Free The Dark Age by Traci Harding Page B

raising a goblet to Maelgwn. ‘Thou art absolutely right cousin, she be incredible.’
    â€˜Indeed?’ Lady Gladys said with interest, closing the door behind her.
    Brockwell nearly dropped his drink at the sound of his mother’s voice, and the Prince stood to explain.
    â€˜I should like to meet this girl,’ she announced. Maelgwn moved to object but she wouldn’t hear a wordof it. ‘Maelgwn, I demand thee take me to the north tower, this instant!’ She spoke forcefully, but without raising her voice. ‘Unless I see with my own eyes what the pair of thee have been up to, I shall not be a part of this another day.’
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    Just as Tory had settled into her bath, sure that the day’s events were over, there came a knock at the door.
    â€˜Tory,’ Maelgwn called. ‘I have brought someone to meet thee.’
    â€˜Now, Maelgwn?’ Tory asked, looking at her towel across the room; Katren had gone to fetch supper and there was no one to pass it to her.
    Lady Gladys looked at Maelgwn surprised. ‘She refers to thee by thy first name, she be privileged.’
    â€˜Why dost thou never come to see me when I have my clothes on ?’ Tory sounded annoyed and in a fluster.
    Maelgwn held his head, not liking the way this must sound to his aunt. ‘Tory, it be my aunt waiting to see thee, Brockwell’s mother and sister to the King. She can hear every word thou art saying.’
    Oh shit. ‘Come in.’
    Maelgwn opened the door to find Tory dressed in a wrap that reached the floor, and he smiled at her in quiet approval. Her hair was in a bun to save getting it wet, so she looked quite presentable.
    Lady Gladys gazed upon Tory in the soft candlelight. ‘Thank you, Maelgwn, that will be all,’ she instructed, shooing him out and shutting the door on him. She then turned to study Tory further. ‘Well now, thou dost not look so different to my old eyes.’ She smiled andreached out to lift Tory’s chin higher, so that her face would catch the light. ‘I can see now what keeps my boys so enchanted.’
    â€˜Enchanted?’ Tory was struck almost speechless by this lovely woman. She was so refined in the way she spoke, the way she moved; her whole manner was most courteous and genteel.
    â€˜Indeed.’ She let Tory go, looking to the stairway that lead to the caphouse. ‘I have never known Maelgwn to be so … preoccupied.’ She gestured up the stairs. ‘May I?’
    â€˜Of course,’ Tory insisted.
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    Maelgwn waited patiently outside; it seemed that his aunt had been in there for hours. What could they be discussing all this while, he wondered.
    At last the door opened and Lady Gladys emerged. ‘I will look forward to it, dear,’ she said, closing the door behind her. Maelgwn approached at once. ‘A lovely girl,’ she commented as she passed him on the way back to her duties. ‘I will help thee.’
    Maelgwn went after her, still worried. ‘Aunt.’ He touched her arm lightly to draw her to a stop. ‘Did thee speak to her of my wedding?’
    He seemed ashamed to ask and she sighed, already aware that this was the main reason he had not wanted them to meet. ‘Nay.’ She appeared a mite disappointed in him, but the tone in her voice lifted as she said, ‘Though I did mention that I had never seen thee so distracted by a woman.’
    Maelgwn was shocked.
    â€˜It serves thyself right, Maelgwn. Besides, it be the truth. Thee can play thy games, dear boy, and I shall play my own.’
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    In the weeks that followed, Tory’s life at Aberffraw began to fall nicely into place. She started her day with the Prince’s training, which commenced at sunrise with meditation. Then came a stretch program which incorporated some yoga and breathing exercises to warm up and improve flexibility. Maelgwn’s coordination was good from all his swordplay. His body,