Here Be Dragons - 1 by Sharon Penman (best ebook reader android TXT) 📗

of the query brought her up short. What could she tell him? She had nothing but suspicions, needed more than afternoon disappearances, Joanna's obvious unease, and her own instincts. Not only would Llewelyn not believe her, he'd never forgive her."I do not mean to offend you, my lord. But I love your son, and who will speak for him if I do not? If you do not free Gruffydd in your lifetime, he will never be freed. If he is still confined at your death, he will remain caged for the rest of his days. Davydd will never let him go. Can you do that to him? Can you condemn him to a life in shadow, away from the sun and the changing seasons? Can you"Llewelyn had no answer for her. He turned away in silence.AT Michaelmas, Davydd and his sister Gwladys departed for London, where Davydd was to do homage to Henry. Joanna had decided not to accompany her son, in part because she did not want to take any attention away from Davydd's first diplomatic mission and in part because she did not want to leave Llewelyn for very long. He'd been sleeping badly since his return from Deganwy; all too frequently of late, she would awaken to find him staring into the dark, and she could offer only the most evanescent and ephemeral of comforts, winding her arms around him and holding him close, able to sympathize with his pain but not to share it.She did agree to meet Davydd in Shrewsbury upon his return, and she arrived at the Benedictine abbey on a mild afternoon in October. Later that day a plainly dressed woman entered a Shrewsbury church, asked the priest to hear her confession. That she was a stranger did no surprise him, for there was a lamentable reluctance even among t"e truly devout to confess their more serious sins to their own pafis priests. She followed him toward the chancel, seated herself on the shriving stool, where she could be seen by all yet not heard, and if

619very low voice confessed to the sin of adultery. Afterward, Joa^ walked back to the abbey with a lighter step, for the first time in a y feeling at peace with herself. Davydd and Gwladys rode into the abbey precincts the follow morning, laden with gifts and London news. Joanna was delighted* discover they were accompanied by Elen and John the Scot. But } I smile froze at sight of the man riding at Elen's side, at sight of Will'' Braose. In accordance with Norman custom, dinner was served in the foi noon. The meal was less stressful, however, than Joanna had expect^' for Will was on his best behavior; even Gwladys thawed toward hi^ enough to laugh heartily at his maliciously accurate imitation of Hub<*' de Burgh at his most pompous. Not surprisingly, the London visit w 'i the focal point of conversation and the talk was easy, often amusing, ^ dinner passing without incident. ''Afterward, Davydd took Joanna to the stables, where he proudi displayed hisLondon purchase, a superb red-gold stallion. "I remer/ bered those storiesPapa would tell me of Sul, his first horse, so I name this one Sulwyn. You think Papa will like him?" ^Joanna was not deceived by Davydd's offhand manner, knew he' gone to great pains to find this particular look-alike for Sul, to give hi father this substitute solace. "Nothing could please him more, darling/ she said, andDavydd smiled. Linking her arm in his, he led her towan a beckoning sheen of blue, toward the placid waters of the abbet, fishpond."Does Will plan to return with us to Aber?" Joanna asked as non chalantly as she could, felt a dizzying rush of relief when Davydd shoot his head. "Davydd... I'd like to talk to you about Will and the plight troth. How do you feeltrulyabout taking his daughter to wife? Dar< ling, if you'd rather not, it's still not too late. Your father and I made a mistake with Elen, would not""Mama, I appreciate your concern, but there's no need. I've no objections to this match. Why should I? How many brides bring their husbands a prize likeBuellt Castle?""You are sure, Davydd? The girl's youth does not matter?" Davydd picked up a pebble, sent it skipping across the surface of 'he pool. "I know it'll be years ere Isabella can be a true wife to me, but in all honesty, Mama, I see that as no disadvantage." He gave her a sideways glance, a self-conscious smile. "There is a girl, you see ..." Joanna did see. "Do you love this girl, Davydd?" "I think so," he admitted. "But you need not fret. I've always known mine must be a marriage of state. Mari knows it, too, never exPected more of me than I could give. But I'd not see her hurt if I could

'^wr624what you would have me say? But it will avail you naught, for I ^, never act upon it. I will not destroy my marriage for you!"She'd dropped the honeysuckle on the path and Will picked it UD crushed it between his fingers as he watched her move away. She va all but running in her haste to put distance between them, did not look back.11ABER, NORTH WALESApril 1230I OANNA and Gwladys were seated at a table in the great hall, making up the guest list for Gwladys's upcoming marriage toRalph de Mortimer. This was no less political a match than the other marital alliances Llewelyn had forged with his Norman-French neighbors. Ralph deMortimer was an influential Marcher lord, baron of Wigmore, his a family that had long been hostile to Llewelyn. But antagonism had yielded to expediency, and he'd shown himself eager to ally with the Welsh Prince, to wed Llewelyn's eldest daughter. Joanna was not all that impressed with Mortimer, a brash, forceful man, noted both for his candor and his quick temper. Gwladys, however, obviously saw something in him that Joanna did not; she