1.

"No ... I am not saying that. When I feel confident that Davydj can stave off any challenge to his authority, that he can safeguard what I've won, I'll give Gruffydd his freedom."

"And you think that should give me comfort? That day will never come! Davydd will never be able to hold his own against Gruffydd!"

Llewelyn was not vulnerable from that quarter. "You are wrong Senena," he said quietly, with such calm certitude that Senena's rage spilled over.

"This is Joanna's doing, all of it! She's set you against your own, scrupled at nothing to get what she wantedthe crown for her son! How could you be so taken in? My God, if you only knew"

"If I only knew what, Senena?"

The coldness of the query brought her up short. What could she tell him? She had nothing but suspicions, needed more than afternoon disappearances, Joanna's obvious unease, and her own instincts. Not only would Llewelyn not believe her, he'd never forgive her.

"I do not mean to offend you, my lord. But I love your son, and who will speak for him if I do not? If you do not free Gruffydd in your lifetime, he will never be freed. If he is still confined at your death, he will remain caged for the rest of his days. Davydd will never let him go. Can you do that to him? Can you condemn him to a life in shadow, away from the sun and the changing seasons? Can you"

Llewelyn had no answer for her. He turned away in silence.

AT Michaelmas, Davydd and his sister Gwladys departed for London, where Davydd was to do homage to Henry. Joanna had decided not to accompany her son, in part because she did not want to take any attention away from Davydd's first diplomatic mission and in part because she did not want to leave Llewelyn for very long. He'd been sleeping badly since his return from Deganwy; all too frequently of late, she would awaken to find him staring into the dark, and she could offer only the most evanescent and ephemeral of comforts, winding her arms around him and holding him close, able to sympathize with his pain but not to share it.

She did agree to meet Davydd in Shrewsbury upon his return, and she arrived at the Benedictine abbey on a mild afternoon in October. Later that day a plainly dressed woman entered a Shrewsbury church, asked the priest to hear her confession. That she was a stranger did no surprise him, for there was a lamentable reluctance even among t"e truly devout to confess their more serious sins to their own pafis priests. She followed him toward the chancel, seated herself on the shriving stool, where she could be seen by all yet not heard, and if619 very low voice confessed to the sin of adultery. Afterward, Joa^ walked back to the abbey with a lighter step, for the first time in a y feeling at peace with herself. Davydd and Gwladys rode into the abbey precincts the follow morning, laden with gifts and London news. Joanna was delighted* discover they were accompanied by Elen and John the Scot. But } I smile froze at sight of the man riding at Elen's side, at sight of Will'' Braose. In accordance with Norman custom, dinner was served in the foi noon. The meal was less stressful, however, than Joanna had expect^' for Will was on his best behavior; even Gwladys thawed toward hi^ enough to laugh heartily at his maliciously accurate imitation of Hub