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

puppy was a soft silver grey; it wriggled asJoanna ruffled its fur, swiped at her fingers with its tongue."Have you a name in mind, Joanna?" When she shook her head, John smiled. "I've one for you, then. Why not call her Avisa?"Joanna thought that a very pretty name, wondered why so many of the men laughed. One, wearing a priest's cassock, said, "Despite your differences, theLady Avisa is still your wife, my lord, in the eyes of both man and God.""And precisely because she is, Father, I can say for certes that Avisa is an uncommonly apt name for a bitch," John said dryly, and again those around the dais laughed.Joanna did not understand this byplay, but she reached out, shyly strokedJohn's sleeve. "I do like Avisa for the puppy," she said, seeking to please him, saw by his smile that she had.After the meal was cleared away, the men sat down at one of the tables and unrolled a large map of Normandy. Joanna hovered in the background, playing with her puppy. When her curiosity drew her toward the table, John did not chase her away; instead he sat her on his lap, spent several moments pointing out places on the map, showing her a French town called Gamaches and telling her how he had taken and burnt the town that August past for his brother theKing. Joanna did not understand about battles or campaigns; what mattered to her was that he should take the time and trouble to explain.She was so happy that she went quite willingly when Adele came to fetch her.Back in the bedchamber, she sat docilely upon the coffer while Adele brushed her hair, wondering why Adele, who obviously did not like her, should care if her hair was combed or not. When Adele put the brush away, she went to the window, climbed onto the seat to gaze down into the bailey. And panicked at what she saw."Simon!" She'd actually forgotten all about him."Who is Simon?""He brought me here." Joanna jerked at the shutters, tugged until she'd blocked Simon from view. "When does he go?"Adele shrugged. "On the morrow, I expect."On the morrow. On the morrow Simon would take her away, to her father.As soon as Adele departed the chamber, Joanna scrambled from the window seat.Never before had she thought to rebel, but never before had so much been at stake. She quickly settled upon the coffer. Rooting in the hearth for a suitable stick of firewood, she tucked the puppy under her arm, lowered herself into the coffer, and jammed the stick under

93lid so she'd not be utterly in the dark. On the morrow Simon would rch for her in vain, would have to leave without her."Joanna?"She tensed, heard her name called again. Avisa had begun to himper. She shivered, kept very still. And then the coffer lid was thrown back, her hiding place exposed."Why did you not answer me, Joanna? What foolish game is this?" But at sight of her tearstained face, John's annoyance ebbed away. Reaching down, he lifted her out, set her beside him on the bed."Now, tell me what is wrong.""I was hiding from Simon," she confessed. "So he could not take me to my father."There was a silence. She slanted a glance through wet lashes, saw he was watching her, with a very strange look on his face. "Please," she entreated."Do not make me go with him."Still he said nothing. As hope faded, tears began to streak her face again."I thought you understood. Joanna ... I am your father."He saw her eyes widen, pupils dilate with shock. He started to touch her, stopped himself. "Joanna . . . what did your mother tell you of me?"She swallowed. "That you were wicked, that your soul was accursed, that you did not want me."The corner of John's mouth twitched. "She lied to you, lass. I do want you."Joanna stared down into her lap. "Mama did not want me," she whispered."Did you love your mother, Joanna?"She nodded, and then said, almost inaudibly, "I was afraid of Mama sometimes."John reached out, tilted her chin up. "Do you fear me?"She did not answer at once, and he was later to tell Adele that he'd actually been able to see it in her eyes, that moment when loyalty given to a dead woman was given to him."No," she said, and as the wonder of that realization registered with her, she shook her head vehemently. "No, oh, no . . .""You're flesh of my flesh, Joanna, of my blood. You understand what that means?""That I belong to you?" she ventured, and he smiled."Just so, Joanna. Just so." And then she was in his arms, clinging, and he was laughing, hugging her back.That was the beginning of the good times for Joanna.

8POITIERS, PROVINCE OF POITOUJanuary 1199a."

95, lunges for it like a starving trout! But you, Madame, God's truth, I'd have expected better of you!""Philip claims to have a letter that proves your complicity in this . trjgue, a letter in your own hand.""Oh, for the love of Christ! What better proof of my innocence ould you ask for than that? If I were involved in some scheme to betrayRichard, do you truly think I'd ever be so stupid as to incriminate myself in writing? Are you sure Philip does not have a convenient confession, too, that I somehow happened to sign and leave in his safekeeping?"Eleanor felt the first flickers of doubt. "Your denial has the ring of truth to it," she said slowly. "But then your denials always do, John.""If you and Richard believe this lunatic accusation, it can only be because you want to believe it, Madame. You yourself said it; five full years I've devoted to regaining Richard's goodwill. Think you that I've enjoyed being at his beck and call, being subject to his erratic tempers, his every whim? Or that I'd gamble those five years on something so worthless as Philip's word?Jesus God, Mother! What would I gain by intriguing with