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Page 353
ference to her husband's problems. There was not now and, as Joanna thought of it she realized there never had been, a shadow of anxiety on that beautiful face. The question brought its own answer. Isabella did not care what happened to John. She was sure nothing would happen to her, and that was all that mattered. Joanna remembered the talk about FitzWalter and the queen. Very probably Fitz Walter promised Isabella that her son Henry would rule in her husband's stead, and her state would be unchanged. That would account for the calm. Joanna was shaken with revulsion. Was that what she had desired for herself, that complacency of indifference?
She glanced at Geoffrey, who had bitten into an apple and was chewing with enjoyment, his head a little bent to hear better something Lady Alinor was saying to him. There had been a few moments of strained quiet after the brawlers were subdued, but the noise was now rising to normal levels. Ian was relaxed again, also listening to Alinor. Dutifully, Joanna turned toward the king. He was engaged with the master of the revels, urging that the players be brought on to occupy the feasters' attentions more completely than jugglers could. However, in turning Joanna caught Isabella's eyes upon her. The cat-in-the-cream-pot expression was even more intense, and a slow smile parted the exquisite lips to show the pearly teeth. Although Joanna could school her expression into perfectly uncomprehending placidity, she could not control the blood in her body. She felt the color drain from her cheeks and knew Isabella had seen the change in her complexion. The queen laughed, very softly, very sweetly, very happily. The vixen was trapped and knew it.
What merit is innocence, Joanna wondered, turning her eyes to a marvelous jelly that had been set before her. It was well worth looking at, a towering structure, quivering and quaking yet somehow supporting itself and remaining intact. She and the jelly had much in common. As long as no one touched them, they would present an appearance of firmness; as soon as either was broached, the formless stuff

 
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