His hand tightened on her boot and he turned his face up to her, eyes narrowed. The sudden anger in her rose up and crashed into this newfound lust, the awareness of his body so near to hers. It muddled her mind and robbed her of her balance, to look into the midnight blue of his eyes. She stiffened as he opened his mouth to speak, ready for an argument, but they were interrupted.

“Lady Morency!” It was the sound of Suzanna’s voice that caught her attention, and not the sound of her new name. It would take some getting used to. She must remember not to flinch when she heard herself addressed thus.

He turned away to greet Suzanna, and Gwenllian let herself down from the saddle with the same intent. The moment her boots touched the earth, Davydd was beside her. He caught her hand as though helping her to dismount, alerting her to yet another tiny task that she must learn to do differently. She whispered her thanks to him, defiantly in Welsh, and hoped she had not looked too awkward and uncouth clambering down unaided.

“I see your traveling dress does very well,” said Suzanna, her eyes crinkling with amusement. “You see now why we made certain the cut was full. Oh, and the boots, they are well fitted?”

Morency drifted away as Suzanna chattered merrily. Gwenllian smoothed the brown fustian skirt and allowed herself a small smile. “Aye, all is the finest I could imagine and there is even more than I asked you. Is a wondrous talent you possess.”

Suzanna laughed outright. “A wondrous talent for emptying another’s purse to buy the finest goods to be found, yes. You see now why my father was careful to marry me to a rich man.”

“I hope he may be worthy of you.” It was not just courtesy that made her say it. She looked now, as Suzanna did, at the party gathered for the journey. The only women there were traveling to other destinations along the road, and were not bound for Morency. Gwenllian had no ladies to attend her in her new home. She would be alone there.

Suzanna held out a small box. “I know you must leave soon, and I came only to bid you farewell and offer a gift for the bride.” Inside was a neat stack of very fine parchment. “Is a selfish thing, for you may only use it to write to me.”