“To do?” she asked, raising her head at last. There, in a face softened with affection, she saw her mother was anxious. “You have traveled hard to be here so soon. There is naught to be done but to rest and be refreshed. Where is Hugh?” She looked around, surprised that the steward had truly left. “You should have wine.”

Eluned shook her head with a laugh. “Nay, I need only to speak with you here, where there are no Morency men to hear us.”

“None among them speak Welsh.”

“Good,” said Eluned firmly, taking her daughter’s hands in both of hers. “And now we must plan. We must stay here only a night, I think, and then begin the journey back to Ruardean at first light. Is there any servant you would bring away with you?”

“What profit is there in such haste?” Gwenllian asked in dismay. “Is certain the men are weary of travel and need respite. So too do you need rest, as well do I need your counsel. Will you leave so soon and deny me this?”

Eluned squeezed her hands, smiling fondly at her.

“Nor do I mean for us to be parted again, for fear of the mischief that can be done when I am not here to guide you.”

Gwenllian could only stare in confusion as she slowly understood.

“You mean me to return to Ruardean.”

“Aye, surely. Is well enough you have claim to Morency in some way, even if it is not as we had wished. But you’ll not remain and play wife to Edward’s favored pet.” Eluned slipped her arm through Gwenllian’s and began to walk deeper into the orchard, lowering her voice. “In truth, we only wait at Ruardean for word from Gwynedd.”

Gwenllian forced herself to continue walking as her mind reeled. Gwynedd was where the Welsh prince Llewellyn lived, the only corner of land left in his power after Edward had crushed any hopes of Welsh independence three years ago.

“What word do you await from Llewellyn, mother?”

Eluned’s hand slipped down to intertwine her fingers with Gwenllian’s.

“It will be soon. The lesser Welsh princes,” the word was loaded with contempt, “grow discontent with their lot as Edward’s vassals. Many stand ready to fight at last, and the common people even more so. It needs only shrewd planning, done while the snow falls. By the spring, Llewellyn will be assured we can strike with a purpose.”

Gwenllian stopped walking, pulling her hand from her mother’s grasp. Eluned’s face was all seriousness, her brow lightly furrowed as she spoke of planning a rebellion against the English crown.

Through the shock, Gwenllian tried to make sense of her mother’s words.

“Llewellyn will be assured,” she repeated. “He’ll be assured, by spring?”

The familiar pinch came to Eluned’s lips.

“He is reluctant. He thinks we cannot win against Edward, but you will convince him–”