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

paused uncertainly before the stall of his chestnut pal-and then moved toward the far door, out into the stable yard. He not there, either, and she crossed to the shed where the stable gear was kept."Llewelyn?" The shed was dark; coming from sunlight, she could e no more than a man's silhouette. "Llewelyn, I've been looking all ver for you. You left the hall so suddenly . . ." She came closer, said hesitantly, "Beloved, I was worried about you ...""Did Senena speak the truth? Did you deliberately goad Gruffydd into that rage?"When Senena had accused her in the great hall, she'd responded with an instinctive, heated denial, indignant enough to carry conviction. But alone now with Llewelyn in the darkened shed, Joanna found she could not lie to him."Yes ... I did. I wanted him to show you his true nature, to show you how dangerous he is. I thought you might banish him from your court, into exile.But I never meant for this to happen, Llewelyn. I never thought you'd be forced to imprison him, I swear it."She waited, at last entreated, "Are you not going to say anything? It is bad enough that I cannot see your face, but your silence is worse. I did it forDavydd, Llewelyn, for our son. Surely you can understand?"He brushed past her, moved out into the yard. As he stepped into(he sunlight, Joanna was shocked at the sight of him. His face looked ravaged, as if he were bleeding from an internal wound, one that could drain away a man's lifeblood before his physicians even diagnosed the danger. She ran to catch up with him, followed him back into the stable.Llewelyn, you must listen to me. I know your pain, know"Uo you?" But he turned away before she could answer, entered e chestnut's stall, where he took undue care in bridling the horse.°anna watched helplessly as he laid a sweat pad across the animal's a% passed the crupper under its tail.Will you not talk to me? Llewelyn, this serves for naught!" s-naP°siti°ned the saddle, began to adjust the girth buckles. "Senas right.Killing Gruffydd would be kinder than caging him." uav "' Llewelyn . . .what else could you do? He forced you to it, ^you no choice."e swung around to face her, and she shrank back. Never had he

590looked at her like this, a look that went beyond anger, that came per. ilously close to denying a lifetime of love. "You blame me for what hap. pened?Llewelyn, that's not fair! I know how this hurt you. But I had no choice, either. I had to put Davydd's life above all else. I had to do whatever Icould to protect him. How could you expect me to do less?""I would have expected you to come to me! Davydd is my son, too Do you thinkI'd not have done what I could to safeguard his life, his inheritance?""But I knew you would not have banished Gruffydd! You yourself admitted you've always indulged him, forgiven him. I was sure talking would do no good, that you had to see for yourself just how untrustworthy he truly is. Be honest, Llewelyn. What would you have done had I come to you with my fears, my suspicions?""We'll never know, for you never gave us the chance. Had you trusted me enough to confide in me, mayhap I could have found another way. At the least, I'd not have had Gruffydd taken by force at high noon in the great hall, whilst his nine-year-old son looked on!""I am sorry about that, truly I am . . ." Joanna said haltingly. "But Ithought I was acting for the best.""By going behind my back? By lying and conniving? You said I had no choice.You're right, for you saw to that!""Why will you not try to understand? Jesus wept, I did it for Davydd!"He shoved the stall door back, led the stallion out into the row. "I do understand, more than you think. This is not the first time, after all, that you've lied to me. When you sent John that secret warning, you justified that just as easily, swore you'd done it for me. And now Davydd. Who are you to make my decisions for me, to decide what I ought to do?"He was leading the stallion toward the door. Joanna hastened to keep pace, grabbed his arm. "I did not believe you'd banish Gruffydd unless forced to it.I still believe that! How can I not, when you've forgiven him time and time again?"He pulled free, swung up into the saddle. "To give credit where due, your scheme worked admirably. You duped me into doing exactly what you wanted, like a master puppeteer. My congratulation8' Madame. I daresay John would be very proud of you!"Joanna flinched as if from a physical blow. "Damn you!" she crie "Damn you, damn you!"Llewelyn spurred his stallion forward. Joanna did not try to s K him. Standing in the stable doorway, she watched as he cantered ac the bailey.

1-?£_TOEGARNEDD, NORraWAUS O^festr ua}<I OANNA walb^. , f out of earshot before continuing. "I< Catherine's servant to moveBangor, and when he learned what /^h returned the next da7 from accused me of having no faith in h- haPPened, he was furious. He thwarting Gruffydd's ambitions, an<^' mS1Sted he needed no help in but without humor. "At Davydd'sCOUld l arSue?" She smiled, mortal insult." ase' a mother's fear is taken as a"And what of Llewelyn? You coi , , "No. I've never seen him so ang^ "Ot'econci'e?" myself. In the days that followed, vy^ Y then l was no less angry possible, no longer spoke unless abstJf avoided or>e another wheneverCatherine. And then on the fourth V"7 necessary- » was dreadful, Hubert deBurgh had invaded Ceri " fY ""^ W°rd that Henry and "For once, Gruffydd was actually in tK/gam that bleak' mirthless smile. was still angry, still hurt.But I did not "g ; he/d Predicfed as much. I harsh