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

would miss these familiar soaring silhouettes, miss the stark splendors of her husband's realm. "You were right, love," she whispered. "You always said I'd come in time to see the grandeur of your homeland . . ."Topaz had begun to bark. From the corner of her eye, Joanna glimpsed a woman crossing the sand. "Hush, girl," she soothed. "'Tis only Glynis." But the dog knew better, was already capering about in eager welcome. Joanna turned and her heart skipped a beat, then began to race. Flustered and not a little fearful, she stood very still, watching as her daughter walked toward her.This was the confrontation she'd most dreaded. Davydd might in time forgive her, but Elen? They'd been too often at odds, never quite connecting, theirs an erratic sort of intimacy, one with boundaries, self-imposed constraints, vast areas left uncharted, unexplored by mutual consent. What could she say toElen now? How could she expect Elen to understand?"Well, I will say this for you, Mama. No half measures; when you decide to come down off your pedestal, you do so with a vengeance."The words were tart, but surprisingly the tone was not; it was more rueful than reproachful, almost whimsical. Joanna stared at her unpredictable daughter, saying at last, "I am glad you've come, Elen.""I would have come sooner, but John and I had gone north from Edinburgh, were doubtlessly the last to know." Elen glanced over at the sleeping soldier before sitting down upon the sea-warped driftwood. 'Your guard is out of hearing range. Sit with me, Mama, so we can talk.""Did you get my letter?" Joanna asked, sighing with relief when Elen nodded."Yes, it finally caught up with me, and just in time. Papa's letter had

652T653been sparing of details, and I was well nigh going mad, trying to env' sion circumstances under which you'd have taken a lover into Papa' bedchamber. Icould only conclude you were sore crazed with love, ann yet you'd showed no symptoms of it at Shrewsbury. When your letter came, I could only wonder whyI'd not guessed the truth. That was so very like Will, after all."Elen finally paused for breath. "All this did clear up one mystery f0r me, though. Will was notorious for his roving eye, and yet with me he was always quite circumspect, could not have been more respectful had I been a nun. At least now I know why!""Elen ... I will never understand you. How can you jest?""I guess . . . guess because I'm nervous. I just did not know what to say to you." Elen mustered a wan smile. "You will admit, Mama, that my lessons in the social graces never covered a situation quite like ours."She did not wait for Joanna's response, leaned forward and touched her mother's hand. "I do have some good news for you. I asked Papa if the priest from St Catherine's could say weekly Mass at the manor, and he agreed. Mama .. . does that not please you? Why do you look at me so strangely?""I... I never expected sympathy, Elen."Elen withdrew her hand. "Why not? Why should you think I'd be less understanding than Davydd?""Davydd does not understand, darling. I can only hope that he will in time, asI'd hoped you might. But I would not have blamed you for being bitter. We've so often been at cross purposes, and I know ... I know how much you love your father.""Yes, I do. I love Papa dearly. But what would you have me do, Mama? Disavow you because you made a mistake? Would that change anything? Would it makePapa's hurt any the less?""A mistake," Joanna echoed, dismayed. Had Elen so misconstrued her letter?"Elen, I thought you understood. I was unfaithful to your father.""Yes, Mama, I know. You broke your marriage vows. But a few afternoons in an abandoned hafod do not make you the whore of Babylon. You sinned and then were sorry. I daresay the same can be said of Papa. Papa is a remarkable man, in truth, but he wears a crown, not a halo. Surely you know he has been unfaithful to you?"Joanna was both disconcerted and defensive. "Yes ... I know. But when Icompared my lot with that of most wives, I had no cause for complaint.Llewelyn never kept a mistress at court; he even put aside Cristyn for me.Whilst we never discussed it, I knew he did bed with-jjier women, but only when I was not available, only when we'd been long apart.""As when he was waging war in Ceri?""Elen, I do not see the point of this. What would you have me say? Qf course Iwould rather Llewelyn shared no bed but mine. But I could n0t realistically expect him to abstain for weeks at a time.""You did.""Why are you being so perverse? You cannot equate Llewelyn's occasional lapses with my adultery. Infidelity is a greater sin for a woman; so it has always been.""Yes, so men keep telling us," Elen said dryly, and Joanna found herself staring at her daughter as if at a stranger."I once told my father that blood breeds true," she said slowly. "I spoke greater truth than I knew, for none could ever doubt you are Eleanor ofAquitaine's great-granddaughter. It frightens me to hear you talk like this, for I do not think you realize the danger in it. Elen . . . Elen, you've never. . . ?" She let the sentence trail off, and Elen gave her a smile of gentle mockery."You ought not to ask a question, Mama, unless you are sure you truly want to

know the answer.""Oh, Elen, no . . ." Joanna whispered, sounding so horrified that Elen flushed, sprang to her feet."What are you going to do, Mama? Lecture me on morality? I should think that would be rather droll, coming from you!"Joanna, too, was on her feet now. "Elen, you must listen to me. I am not passing judgment upon you, ask only that you hear me out. Walk toward the