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

a possibility you may have to face, my liege."John's head jerked up. "No! There must be a way to secure their release. You find it, Chester. No matter what it takes, you find it." What had begun as a command, even a threat, ended up quite differently, came as close as John could get to entreaty. "I cannot lose them, too," he said, and then turned abruptly, walked rapidly from the room. After a moment's hesitation, Isabelle followed.Richard rose, too, then glanced back over his shoulder. "Is my father right, my lord Chester? Are Normandy and the other provinces well and truly lost toEngland now?"Chester nodded. "Nor is that all we lost at Bouvines. Your lord father may have been defeated at a distance, Richard, but he was defeated all the same.You may be sure his barons back in England will seek to take full advantage of it."Neither spoke after that; there was nothing to be said. The silence was at last broken by Eleanor. She'd sat, frozen, in the darkened window seat asChester spoke of defeat and death. Now, as she began to comprehend what the battle of Bouvines would mean to her, she covered her face with her hands, wept bitterly.35ABER, NORTH WALESDecember 1214JcJOANNA often dreamed of Llewelyn when they'd been apart for a while, but rarely had a dream been so vivid, so explicitly erotic, and she awoke with regret, reluctant to find herself alone in a cold, empty bed. But as she sighed and stirred, she felt Llewelyn's breath on her throat, felt his hands on her body, and she sighed again. "Now I understand why my dream was so wonderfully wanton," she said drowsily. "But you're taking a great risk; my husband is expected back at any time."He gave a low laugh. "Then I'd best make haste." "If you do, I'll never forgive you." She slid her hands up his back, wrapped her arms around his neck. "Beloved, I'm sorry, so sorry. It was all my fault...""Later," he said, and kissed her lashes, her eyelids, and then her mouth."Later . . .""'SING from the bed, Llewelyn pulled a towel from a wall pole, rubbed himself vigorously. Returning to the bed, he pulled back the damp, Nrnpled sheet, and began gently to pat Joanna dry. "You know more an °ne way to set a bed afire,"he said, and Joanna stretched provocahvely, gave him a lazy, satisfied smile.We did strike some sparks," she agreed. "I truly missed you." He smiled, too, and she touched her hand to his cheek. "How did0 Ur meeting with your cousin Madog go? Were you able to win him

En ,. ' ^ite easily. I think he's wanted for some time to disavow the hJ;and throw in his lot with us. He just needed to know we bore m"° grudge."

438T439"You've been gone longer than I expected, fully a fortnight." "After Madog andI came to terms, I got word that a Genoan trierchant ship bound for Ireland had gone aground near Pwllheli. I decided to see for myself what cargo had washed ashore.""I see." Joanna sat up, wrapped her arms around her knees. "[ know that asPrince of Gwynedd you claim dominion over any ship that founders off your shores. But in the eight years we've been wed, Llewelyn, not once have you chosen to visit a shipwreck yourself. Was this merchant ship truly as richly laden as that?""No," he admitted. "But I thought it best if we had some time apart." He reached over, let his fingers follow the curve of her throat "Else I might have been sorely tempted to throttle you, my love.""I gave you cause. I'll not deny that I acted like the worst sort of shrew.The truth is that I think I wanted to provoke a quarrel with you." She smiled sadly. "And, by God, that I did." "Your father's letter?""Yes." Joanna put her hand on his arm. "I fear you'll not like what I have to say, but I ask you to hear me out."When he nodded, she drew an uneven breath. "I'd never gotten such a letter from my father before; I doubt if he'd ever written to anyone as he did to me that night at Woodstock. It began as a factual account of what has been happening since his return to England. He wrote that de Vesci and Fitz Walter met last month at Bury St Edmonds with the Earls of Clare and Norfolk and other barons who've refused to pay the scutage tax. He told me that they've changed their tactics, that they're now talking of a charter supposedly issued by the first King Henry. They claim this charter sets limits upon the King's authority, and they are demanding that John agree to be bound by its provisions. He is greatly troubled by this new stratagem, for he says it is like to find widespread support amongst his barons, even those who've so far held aloof. He thinks Stephen Langton's is the guiding hand behind it, for he says it is too subtle, too shrewd a maneuver for minds like de Vesci's andFitz Walter's."Llewelyn had been listening with some impatience, for she was r lating facts already well known to him. With that last, though, he silently saluted John's insight, for he had been in contact with the re barons for several months, and this sudden emphasis upon a charter liberties was indeed Langton's doing. ,, "It was not until he made mention of my uncle Will and Reg1 de Dammartin that the letter's tone changed, that his despair bro through." d nfltLlewelyn did not give a damn for John's despair, and he coui keep tne coolness from his voice as he said, "I thought you told me John had been able to arrange Will's release.""He did. When he besieged Nantes last summer, a cousin of the French King was amongst those taken captive, and Philip has agreed to exchange Will for his cousin. But he flatly refused to release Dammartin. ue said Dammartin