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truce with Pembroke is allowed to stand, blame must be fixed elsewhere. Still, all is not lost, and here, too, Llewelyn has seen most clearly. A girl like Rhiannon, speaking gently, is the most likely to make Winches-ter's advice less palatable if he tries to rouse Henry against the Welsh." |
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"There will be no trouble presenting her to the king, but she must be able to catch and hold his attention also," Joanna pointed out. |
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"She can do that," Simon said eagerly, "and just in the right way so that Henry will be often reminded she is Welsh but with no ill flavor. Eneit, where is your harp?" |
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I packed it," Rhiannon assured him, "but where it is now I have no idea. The servants took the baggage in, I suppose" |
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She broke off as Alinor rose to her feet with an exclamation. "Poor child," she went on, You must think us monsters. We have not offered you even a cup of wine or a chance to take off those dusty clothes. You must forgive us. We are all so deep in this problem that we can think of nothing else. Come above with me, and we will find your clothing and anything else you want." Alinor gestured, and Joanna and Gilliane, who had also started to rise, sat back. Mama wishes to speak to Rhiannon alone, each thought. |
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In her concentration on the people she had met, Rhiannon had paid scant attention to her surroundings. It was only when she was led into the chamber that had been Joanna's, and now was Sybelle's, that she really saw the luxury with which those in Roselynde surrounded themselves. There was a rich carpet on the floor, tapestries kept the damp of the walls from invading the room, and beside the hearth stood chairs with backs and arms rather than stools or benches; what was more, every chair was richly cushioned. There were wall holders for torches, but the walls and tapestries near them were free of soot. |
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