He rose from the tub, revealing his nakedness, but neither of them cared. He grabbed a towel and dried himself with strong, deliberate wipes. “I blame your father and his followers and anyone who has aided or instigated the strife growing in these parts. When a baron pursues these criminals, he will not stop at his border and let them escape. It is the boldness of the recent raids that put those villagers in danger, and it will get worse in the weeks ahead. You think to strike a blow against England, but the people who will feel the most pain will be the Welsh themselves.”

He threw the towel aside and grabbed a simple robe. “I wish you had been with us today. God, how I wish it. When I saw you in the hall I almost grabbed you by the hair to drag you back to that village, so you could see what your grand scheme had brought to pass.”

She thought her head would burst from swelling anger and resentment. “No scheme of mine brought it to pass. The unchecked power of Arundal did, and the smug confidence of those men of his who assumed that if they erred no one would care. And they were right, damn you. And so it has been for hundreds of years on the marches, and now in the west and north as well. Today does not lay bare only the dangers of my father’s dream. It also proves the necessity of it.”

The robe slid over him. He stepped toward her, his eyes blazing, his damp hair falling around his face. He came close enough for her to feel the anger he barely kept in control. “Just what is your father’s dream, Nesta? I have guessed, but it is time for me to know for certain. A free Wales, independent of English rule? Was Llygad up Madoc so bold as that? That is a high price to make Edward pay for casting his eye on a daughter.”

“He did not raise his banner because of me. Eventually he would have anyway.”

“But he chose that moment. He knew the stories about you and Edward would get the attention of the Welsh, and that his violated daughter would make a fine symbol of Wales itself. As with the woman, so with the country. Used by England, perhaps even raped. Exploited for England’s pleasure and gain. Denied the dignity and courtesies reserved for the English themselves. It was perfect. Did Llygad plan it? Encourage the King’s interest in you, and hope the story would spread?”

Her hand swung of its own accord, aiming for his face as she vented the burst of outrage that his accusation evoked.

He caught her wrist before she connected, and held it in an iron grip. “What else has been your role in this? You will tell me now.”

“I will tell you nothing.”