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

with him when he joined forces with the de Lusignans, and rather than risk leaving her behind in Tours, he'd chosen to have her accompany him, for safety's sake. As ill-fated as was his decision to besiege Mirebeau, this was to be an even greater blunder, for he thus delivered into John's hands both remaining heirs of the Angevin House, the two people with a rival claim to theEnglish crown.Joanna watched with sympathetic interest as the girl was escorted into the great hall. Ironically named Eleanor after the grandmother Arthur had been seeking to capture, she was slender and blue-eyed, looked to Joanna to be about seventeen or so. She also looked terrified. Approaching the dais, she sank down before John in a deep, submissive curtsy, but he at once raised her up, drew her toward him. He spoke softly and earnestly for several moments, and then smiled at her, pulling from his own finger a topaz ring. Topaz, he murmured, was a known talisman against grief. It would please him greatly if she would accept it, as his niece and kinswoman.None knew better than Joanna how reassuring her father could be when he so chose, and she was not surprised now to see color coming back into Eleanor's face, to see that Eleanor's hands were no longer shaking as she let John slip the ring onto her finger. Pouring a cupful of Madeira from the sideboard, Joanna carried it across the hall, presented it to her father. He already had a cup, but he set it aside, accepting Joanna's, instead."Thank you, lass," he said, and then smiled at her. "What say youJoanna?Should you like to meet your cousin Arthur?"

161NA was shocked by her first sight of Hugh de Lusignan A huge, '°Amt,lmg bear of a man, stout and greying, he seemed the least likely' (?_-. I-Vita c»v/"Ji ti ci f a Tc^rtdla a-»-»/-l T/-

162John exhaled a breath too long held, slowly unclenched his fingeft from the stem of his wine cup. "As you say, Madame, a foolish boy."Hugh and Geoffrey de Lusignan still knelt stiffly before the dais and John's eyes now came to rest upon Hugh. Hugh's face was streaked with sweat and grime, an unhealthy ashen grey; under John's mocking gaze, color began to stain his cheekbones, the dull, blotched red of in,, potent rage. But he was forty-five, not fifteen, knew enough to hold his tongue.Geoffrey de Lusignan cleared his throat. "Your Grace, what mean you to do with us?""What would you do if you were in my place?" John asked, saw the other man flinch. "So ... as bad as that? I can see we're going to have a great deal to talk about, and I'll make time for it, you may be sure. But you're luckier than you deserve, for you happen to be worth more to me alive than dead. If not, I'd have hanged you both higher than Haman, and might yet."He signaled, did not bother to watch as his guards pushed the de Lusignans toward the door. Glancing about the hall, he beckoned to William de Braose."Since you had the honor of taking my nephew prisoner, Will, you shall have the honor of looking after him. I hereby remand him into your custody."De Braose did not appear surprised. "As it pleases Your Grace."William des Roches, however, appeared distinctly taken aback. "But. . . but my liege!" He stepped forward, toward the dais. "You did assure me that the Duke of Brittany would be put into my keeping. Your Grace . . . you gave me your word!""Did I?" John sounded quizzical. "I recall no such promise. Do you, Will?""No, Your Grace," William de Braose said blandly, and des Roches opened his mouth, shut it again. But he seized his first opportunity to speak to theQueen, drawing Eleanor aside as servants began to set up trestle tables, to prepare the hall for John's victory dinner."Madame, I did not lie; upon my oath, I did not.""No one has accused you of lying, my lord.""Your Grace . . . may I speak plainly? I did support your son against Arthur, have been his loyal subject. But I do understand the loyalties your grandson commands amongst many in Anjou, in Touraine, in Brittany. I sought to explain this to the King, to make him understand the risk, and he promised me I should have the care of his nephew. I do not think it wise to give the lad over to deBraose, Madame, in truth I d° not."Eleanor agreed with him, but she responded with so glacial a stare

163, s goches's warning froze in his throat; he swallowed, not daring t'ia jnore, realizing he'd already said too much. '" loanna, hovering within earshot, wondered why Lord des Roches Id be so concerned about Arthur. Each time she remembered the B trageous way he'd dared talk to her father, she felt anger stir anew. Arthur was arrogant and hateful, deserved to be punished for his mal-She hoped her father kept him close, for a long, long time. She did f 1sorry, though, for Arthur's sister, and pushing through to John's He she waited patiently till she caught his eye. He leaned down, listened as she whispered in his ear, then nodded. "If that be your wish, sweetheart, by all means."Joanna did not wait, made her way across the hall, toward the girl sitting forlorn and forgotten in the window seat. Eleanor was staring down at her lap, twisting the ring John had given her. She did not look up, not until Joanna said, "Lady Eleanor? I am your cousin Joanna, the King's daughter. My father wants you to dine with us, says you shall have a place of honor, as his kinswoman.""That's most kind of him," Eleanor said tonelessly.Joanna had hoped to cheer Eleanor, was disappointed by the girl's tepid response. "I know you are afraid. I was afraid, too, when I thought we'd be taken by your brother. But there's no need