Here Be Dragons - 1 by Sharon Penman (best inspirational books txt) 📕

smiled, for e nng had been taken in one of his grandfather's wars with the En-°1Sn/ and it amused him to think of the English King wearing booty tr°m a border raid

232Joanna was staring down at the ring. Her father had a passion f jewels, but she had never before been able to indulge that passion t give him a gift so sure to please. "How generous you are, how good t me," she said, and reached up, kissed him quickly upon the cheek.On impulse, Llewelyn stepped closer, took her in his arms. CurioUs as to what her response would be, he bent his head, touched his lins [ hers.He was half expecting her to recoil,as she hadatRhaeadr Eywnnol but he was, just asCatherine had predicted, very agreeably surprised Far from shrinking back, Joanna at once put her arms around his neck He tightened his hold; there was a fluid feel to her body, as if she'd flowed into his embrace, so yielding was she, so softly supple and pliant, so utterly unlike the girl who'd once gone rigid at his lightest touch. Her breath was sweet, her mouth opening under his like a flower. When he probed it with his tongue, she clung all the closer, showed herself to be a quick study responding with timid tongueflickerings of her own. It was, for a kiss born of curiosity, one that offered infinite and unexpected promise for the future, and it was with genuine regret thatLlewelyn released her, ended their embrace.He'd noted before that Joanna had unusually beautiful eyes; they changed with the light, her mood, reflected color like crystal, hazel brown to gold-flecked emerald within the span of seconds. They were very green now, a misty, glowing green, wide with wonderment. She was quite flushed, was running the tip of her tongue over her lips, as if she were still savoring his kiss, and Llewelyn suddenly laughed. Was this how Eve had looked upon first tasting the forbidden fruit?"Do not," he said, "be gone too long."19PORTSMOUTH, ENGLANDDtumba 1206«iH-LJ.OW long must we wait, my lady? I'm s° cold, am like to catch my death if we . . ."But Joanna was not listening to Blanche, for she'd caught sight ot

233father He had emerged from the sheltering tent, was watching as lors secured their moorings Beside him, Joanna recognized Peter des c hes, Bishop of Winchester, one of the few churchmen her father med inclined to trust Isabelle was now out on deck, too, looking probably beautiful in a hooded mantle of silvery fox fur, cuddling a mall dog that might have been Sugar's twin Joanna could wait noI nger' pusned her way to the forefront of the small crowd assembled upon the dockJohn was halfway down the gangplank when he saw Joanna He paused, then smiled, kept his eyes upon her all the while the city fathers bade him welcome As the wind was biting enough to curb even the most effusive of tongues, the official greetings were mercifully brief, and within moments Joanna was curtsying before her father He raised her up, then drew her to him in a warm, enveloping hug"I could ask for no more agreeable surprise than this But how did you manage it, lass7 You are not a runaway wife, are you7"His banter did not nng altogether true, for all that it was playfully posed, the question articulated a genuine concern What did Papa fear that she was unhappy as Llewelyn's wife7 Or that her unhappmess might jeopardize his alliance with Llewelyn7 Probably both, Joanna acknowledged, but without resentment Papa would be counting up political gams and losses even upon his deathbed So, she suspected, would Llewelyn"You need not worry, Papa," she said, and smiled at him "I have a very indulgent husband ""WILL you be coming to me tonight, John7"Isabelle's ladies were preparing her for bed, and she was clad only m her chemise, her hair loose and flowing down her back A lovely child, she was maturing into a breathtaking woman, John never tired of looking at her, had yet to tire of sleeping with her Crossing the chamber, he drew her to him, into a possessive embrace "Does that answer your question7 But it'll not be till late, so you need not wait up for me11 wake you " He kissed her again, then turned toward Joanna"How about a kiss from you, too, sweetheart7" he said, and Joanna mi'ed, came quickly into his arms Stepping back, he looked for a long foment into her face, and she thought he meant to ask for assurance ut he did not, and she wondered why, was it that since he could not ange what was writ, he'd rather not know if the price had been too high?Isabelle was dismissing her ladies "That will be all The Lady anr>a can see to my needs " As soon as they were alone, she beckoned

234Joanna toward the bed. "Well? Are you not going to tell me ab Llewelyn?" UtJoanna nodded. "Yes," she said slowly, "I am." She'd given jf great deal of thought in the last fortnight, had concluded that she had n choice but to confide in Isabelle. She was not blind to the risk; Isabel] was not the most reliable of confidantes. Yet there was no one else. For time she'd considered her Aunt Ela, for Ela was a pious, earnest woman who'd go to her grave before she'd betray a trust. And like Joanna and Isabelle, Ela had been married very young, to a man much older than she. But there'd never been true intimacy between them; no matter how she tried, Joanna could not envision herself discussing so sensitive a subject with Ela. Nor did she think Ela was a likely source for the sort of advice she needed; Ela was too passive, too docile, too. . . good. Ela would not understand. But Isabelle would. That Joanna never doubted"I do need your counsel, Isabelle.