Free Dragon's Lair by Sharon Kay Penman Page A

that Davydd and Emma made a handsome couple, although he saw little evidence of intimacy between them. They seemed very much the lord and lady of the manor, courteous to all, accessible to none. Justin had joined much of Christendom in taking an immediate and intense dislike to Davydd, yet he'd so far formed no impressions of Emma. She'd greeted him far more politely than her husband, but her formality was an effective shield, keeping her thoughts private and the world at arm's length.
    The meal was more elaborate than the evening suppers Justin was accustomed to, for the Welsh served dinner at day's end rather than at noon, as they did across the border. He had his first swallow of mead, the honey and malt drink so favored by the Welsh, but he decided it must be an acquired taste. Once dinner was done, Davydd's bard was called upon to sing for the guests. Justin decided that he would not be missed, and slipped away with Padrig, the young Welshman on loan from the Earl of Chester.
    The bailey of Rhuddlan Castle was crowded with wooden buildings: the great hall, kitchen and kiln, stables and barn, privy chambers, kennels, a chapel, and quarters for those not bedding down in the great hall. Justin had stopped a groom and was instructing Padrig to find out where the lad Rhun was lodged when he heard his name echoing on the evening air. Following the sound, he saw Thomas waving from the steps that led up the mound to the keep. Justin waved back and waited for Thomas to finish his descent into the bailey, noticing then that he was not alone. A woman stood on the steps behind him.
    With Angharad on his arm, Thomas reached the ground and sauntered toward Justin. "We saw you make your escape and were not going to be left behind. Why should we be trapped listening to dirges and laments for the glory days of Wales whilst you fly away, free as a bird?"
    "You're more than welcome to come along. I had it in mind to pay a visit to Rhun's sickbed."
    They both seemed quite agreeable to that and fell in step beside Justin and Padrig. Directed by Angharad, they headed for a small building near the gatehouse. As they walked, Thomas entertained them with an accurate if unkind mimicry of Shropshire's roving sheriff. He had Fitz Alan's mannerisms down pat and soon had Justin and Angharad laughing as he parodied the Marcher lords monopoly of much of the dinner conversation. He bragged that he could do a passable impression of the Welsh prince, too, but when he launched into it, Angharad feigned horror and slapped his wrist playfully, diverting the conversation onto safer ground.
    Justin was amused by how deftly she managed it, not shaming Thomas while keeping him from uttering any mockery that might be carried back to Dayvdd's ears. It showed him that this young Welshwoman was as clever as she was comely, and that she'd obviously had some practice in reining in her lover's antics before they got out of hand. That they were lovers, Justin did not doubt; the intimacy he had not seen between Davydd and Emma shone in every glance passing between Thomas and Angharad, every lingering touch, every shared smile. Deciding he ought to help Angharad out, he distracted Thomas's attention from the Welsh prince by asking why Fitz Alan was at Rhuddlan, showing such interest in the robbery of the ransom.
    "It surprised me to see him playing so active a part in the hunt for Llewelyn. He is a long way from Shropshire, after all."
    "Aye, and when Will Gamberell and the Cheshire sheriff hear of it, they will be none too pleased," Thomas said, grinning. "Will's the city sheriff. As for the sheriff of the shire, he'll be sorely enraged, too, for not even a hungry dog with a bone is as loath to share as a sheriff."
    "So why, then, did Fitz Alan ride all this way? What for?"
    "What are you, man, blind? Did you not see the Lady Emma?"
    "Thomas!" Angharad frowned, hastily looking around to make sure they'd not been overheard. "He is jesting," she assured Justin, "as