Here Be Dragons - 1 Sharon Penman (paper ebook reader .TXT) 📖

But two can fish in those troubled waters, and John's enemies are beyond counting.When I was at the English court this Easter, I spoke with some of them.They're men who hate John even more than they fear him, men who want him dead.If he leads an army into Wales, that will give them the opportunity they've been waiting for. If he crosses into Gwynedd, he'll find that he has as much to fear from his own lords as he does from the Welsh." Llewelyn paused. "NeedI say more?""No," Rhys Gryg said succinctly, and for the first time he smiled. By common accord, all eyes then turned toward Gwenwynwyn. He looked so perturbed thatLlewelyn could not keep from laughing."It's rather like being asked to choose between dwelling in Sodom or moving toGomorrah, is it not?" he gibed, and Gwenwynwyn scowled. But when the other men laughed, he, too, managed a very sour smile, a grudging nod.JOANNA'S hair was unbraided, fell loose and free to her hips. Lleweiy entwined a long strand around his fingers, made of it a soft noose for w throat, entangling them both in its coil. "Your hair always smells lemon," he murmured. "Did I ever tell you how much I like that?Joanna said nothing. She could feel his breath on her cheek, a then his mouth was on hers. It was an unhurried, easy kiss, strong-flavored with wine. He'd released her hair, and his hands were wander. _ at will over her body, his mouth tracking the curve of her throat. Joanna did not move, not even when he loosened the bodice of her own, cupped and caressed her breast with a warm, knowing hand. He kissed her again, exploring her mouth as he was exploring her body, and then stepped back, abruptly ended the embrace."That kiss, Madame, could well give a man frostbite. What ails you, Joanna?""This afternoon I entered the antechamber, found that Madog had left our bedchamber door ajar. I listened at that door, Llewelyn, listened as you and the other Welsh Princes made plans for war.""I see. Just what did you hear?" When she did not reply, he said, "Joanna, tell me!""I heard you talking of Norman barons who mean to betray my father. I heardRhys Gryg say these men wanted my father dead, and I heard him ask if you, too, sought Papa's death. You said you did.""Not so, Joanna. I said that I would gladly see him dead, but I seek only to reclaim what is mine. I do not forget the vast and sovereign powers of theEnglish King. Nor that you are of his blood. If he stays out of my lands, I

shall be content. But if he leads an army into my realm, I will defend myself and mine as best I can, and make no apologies for it ... not even to you.""My father has given you cause to hate him; I find no fault with you for that.I do not want to quarrel with you, not with so much at stake. I know you so well, Llewelyn, know the secrets of your heart, your soul. You have ever been decisive, little given to self-doubts, but you are not impulsive. I must assume, then, that you have thought on this long and hard, that you are fully aware of what the consequences might be. And that is what I find so difficult to understand. You do realize what you are risking? Our son's inheritance. Our marriage. Your son Gruffydd's freedom. Above all, your life. You do know that?""Yes," he said, "I know."She took a step toward him, held out her hands, palms up, in a gesture of despairing entreaty. "Why, Llewelyn? Sweet Jesus, why?"Joanna, I would that I had an answer for you, one you could ac-ePt- I do in truth understand the risks. There are nights when I lie*e/ when I cannot keep my thoughts from dwelling upon disaster, c"°n aU I have to lose. I think of my son as a prisoner of the English n, and I think of you, a widow at the age of one and twenty."out still you mean to do this, still you are set upon war." "Yes/' he said bleakly.irrn s°me moments of silence, he moved to her, pulled her into his nis time she did not stand rigid and unresponsive in his em-

368JT369brace; she clung tightly. "You are rushing headlong to your own destruction,"she whispered, "and I know not how to save you."3°NOTTINGHAM, ENGLANDAugust 1212NcLN OTTINGHAM Castle was one of John's favorite residences, for it was all but impregnable against attack, situated on a cliff above the River Leen, with three baileys encircled by deep, dry moats. But Richard knew they would not be long at Nottingham; in just five days John was assembling an army at Chester.John had gone at once into the great hall, but Richard was still loitering out in the middle bailey, watching as their baggage carts were unloaded. He was in no hurry to join his father, for John's temper was very much on the raw during this, the fourteenthand if Peter the Hermit was to be believed, the lastsummer of his reign.His victories in Scotland, Ireland, and Wales had encouraged John to lookChannelward. Time had not reconciled him to the loss of Normandy, and in the spring he'd begun making plans for an invasion of France. The summer of 1212, he assured Richard, was to be a season of retribution.And indeed it was proving to be just that, Richard thought grimly/ but not precisely as his father had anticipated. John was at the Scots border when word reached him of his son-in-law's rebellion. Llewelyn had chosen his time with care, and within a month he'd retaken all ot the Perfeddwlad, save onlyDeganwy and Rhuddlan Castles.' i--i raaP thatK.n^.v*., ,j ^Richard had never seen his father in such a violent rage, a rage.i i~U^i hi thatRichard had never seen ms lamci m um.1. « ,,^.^,* .-<-,-, fed upon itself, gained ground