did not bother to offer that palliative. Unlike Alinor, Joanna was not quarrelsome for the fun of it nor because fighting lent a real spice to a reconciliation abed, nor did she become so angry that she no longer heard what was said. In addition, she had become aware of Lady Maud's desperate attempt to shut them out of her hearing. It was ridiculous to continue an argument in which neither was right or wrong and upon a subject that, almost certainly, would never arise again. |
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"Very well," Joanna said, dropping her voice, "indeed, it must be true that I am an idiot. No one but an idiot would be so concerned about you as to seek news of you when you plunge into trouble. I promise you, I shall not do it again." |
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Upon the words, she walked out of the solar and into the bedchamber behind it. Bereft of a target, Geoffrey closed his teeth over what more he had to say. In the silence, Joanna's last speech seemed to echo in his ears and finally penetrated to his brain. The flush died from his face, leaving the marks of the burns raw-red on the fair skin. He looked speculatively at the door through which Joanna had gone, a pleased smile replacing his previous hard expression. She was still an idiot, but that was forgivable, anything was forgivable when he considered what she had said. Only now he had to make his peace with her. Geoffrey's smile faded. Joanna was not quick to anger, but she was also not easy to appease. |
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Geoffrey put a hand to his face in a characteristic gesture |
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