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

man so at one with his world, doing exactly what he most wanted to do, doing it very well, and taking such abiding pleasure in it all. But why seek out hurt like this?Must her every thought be of Llewelyn, when he had nary a thought for her?

217"I understand Llewelyn does return from Cricieth in a fortnight, . Men the court moves to Mon?"311 (oanna nodded. "He has a ... a plas at Aberffraw, does he not?""Aye/ but he'll go to Rhosyr. He has no liking for Aberffraw, not more." Joanna had not realized her curiosity showed so nakedly til Rhys added matter-of-factly, "The Lady Tangwystl died at Aberf, w " He did not pause for her response. "The Lady Catrin, my wife, ,. j ~ve birth just a month ago, was stricken after with the milk fever. She is better now, God be thanked, but she's not yet able to travel. She . very eager, though, to meet you, and Iwould ask a favor of you." He stopped, turned to face her, and Joanna realized he had not been making idle conversation, after all."When the court moves to Rhosyr, would you come to my manor at Tregarnedd? It would mean much to my Catrin, Madame, in truth it would."Joanna could find in herself no enthusiasm for meeting the Lady Catrin, not after making the acquaintance of Ednyved's wife. But she could think of no graceful way to decline, and she said, "Yes, of course."They walked the rest of the way in silence. As they approached the gateway, they saw Blanche pacing back and forth distractedly. She gave a glad cry at sight of Joanna, ran to meet her."Madame, thank God you've come! Sir Hugh Corbet has just ridden in, is awaiting you in the great hall!""Oh, sweet Lady Mary!" Joanna tried to collect her thoughts, tried to remember all she must do for an honored guest. Give orders for a special meal, one of several courses, ask Llywarch to sing for Hugh. See that a chamber was prepared for his stay, that his men were bedded down, too. What else? Jesu, what of a bath?Joanna came to a sudden stop. It was customary, of course, to offer a bath to any guest planning to pass the night. If the guest was of high rank, it was expected that the lady of the manor herself would assist him in bathing. To neglect so basic a courtesy would be no small insult. But Isabelle had never performed such tasks; was a Princess, too, exempt? Nor did she even know if this ancient Norman custom was followed amongst the Welsh. It would be dreadful to slight her husband's stepather. But neither did she want to embarrass Llewelyn by turning her hand to a task better left to her maids. If only she knew what was exPected of her, if only there was a woman she could ask.Well, she must blunder through as best she could. Mayhap Hugh j^ould give her some hint as to what he expected. Why was it that, the st tee she had to act on Llewelyn's behalf, the guest must be one so lmPortant, must be her husband's kin?

218Hugh resolved her dilemma, however, in a way she'd not arttic pated. He could not pass the night, he explained regretfully, for it wa urgent that he reachLlewelyn as soon as possible."I fear Llewelyn is some miles to the south, in the commote of ft fionydd. He is building a seacoast castle at Cricieth, wanted to judge the progress for himself. If you are set upon departing in such haste, we will gladly provide you with an escort and fresh mounts." Trying to hide her relief, Joanna racked her brains to recall what little she knew of Welsh geography. "You could pass the night at Dolwyddelan, or at Beddgelert Priory, should you get that far."She hesitated, for the first time seeing the fatigue already well etched intoHugh's face."Sir Hugh, may I ask why you are in such a rush to see my husband? Is there trouble?""Of a sort." He drew her toward the privacy of the window seat, said in a low voice, "Prince Gwenwynwyn of Powys has been a widower since the spring. Two days ago he was wed to my niece Margaret Corbet, my brother Robert's daughter.I want to get to Llewelyn ere he hears of it from anyone else."Joanna needed to hear no more; after four months as Llewelyn's wife, she had no doubts whatsoever as to what his reaction would be. "It sounds rather as if it were something of a hole-and-corner marriage," she said coolly. "Why? To keep Llewelyn from finding out beforehand?""Exactly." Hugh grimaced. "My brother can be a fool at times. Had I only been consulted, I'd have told him Llewelyn would be sure to take such a marriage as a personal insult. But he pays too much heed these days to my nephew torn, and torn is no great thinker. Neither he nor Rob seems to realize that times have changed. It did work well once to play off the Welsh princes, one against the other. Fifteen years ago, such a marriage would have been a shrewd maneuver.But those days are gone. Gwenwynwyn's goodwill counts for little againstLlewelyn's. I only hope they do not have to learn that to their cost.""What will Llewelyn do?""For the moment, nothing. It's done and beyond changing. But he's not likely to forget, even less likely to forgive. Stupid and shortsighted, the both of them. They have yet to get it into their heads that Llewelyn is not just another Welsh prince, to be bought off or duped as their need dictates. I've told them that the day may well come when he'll hold all of Wales, but they laugh. Fools. I only do hope I'm wrong, for Llewelyn5 sake as much as ours. NoEnglish king could ever permit a Welsh prince to wield so much power; John would have no choice but to break him-