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Page 26
across the table toward Walter, "an invitationwhich amounts to an orderfrom Prince Llewelyn to bring my wife and her ladies to Simon de Vipont's wedding. I have held it two days, wondering which offense would be more deadlyto bring Gervase or not to bring her."
"What do you mean?" Walter asked, also smiling. Richard's obvious amusement made nonsense of the mention of deadly offense.
"I am half-serious," Richard said, sobering. "Obviously, I cannot refuse to bring my womenfolk to Builth. That would imply a distrust in Lord Llewelyn, which, in fact, I do not feel. On the other hand, Gervase and her sister, Marie, are very nice in their ways. They are accustomed to formality and elegance of the French court, and I do fear that they will tend to sneer at Welsh manners and customs. Since bringing them is unavoidable, I would like you to go to Pembroke keep and escort them to Brecon, where I will meet you."
"Brecon?" Walter repeated, surprised. "Have you taken de Bohun's keep?"
"No, of course not," Richard replied. "Let us say it is lent to me, since it is too far from Hereford's other lands to be useful at this time. Thus, the lands do not suffer raiding. But about Gervase and Marie: If it is possible for you to impress them with the necessity of behaving with the greatest civility, I will bless you. If you cannot," Richard's voice was suddenly dry and hard, "I will no: blame you. I know Gervase all too well. She is not always amenable to reason."
"I will do my best, my lord." Walter did not think it his place to question Richard's management of his personal affairs, but his doubt must have shown in either face or voice.
Richard smiled at him wryly. "You are wondering why I do not go myself, since there is no immediate expectation of action and, obviously, there will be no planning until I meet with Llewelyn again. You think it can only make my wife angrier and less willing to accommodate me if I send a stranger to escort her." He sighed. "We are far beyond that. If I ask Gervase to mind her manners, she will only take offense."
Walter opened his mouth and then closed it again. If Richard was in the habit of telling his wife to mind her manners when she was a woman accustomed to court life, it was not surprising that she lost her temper.

 
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