Free The Brothers of Gwynedd by Edith Pargeter Page A

Wales. She could not make use of her husband now, except as a distant symbol, not apt for rousing men to arms, but there was still Owen Goch, his father's image and now, by Welsh custom, a man. Thus with every personal flattery and consideration, but implacably, Owen Goch was removed from our household, upon the pretext of providing more suitably for his father's heir, and made prisoner in a room high in the keep, like the Lord Griffith himself. True, he was allowed exercise within the walls, but with a retinue which was in reality a guard, and armed. The younger boys were thought no threat, and could be let run on a loose rein. And the lady, while her chicks were cooped here—all but one, and that stray was neither heard of from Wales then nor mentioned in England—would not forsake them. Also, all the Welsh men-at-arms were gradually dispersed from the Tower. Some, I know, took service with the king's men, some, I fancy, vanished when David drew the rags of his royalty about him and rode again for home. Only we who cared for the children were left. No doubt we seemed harmless enough. Even the servants who waited on Griffith and his lady were now English. The old steward they let alone until he died in the winter, for he was past sixty years. And the clerk vanished to some new service, I never knew where, for I was considered able enough to shift for us all, should there be need of any drawing of documents in Welsh and English thereafter. Thus we were stripped of the reminders of our own land.
      But on the other hand, the king was by no means inclined to alienate us in other ways, once he had us tightly secured. For as soon as he was aware that the Lady Senena had fallen into some state between resignation and despair, and accepted her fate, she was invited very often and as of right into the queen's company, and became a minor figure of this court. And since she could do nothing about her deprivation, she took what she could get and made the best of it, and as I believe, those two strong-willed, resolute women got on well together by reason of their likeness, where had they met on truly equal terms they might have clashed resoundingly for the same reason. But the queen could be generous and warm without condescension to one who was not a rival, and the Lady Senena could take with dignity from one she felt to be at once her creditor and debtor. The Lady Gladys, too, with her budding beauty, became an admired figure among the young women of the queen's retinue, and was much favoured by her, and after some months whispers began to go round that a good match might be made for her. As for the two little boys, they went in and out freely among the other noble children about the court, and being very young, soon took this lavish state for their right, and forgot the more austere customs and habits of Wales. David in particular, with his beauty and his winning ways, was made much of by the noblewomen, and became a favourite even with the king. And surely this imprisonment seemed to them rather an enlargement, for never had they been so indulged and lived so finely.
      Thus King Henry hedged his interests every way, keeping his puppets close under his hand, but treating them with every consideration and make-believe honour that should maintain them sharpened and ready for use at need. And their efficacy was made plain, for that year ended with no word of any unrest in Wales, and all through the two years that followed the same heavy quietness held. David of Gwynedd knew only too well the sword that dangled over his head, and he went peacefully, minding his lopped princedom and biding his time, with never a false move.
      As for us, what is there to tell? We lived a life unbelievably calm on the surface, but it was a furtive, watchful calm, in which all but the children moved with held breath. Yet no man can live for ever taut like a strung bow, and I remember days when indeed this life of ours seemed pleasant enough,