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across the hall and took Gilliane's hands. She looked down at them, up at him, and surged forward against him, crying aloud how glad she was to have him back, how much she had missed him, all mixed together with apologies for her inability to keep the men to their work and lesson the boys. |
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It was a rich reward, Sir Léon thought, for so simple a gesture as taking Gilliane's hands. It inspired him to use upon his wife the techniques he had learned while traveling with Joanna. So well did the small courtesies of holding a bench for her and choosing tidbits to put upon her trencher serve, that, when they went to bed he eagerly displayed the more intimate lessons he had learned from Edwina. Gilliane was not made jealous in the least by this expansion in her husband's sexual repertoire. It never occurred to her for a moment that Léon would, or even should, be faithful to her. She considered herself fortunate that he had never set up a mistress in the keep as some men did. Gilliane thanked God in full and overflowing measure for the joy she received and did not question its source. |
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Whatever little flicker of longing Gilliane had felt for Geoffrey was expunged as completely and finally as a mark on soft sand is erased by the flow of the tide. Any resentment she had felt toward Joanna was also washed away. Somehow she credited them with bringing her this new joy, and she went about her duties the next day with a heart that sang, with footsteps as light as a girl's, and a face that had shed twenty years, and with a determination to do her guests a good turn if it was in any way possible. |
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Later in the afternoon, Léon's uncle, Louis, arrived, having been summoned by messenger the previous day. The ransom was counted and delivered. Geoffrey and Joanna were now truly guests, housed in the best guest room and free to leave whenever they desired. Unfortunately, that was more theory than fact because Geoffrey was still in too much pain and too weak to ride, and to carry him in a horse litter away from France would cry aloud to the world the strong possibility that he had been wounded at Bouvines. This would be an open invitation to be made prisoner again. |
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