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Page 255
it even here, where large gardens separated the houses of noblemen from each other; there was no chance at all further downriver where the poorer tradesmen's dwellings clustered close.
"Ride out to see where the fire is?" Joanna scolded. "What are you, a child that needs to watch things bum?"
The tremor in her voice gave her away. Instead of losing his temper and telling her to go back to bed or mind her needle if she could not sleep, Geoffrey took Joanna in his arms. "I must see if I and my men can be of help. Also, Engelard has a house on that side of the river, and I know he is with the king."
There was a short, tense silence. Joanna knew that if Engelard d'Atie had a house in Southwark, it was tenanted by a mistress. A single wave of fury swept Joanna at the notion that Geoffrey should endanger himself for some common doxy. Shame followed. She knew nothing about the woman who might be as well born and as innocent as Geoffrey's mother. In any case, it would be impossible for Geoffrey to face himself or his friend, knowing he had been at hand and had not tried to help.
"Go then," she said, keeping her voice steady with an effort, "but have a care. Unless the rain comes soon, the fire will run fast before this wind."
They both glanced out the window again and drew breath. The red glow seemed to be spreading and brighter. Geoffrey dragged his tunic over his unlaced shirt while Joanna found a pair of cross garters to replace the pair he had torn.
"I will be lighter without mail," he said, paused, and added, "Set someone to watch, beloved. If by some hard chance it should leap the river, gather your things and go. I will not be long behind you, but do not wait for me."
Geoffrey did not wait for a reply, afraid Joanna would begin to cry. The temptation to comfort her would be near irresistible but merely a self-indulgence. There was no real danger here. He hurried down the stairs, shouting for his men to dress and take weapons but not armor, then out to

 
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