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"I do not think there is any danger it will be locked to keep us in," she said slowly. "If that had been intended, it would have been done while we were all busy about my lord. Also, he has been here long. See the chair and table and rug. It must have been to keep Lord Geoffrey safe, rather than to keep him inside. Indeed, where could he go, what could he do, in the state he is?" |
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Whatever Sir Guy would have answered was cut off by the arrival of Sir Léon, rather red and short of breath. "I would like to speak to Lord Geoffrey," he said somewhat stiffly. |
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"He is alseep," Joanna objected impatiently. "What is it you desire of him? I am able for more than he just now. Speak to me." |
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Sir Léon did not want to speak to Joanna. He did not like her. She might be beautiful, but she was hard, unwomanly, proud, overbearing; in fact, she had every fault a woman could have. Still, from Sir Guy's naked sword and wary expression, it was obvious they were aware of where they were. In the face of Joanna's long suspicion, some explanation must be offered. |
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"I only wished to beg his pardon for locking him in this place," Sir Léon grated out. "No insult to Lord Geoffrey's honor was intended. It was only to ensure his safety against search and seizure by King Philip's men. As soon as he wakes, you will move to more suitable quarters." |
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It was a reasonable explanation, but the "smell" of danger lingered in Joanna's mind. After a while, as she sat beside Geoffrey, she began to wonder if it was idleness rather than any real thing that was making her uneasy. She had brought no work along on this hurried journey and now she regretted it because it was an effort not to stare at Geoffrey. That would disturb him but, worse, his nearness was waking a most untimely hunger in her, a hunger that must remain unsatisfied for some considerable time owing to Geoffrey's condition. The combined discomforts of anxiety, idleness, and frustration served to unsettle Joanna and make her unreasonable. Staring at the blank walls, she became infuriated because Geoffrey had welcomed her as a |
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