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

slut."Llewelyn's mouth thinned, twisted down. He glanced toward Ednyved. The other man nodded, said, "I'll see to it."Llewelyn looked at his daughter, and then he did something he'd not done since she was a child; he tilted her face up to his, and kissed her upon the forehead, with enough tenderness to bring tears to her eyes. But when she started to speak, he shook his head, then turned and walked away.Across the hall, Elen caught her husband's eye. John slowly shook his head. He was too well-bred to berate her before witnesses, but she knew she'd earned herself a long lecture on decorum and proprietyGwladys and Davydd were making their way toward her; they, to°' looked judgmental."When," Davydd said, "will you learn not to act upon your emotions?"

665assas"Never, I hope," Elen said, and saw that her brother was not jjsapproving as he'd have her think. ^»t as"Elen, do not mistake what I am about to say." Gwladys paus^ Sjntent upon choosing just the right words, for Joanna was a sensit^^d, H subject between them. "I am not defending Gwenllian, not at all. J ^tive there's more to her bad manners than sheer make. Gwenllian and J &ut^ nyved's youngest son made up a bawdy, satiric song about Joanna a^ Ed-u yVill de Braose, and then he was foolhardy enough to boast of theT^^d u thorship. As you'd expect, Papa was enraged; so, too, was Ednyv*«uGvvenllian thought it prudent to pack her son off'o Ireland fora stay Ve^j give Papa's anger time to cool. But the incident put some noticea?'- to cracks in her marriage, and she finds it easier to blame Joanna than ^ble blame her son." t0 ~Ednyved had nine sons in all. Most of them were comparari, strangers to Elen, and when she asked Gwladys for the rash poev^ve name, it meant nothing to her.But it would from now on. Gruffudd^t's Ednyved. She would remember him. She would make a point of it. afcGwladys soon wandered away. Elen and Dayydd stood alone fo^ time, watching the dancers circle back and forth Elen loved to daru * ^ but she could find in herself now not the slightest desire to join r^e, carole. "I would have expected Papa to be wrotli with Gwenllian; K.W pride would demand as much. ButI saw more tlian anger in his facx^is Davydd, he still loves her." ^e."I know," Davydd said. "And how much easier it would be for hi > if he did not. I would that there were some stranje alchemy to chanx*11 love into hate, to blot out memories, to banish yesterdays ..." ^e "Are you speaking for Papa? Or for yourself?' "For Papa, Elen." Davydd sounded annoyed, and a silence fell b tween them. But then he said very softly, "I could never hateMama ^~ "Papa looks so tired. I worry about him so much, Davydd ^"Elen's eyes searched the hall, seeking her father. "Who is that woma^'' with him? The one in green." ^h"You mean . . . Hunydd?""If that be her name. Who is she, Davydd? IVe never seen her b^, fore." She looked at Davydd expectantly, was surprised to see colcx^ mount in his face.^f"It has been over eight months, Elen." But eren then she did ncx understand, not until he added defensively, "Wha did you expect Papy * to do, take holy vows?" ^Elen's eyes narrowed, focusing upon Hunydc with sudden, proH ^8 intensity, subjecting the older woman to an exacting scrutiny, on x that was far from friendly. Hunydd's were quiet attractionsa smile c

666singular sweetness, a tranquil composure. There was nothing gaudy Or obvious about her appearance, nothing garish in her dress. She vas listening attentively to Llewelyn, but she was not clinging to him, was not giving herself proprietary airs. That mattered little to Elen; she still found herself seething with resentment, with a child's sense of betrayal and loss.Davydd was watching her. "The marriage is dead, Elen," he said quietly."I know." Elen tore her gaze from Hunydd. "But tell me the truth, Davydd. Tell me it does not bother you to see that woman in Mama's place."Davydd beckoned to a passing servant, claimed a cup of mead. He drank, glanced at his sister, and drank again. "It bothers me," he said, and passed the cup to Elen.They looked at one another. All around them swirled the sounds of music, of harp and crwth. The hall was bedecked with evergreen boughs and Christmas holly, lit by blazing torches, flickering rushlights, gilded candelabras. But to Elen it seemed as festive as a wake. "Davydd ... is it always like this?""No," he said, giving her a bleak smile. "Sometimes it is not nearly so cheerful."AT low tide, the white sands known to the Welsh as Traeth Lafan lay exposed and men could venture out upon them with little risk. Davydd stood at the water's edge, watching as his sister was ferried across the strait, and as the boat touched bottom, he strode forward, held out his hand to help her alight upon the sand."Dismiss your men," he said, "and I'll escort you back to Ab^r-" Elen linked her arm in his, and they began to walk up the beach. "Tell me," he said, after a few moments, "how is Mama?""The truth? Wretchedly unhappy.""Did you give her my letter?""You know I did." Elen stopped, put her hand imploringly upon his arm. "Summon the boatmen back, Davydd. Go and see her. It would mean so much to her if you""No," he said hastily. "No ... I cannot."She stepped back, stared at him. "How can you be so sel^ righteous, so unwilling to forgive? Jesii, Davydd, Mama would have forgiven you any sin under God's sky!" j"I know," he admitted. "Do you not think I want to see her? DU cannot, Elen. Icannot do that to Papa."

667"But Davydd, Papa knows I go to Llanfaes. I've made no secret of it; nor has he ever attempted to dissuade me.""You're not his son.""Davydd, he would