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Page 264
smirched with soot and tears. Her initial coolness was soon warmed. Lady Maud was not common dross and, although silly, she was sweet-natured, more distressed for her lover's losses than for her own suffering. Joanna listened to her tale with growing horror and, when she was done, rushed to the bedroom to throw open the shutters and stare across the river. What she saw only increased her horror. Although there was no fire on the bank directly opposite her own house, further east the whole of Southwark seemed to be hidden in a heavy pall of smoke that was lit by a color no dawn could bring. And Geoffrey, that madman, had not taken ship with Lady Maud like any sensible being.
Even as she muttered those words to herself, Joanna knew he was right. He could not abandon his men or the horses or servants. There was nothing to fear, Joanna assured herself. Geoffrey was not really a fool. Doubtless he was leading the group around the fire. If they crossed by the bridge, he would be home very soon.
Meanwhile, there were things to do. The bed Geoffrey would have slept in was brought and set up in Joanna's bed-chamber, a bath was prepared and clean clothing made ready to comfort Lady Maud. Joanna tried to draw the lady's mind to other subjects, but she could talk only of the fire and how good Geoffrey had been. It was a relief to get her into bed, and Joanna was glad that morning had come and she could use that as an excuse to leave Lady Maud alone in the bedchamber. It was much harder not to worry about Geoffrey when a chattering fool continued to laud his bravery. Joanna would rather have heard his good sense praised.
After breaking her fast with apparent calm to soothe the servants, Joanna went down to the bottom of the garden. She could see less from there than from her bedchamber window and she returned to the house where in her well-run household there was nothing for her to do but work on her embroidery. Soon it seemed to Joanna that hours and hours had passed, although judging from the tasks upon which the servants were engaged it was still morning. There was little

 
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