"Where?" Joanna gestured vaguely. "I think . .. down there. By the river."

"Madame . . . are you all right?"

Joanna nodded, not convincing Branwen in the least. Her shyness notwithstanding, Branwen could be very stubborn. "Are you sure, Madame? In truth, you look ill." But Joanna seemed not to hear. She was turning away as Catherine and Rhys rode through the gateway into the bailey.

Catherine did not wait for her husband's assistance. Sliding from the saddle, she ran toward Joanna, disregarded protocol, and embraced her as a sister.

"Joanna, what can I say?" Catherine's fair skin was splotched, the lue eyes reddened and puffy. "I still cannot believe it. Where is Llewelyn?