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Page 394
over the animosity between her father and the king who appreciated her artyes. It would be of particular value that the songbird the king admired so much had been frightened away from Henry by the threats of the Bishop of Winchester. Llewelyn began to grin again as he thought the story through. Yes, Rhiannon would have returned in spite of her fears to plead for peace between her favorite listener and her father. How touching!
But first there was the question of getting her married. His eyes narrowed and he tapped Simon's letter, which he had read before it was sealed in his presence, against his fingertips. He could not say too much. There was no forcing Rhiannon. She would run away, even kill herself if the pressure became too extreme. But there were ways to make a person apply pressure to herself. Llewelyn beckoned a maidservant and told her to carry Simon's letter to Rhiannon. As he expected, it brought her down to the hall a few minutes later, so soon that her hair was uncombed and her gown undone.
Seeing her father, she cried, ''Is he gone?"
"Some hours," Llewelyn replied gravely, "Does it matter? I had proposals to make to Pembroke, and Simon was fittest to make them."
"Where is Pembroke? I will send a messenger."
"As to where Pembroke isI have no idea. Simon will have to track him by rumor and possibly follow him from place to place. Just now the earl's friends are peculiarly unwilling to speak freely of his whereabouts, even to me. And why, Rhiannon? What is of such importance to say to Simon that you must send a man after him?"
"I do not wish him to come to Angharad's Hall," Rhiannon said bleakly.
"And the letter says he will come?" Llewelyn asked, to establish the untrue fact that he had not read it.
Rhiannon nodded. Llewelyn looked at her, waiting

 
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