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

and she must be made to see how important it was that she make an effort to please him.So engrossed was Joanna in her concern that she did not notice the jjian until he moved into her path, so suddenly they almost collided. She stepped back, looking up at a stranger, a very attractive stranger, with bright blond hair and beard, clear grey eyes, an unsmiling, sharply sculptured mouth. The fourteen-year-old boy Joanna had remembered was utterly gone. But she still recognized him and smiled, said, not altogether truthfully, "I am glad to see you again, Will.""Are you, Madame? Are you indeed?" he drawled, and while the words themselves were innocuous, he invested them with so much hostility that the blood surged up into her face.Her reaction was instinctive, purely defensive. "Of course I am, Will," she heard herself say archly. "We'll talk later, I hope?" She managed another smile, polite but dismissive, and moved away before he could respond.Joanna was more shaken by the encounter than she should have been; dimly she realized that. She did not doubt that Will was voicing what all the de Braoses thought; he just happened to be the only one who did not need her husband's

favor, who could afford to be honest. So why, then, did it hurt so?She sought without success to catch Elen alone, had no more luck in tracking down Llewelyn. She danced several times, but could find no pleasure in it, for by then she was aware again of Will. He made no approach, but he never took his eyes from hera cool, challenging stare that she could neither ignore nor acknowledge. She endured it as long as she could, and then her anger broke through. Draining her wine cup, she turned, walked directly toward Will."I think," she said, "that it is time we talked."She'd rarely seen eyes so compelling, or so cold. "What do we have to say?""If you do not want to talk to me, why are you staring at me? Why are you following me about the hall?""Was I?""You know damned well you were!" She heard her own voice, sharp-edged and shrill, and took several quick breaths. "I do not want to quarrel with you.Surely we can talk without anger. You once told me hat you did not believe in blood guilt for women, remember?"Something flickered in those grey eyes, too elusive for analysis. es'' he said, "I do remember. But your father taught me otherwise."Joanna waited until she was sure she could trust her voice. "It eifls I was mistaken. I have nothing to say to you after all."

548THE porch of the great hall connected directly to the chapel in Caesar'sTower; the chamber above it had been set aside for Joanna's little sister ButNell had shown herself to be as strong-willed as the grandmother after whom she'd been named, resisting bedtime until she was half asleep on her feet.Only then had she yielded, allowing Joanna and her nurse to put her to bed.Joanna lingered longer than necessary, sitting on the bed and stroking Nell's hair, sunlit ringlets that curled around her fingers like finely spun silk.There had been no need for her to accompany Nell, just as there was no need for her to remain. But she was in no hurry to return to the hall. As miserable as her own wedding had been, her daughter's was proving to be no less an ordeal.She could delay only so long, though, for it was almost time for the bedding revels. Soon she would have to help put Elen to bed, as she'd just done withNell. But unlike Nell, Elen would not be sleeping alone. She swallowed the last of her wine, moved reluctantly toward the door.The spiral stairway was not lit; the cresset light had burned out, and she'd forgotten her candle. She'd had too much to drink, was feeling lightheaded and had to stop repeatedly, groping her way blindly in the darkness, a few steps at a time.She had no warning, nothing to alert her that she was no longer alone. She simply turned a bend in the stairwell and there he was, looming over her, barring her way. She recoiled against the wall, a scream starting in her throat, and he swiftly put his hand over her mouth."Jesii, but your nerves are on the raw," he muttered, and Joanna sighed with relief, recognizing his voice."You startled me, Will!" she said indignantly. "How did I know who it was?What are you doing here? Did you follow me?""Would you believe me if I said I was looking for a privy chamber?""No, I would not." Joanna was becoming aware now of the untoward aspects of this encounter, becoming acutely aware of Will. She was standing on the step above him, but he was still taller than she, and so close that she could smell the sugared wine on his breath. "I think you'd best let me pass," she said, her voice suddenly husky, and he laughed."You wanted to talk, did you not? Well, here I am.""You're drunk, Will. Let me by.""Suppose . . . suppose I do not want to do that," he murmured, and when Joanna pushed against him, he did not move."What do you want from me?" she whispered, feeling behind he for the wall, seeking to orient herself in this eerie black well."I do not know." He, too, was whispering now, his breath n against her cheek.And then his hand was on her throat, and his mou

549On hers. She'd been expecting violence, but he was surprisingly gentle with her, and the kiss was unhurried, almost tender. It was that which held her immobile for several seconds, which kept her from struggling at first. But the spell did not last. With a gasp, she tore her mouth from his, shoved against his chest.Again he surprised her; when she pulled free, he let her go. She stumbled, nearly lost her balance on the stairs. Her head was spinning; she could not seem to catch her breath."Have