< previous page page_144 next page >

Page 144
Chapter 11
Because he was busy, the morning passed away more quickly than Walter expected. From time to time he had heard feminine voices and laughter and assumed that the ladies who had not gone to hunt were amusing themselves somewhere in the hall. He had no inclination to look that way. Somewhat later, Prince Llewelyn appeared, and they talked about the estimates Walter had made. During the conversation, Walter found an appropriate time and place to mention Knight's Tower. He was pleased when Prince Llewelyn showed a definite interest in placing that stronghold in Walter's hands. Soon after that, however, Llewelyn cocked his head to the side and remarked that he heard the hunt returning.
Walter was surprised. He did not think himself deaf, but he heard nothing. Surely enough, though, only a few minutes after Prince Llewelyn had made the remark and excused himself, Walter heard voices and laughter as men and women trooped into the hall still talking out the excitement. Walter's eyes flew to Sybelle as she came through the entryway. She was arguing some point with her brother, but as she came in, her glance went to where she had last left Walter. Since he had not moved far, their eyes met. She hesitated, and before Walter could push away the small table at which he had been working, get his leg off the footstool, and rise, she had pushed William on his way and come across to where Walter sat.
''I am sorry you were not with us, Sir Walter," Sybelle said. "It was a lovely hunt."
Walter looked at Sybelle and swallowed. He had seen from across the room that her dress was disordered, but at close range the impact of her loveliness in wild disarray was stunning. She had lost her wimple and headdress, and her bronze mane was full of twigs and leaves, loose tendrils curling around her

 
< previous page page_144 next page >