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

voice had carried; others were looking her way.Still not sure how she'd gotten herself into such a predicament she stared helplessly at the older woman, knowing neither how to enforce her command nor how to extricate herself without loss of face Maude was looking at her mockingly, and she crimsoned, going hot with humiliation and impotent anger.She opened her mouth, having no idea what she was going to say, and then sawMaude's face change, saw her smile splinter into frozen fragments. Joanna spun around, to find Llewelyn standing just behind her."What are you drinking, Joanna? Hippocras?"She nodded, watched wide-eyed as he held the wine cup out to Maude. "LadyMaude, if you will," he said, smiling. Maude was of a sudden as deeply flushed as Joanna, but she managed a stiff smile of her own."As it pleases Your Grace, it would be my pleasure.""No, Lady Maude. As it pleases my wife."Joanna wanted nothing so much as to sit down in a quiet corner; she felt as if her knees had turned to butter. She drew several uneven breaths, nerving herself to look up into Llewelyn's face. No matter how harshly he might treat her in time to come, she'd ever be grateful for what he'd just done, would never forget it. But what must he think of her, that she would make such a fool of herself? If he was furious, she could scarce blame him, and she said, very low, "Thank you, my lord. I'm so sorry, in truth I am. I did not mean to make a scene. I just wanted to . . .""To settle an old score?" he suggested softly, and as she raised her eyes to his, she saw in them only amused understanding.IF the Normans were indifferent and the Welsh aloof, there were wedding guests present who were absolutely elated by the marriage, the Marcher border lords with Welsh holdings. One by one they sough' Joanna out, to wish her well, to express the hope that she'd soon bear Llewelyn a son, to praise her father's wisdom and foresight in making0' Llewelyn an ally. She was surrounded now by a group of these men-

191t whom was, to her delight, none other than Aubrey de Mara He°n. faiien into Prince Llewelyn's hands when Llewelyn took CastleI Id some years back, he explained, and whilst waiting for his ransom. paid, a mutual regard had developed He did indeed think of the ce as a friend, would never have missed his wedding to a girl he emembered with such fondnessJoanna had no interest, however, in reminiscing of Mirebeau Her ncern was more immediate, was in learning all she could of the man whom she was now wedShe was most interested, therefore, in what Llewelyn's Corbet km had to say, listened attentively as Hugh Corbet obligingly related anecdotes of Llewelyn'sShropshire boyhood Hugh gave her more comfort than even he knew, the mere fact that he'd remained on such friendly terms with Llewelyn, although his wife, Llewelyn's mother, was five years dead, was to Joanna reason for reassuranceBut she did not like Hugh's nephew, Thomas Corbet, not at all, she'd been greatly offended by several snide remarks he'd made, revealing a deep-seated dislike for Llewelyn To make such remarks in her hearing was in the worst of taste, was to imply that she was ignorant of the most basic loyalties a wife owed her husband, and she soon made an excuse to escape the Corbet companyA man lurched toward her, so unsteady on his feet that he could not stop in time, shoved Joanna back against the wall She'd been introduced to him earlier in the evening, remembered him only because he was surely one of the last men she'd have expected to find at her wedding, Fulk Fitz Warm, the Shropshire baron who'd led an abortive rebellion against her father He'd eventually capitulated, sued for John's pardon and, to the surprise of many, had gotten it That seemed to be what was on his mind, he launched into a rather incoherent speech of gratitude, although she could not be sure whether he was praising her father for pardoning him or Llewelyn for giving him refugeJoanna was more amused than affronted, the man was so obviously besotted She was glad, nonetheless, when several of his companions, slightly more sober, came to her rescue They, too, had earlier introduced themselves as friends of her husband, Stephen and Baldwin de Hodnet, with extravagantly elaborate apologies, they sought now to distract Fitz Warm But he, with the peculiar obstinacy of the inebriated, Was determined to continue his disjointed conversation with Joanna, assuring her solemnly that he wished only the best for her, that Prince evvelyn was indeed a lucky man, and then, to Joanna's horror, that Was surely time to escort her and her lord husband to the bridal chamberJoanna stared at him in dismay His voice was overly loud, carried

292At any moment others might hear, pick up the chant, and she was lot ready yet, needed more time. Her fear of the marriage bed was not a fe ofLlewelyn himself, for he had given her no reason to think he'd L brutal or abusive. Her fear was rather of the unknown. She coul

193south end of the hall . .h the door, just wait the '-.yes, but. . .but why?. without attracting attention. Once yon hp door just wait there for me. Can you do that?" ^Yes, but... but why?""Did you not say you had no taste for the bedding revels?" "I do not understand," Joanna said slowly. "We could never hope ape the hall unseen. Nor could you forbid the revelries. Too many *°enare drunk, beyond reason.""I can see your father never told you much of his campaigns, , j^? You're woefully ignorant of battle tactics," Llewelyn said and nned "No more questions. You must take me on trust, love, or not at & all!"The unexpected endearment so flustered Joanna that she abandoned further argument, did as he