The excitement paled when Marcus prepared to go after the thieves. Nesta could see how that confused the sentiments of even the Welsh farmers who came to the market the next morning. A bit of raiding and thievery was one thing, but if Marcus rode out there could be serious fighting. No one liked having their allegiances divided that way.

But ride out he did, with Paul and four other knights and a troop of men-at-arms. Nesta had been waiting for him to do so. There was only one reason for Carwyn Hir to send men onto Marcus’s lands. He was trying to give her a way to get to the town to meet with his messenger, and that would be easier if Marcus was drawn away from Anglesmore.

No sooner had the gate closed on Marcus’s troop than she set about doing just that. It had been three days since Iolo had told her of the man waiting to speak with her, and her heart harbored the dreadful fear that he brought bad tidings about Genith. The worry had grown until it made her nauseous as she lay in bed at night.

Sieg had insisted on joining Marcus’s action, but David remained at Anglesmore. She sought him out soon after Marcus’s departure, and found him in the garden playing with the harp. In a very short time he had taught himself enough that a simple but lyrical melody flowed.

“Thank you for the cloth,” she said. “It was kind of you to remember I had admired the green velvet.”

“I brought it for Marcus. If he gave it to you, that was thoughtful. Your thanks should go to him.”

“However I received it, I am grateful. Now that I have it, however, I am impatient to see it made into a garment. I have dreamed of a surcotte since I first saw the fabric in your shop. The women here are busy with other sewing, but there is a tailor in the town who I think could do it as I want. Have you been to the town?”

“Not yet.” Most of his attention remained on his fingers and the strings.

“It is of good size for Wales, although none of our towns are very big. Still, it has a few merchants wealthy enough to buy even your foreign luxuries. Why don’t we go to the town today? You can bring your wares, and I can visit the tailor.”

“Why not, indeed?” He set the harp aside. “The day promises to be quiet and tedious with Mark gone. I will have the wagon prepared, and if we leave soon we should be back by nightfall.”