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

phrases he already knew by heart. ". . .only twelve, so a plight troth might be advisable . krin? you a barony, lordship of Chilham ... an advantageous match . Richard silently mouthed the words; an advantageous match, indeedMarriage to Rohese de Dover would make him lord of Chilham Cast! With his lineage blemished by the bar sinister, with no lands of his ow / he was no great matrimonial prize. And yet his father was offering hiin barony.

397"My lord " A servant stood in the doorway "There's a woman seeking admittance out at the gate ""I'd not turn anyone away in such foul weather, least of all a Woman Give her shelter for the night ""My lord, you do not understand This woman says she is your sister1"JOANNA had stripped off her wet clothes Wrapped in one of Eve's bedrobes, she stood as close to the hearth as she could get, and when Richard handed her a goblet of hot mulled wine, she drank in deep, thirsty gulps He watched uneasily, saying nothing They were alone, Elen and Joanna's maids had been bedded down in an upper chamber, and Eve had uncomplainingly withdrawn soRichard might speak privately with his sister"How did you know I was at Grantham, Joanna7""I went to Comsbrough Castle Your mother told me " Joanna set the goblet down, began to towel-dry her hair There was an exaggerated and painstaking deliberation about her movements that Richard had occasionally seen in those who'd had too much drink or too little sleep He moved closer, close enough to see that Joanna's face was free of all cosmetics, that the skin was discolored and smudged under her eyes, stretched so tightly across her cheekbones that it put him in mind of silk strained to the breaking point It was an unsettling thought Her tension was contagious, Richard could feel it constricting his muscles, eroding his composure How much did she know7"It worked, that warning you sent Papa He has called off the invasion of WalesHe was truly shaken by your revelation, Joanna He demanded hostages from all those he suspected Most complied, how reluctantly you can well imagine ButEustace de Vesci and his cousin Robert Fitz Walter fled the court, de Vesci toScotland and Fitz Walter to France To Papa, that is all the proof needed of their guilt But he susperts that others, too, were involved in the plot, and as long as he does, 1 think it unlikely that he'll risk going into Wales "A fortnight ago that would have been the answer to Joanna's every Prayer, now it was salvation come too late She could not rejoice, felt Only a numbed sense of reliefJoanna did you hear what I just said7",Yes, I heard " She turned from the hearth "You were at Nottingam'Richard You saw the hangings "» was not a question, but he nodded, said reluctantly, "Yes, I saw did not believe it, Richard I tried to comfort Llewelyn by assur-

398ing him that it could not be true. I kept faith with my father, and all ft cost me was my marriage.""Joanna . . .""Papa had Prince Maelgwn's younger son hanged in Shrewsbury Did you know that, Richard?""Yes ... I heard.""He was not yet seven. Did you know that, too?"Her voice was low and so brittle that Richard sensed any answer would be the wrong one. "Papa did give the command to hang Prince Maelgwn's son; I cannot deny that. But he may have forgotten how young the boy was. He may not even have known""Richard, no!" Joanna had begun to tremble again. Richard pulled a blanket off the bed, draped it about her shoulders. As their eyes met, she said softly, "Why did you not tell me about Maude de Braose?"Richard expelled his breath in a sound much like a sigh. "I hoped you would never have to know.""You should have told me, Richard. I had the right to know.""I did not tell you, Joanna, for the same reason that Llewelyn did not. We wanted to spare you if we could.""I know what Llewelyn told me is true. I have to accept it, to learn to live with it. But I do not know if I can ever understand it. How do I reconcile my memories with what Papa did at Nottingham ... at Windsor? How, Richard?""I do not know," he admitted, and she reached out, grasped his arm."But you must. You've done it... somehow. Tell me, Richard. Tell me how you've done it." When he was silent, she cried, "For God's sake, help me! Papa never raised his hand to me, not once. He was oft moved to pity at sight of a crippled beggar, and he never refused alms to the needy. He liked to play with his dogs, and I once saw him rein in to berate a drover who was whipping his cart horse. Yet now I must believe that same man sent children to the gallows, gave the command to starve two people to death. How could he do it, Richard?Did he never awaken in the night, thinking of them? Did Maude's shadow never once fall across his table?""Joanna, do not do this to yourself.""How can I stop? There are reasons beyond counting why wen murder, but there can be only one reason for a death such as Maude sPapa had to want her to suffer. He had to want to prolong her agony as long as possible.""No," he said, "no.""No more lies, Richard. Do you not think it time I faced the truth."I'm not lying, Joanna. I've had months and months to think

399his All his life our uncle Richard did as he damned well pleased, with xplanations or apologies to no one But Papa is not like that, he needs to stify his actions, even to himself He wanted Maude dead, but he had o right to execute her, and he knew it, all knew it If he'd had her beheaded, there could be