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there is time enough for you to consider these things peacefully and at leisure. Pembroke will surely fight now, and Simon will be with him. He will be too busy and too tired to think of women." He smiled. "Go and make your dress decent, Daughter, and then come back and tell me how you fared at Henry's court." |
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He had heard that from Simon, too, but pretended he had not and listened eagerly to Rhiannon's version. That both tales were so nearly identical was a good sign for the future. Inexperienced as she was, she had learned more than he had expected. Yes, indeed, Rhiannon would be very useful to him once she was Simon's wife. Nonetheless, he did not mention that subject again, and when Rhiannon asked if she could go back to Angharad's Hall he agreed readily, admitting that he would be busy gathering his men for a proposed campaign in conjunction with the Earl of Pembroke's forces. |
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From the corner of his sly eyes, Llewelyn noted that his daughter had become paler. Since he was sure her fear was not for his sake, he rightly assumed she had followed his statement to its logical conclusion. Simon would very soon be physically at war whether he remained with Pembroke or came back to Llewelyn. |
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Rhiannon left the next morning carrying the burden of that knowledge and the understanding that she might be condemning Simon to great and lasting unhappiness. A less subtle man might have tried to conceal the fact that Simon would be fighting, in the hope that Rhiannon would fear for him less, feel less pain, and be more inclined to marry. Llewelyn knew better. Let the fear peak now. |
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Perhaps Kicva would see it and soothe her daughter, although Llewelyn was never sure of what Kicva would do or say. Even if she chose to ignore Rhiannon's distress, no emotion can long remain at fever pitch. In a few months the fighting would probably be over, at least during the worst months of winter. Simon would |
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