She shook her head in despair. It was impossible to explain. “The ladies at court and at Morency – you have seen I do not know how to be like them, or even like my mother. Do you not see? Never will I be at ease in a gown.”

“Then will I be sure to ease you out of it.”

But his face sobered when he saw that still she could not make light of it. Still she did not move closer to him. She could feel the heat come to her face, patches of red that would highlight her uncomeliness. She found she could not look him in the eyes, when she remembered his insults from a lifetime ago.

“You may joke, my lord, but it was you who said I was more suited to be the blacksmith of Morency than its lady, before we married.”

“Before we married, I was an ass and a knave.” His voice was categorical, but when she looked up at him, there was discomfort in his face. To her great amazement, she thought she saw the blood rising in his neck, to his face, even to the tips of his ears. “I would spend what years God grants me in repenting of the insult I gave you.”

He took a step to close the distance between them, and though she knew what she was, in his look she saw herself as he did. Such admiration and devotion was there that no bard could hope to sing of it.

“Gwenllian,” he said softly, and her name in his mouth caused a warmth to spread through her. “By God and by nature are you fashioned as my match, with strength enough to bear the burden of a man so filled with pride and anger and wickedness.”

He put his hand in hers and drew her closer, interlacing their fingers. The sensation of it ran up through her, reassuring and exciting at once, the relief it was to feel the sureness of his grip. His other hand came up to the mail shirt she wore, fingertips catching in the rings of it as he brought his face closer, eyes level with hers.

“Never could I love an ordinary lady,” he said. “In this world or the next, I could only love you.”

CHAPTER 21

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In the courtyard he watched her take her leave of Madog. She had said that her cousin must stay here and not return with her to Morency. “This is his place,” she had told him, “in Wales.” But she also said she could not know Madog’s feelings on rebellion, if he would part from Eluned to fight or if he would stay to command the men in whatever way he thought right.