Castle of the Heart by Speer Flora

Author:Speer, Flora
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, historical, medieval
Publisher: Flora Speer

Chapter 10

Tynant Manor January, A.D. 1117

“I can hardly believe it,” Thomas said. “Geoffrey and a woman.”

“Hasn’t he had women before?” Selene asked.

“Of course, but not like this. Just unimportant girls. This is different. I think he loves her. Do you mind that she sits at meals with us? I can tell Geoffrey to take her off the dais and send her to one of the lower tables while we are here.”

“I don’t mind,” Selene said. “I’m so tired of seeing the same people all the time at Afoncaer, and they always talk about the same things. Gwenefer is different, and very amusing with those songs she sings, and all those funny stories. She has a lovely voice. She can provide our entertainment each night. I would never have guessed a Welsh woman could be so delightful a companion. I thought they were all half-naked barbarians.” Selene did not think it necessary to add that Thomas’s mother had told her that.

“I am glad to see,” Thomas said complacently, “that here as well as at Afoncaer, fairness and a mild hand have pacified the Welsh who live directly under Uncle Guy and Geoffrey. It is only the Welsh who live outside their direct rule, or those who live under less gentle Norman lords, who cause trouble now.”

Thomas had reason to feel pleased, not only with the peaceful Welsh, but with the improving condition of his marriage. Selene had readily agreed to come to Tynant, wanting only to bring Deirdre with her. Meredith had quashed that plan by pointing out how much safer Afoncaer was, and how it might upset Deirdre to be moved from her familiar surroundings. Selene had relented with unusual graciousness. Now that they were at Tynant she was calmer than she had been at Afoncaer. There had been no quarrelling at all and no outburst of temper for these first two days. She had even allowed Thomas to kiss and fondle her at night, though her reluctance to do more was obvious. Not wanting to disturb the new-found peace between them, Thomas had not persisted, hoping she would come to him willingly if he were patient a little longer.

Selene was content enough to be at Tynant. She rather liked Geoffrey’s new mistress. Gwenefer exerted herself to be agreeable to Selene, who recognized what Gwenefer was doing and took it as a compliment. In the afternoons they sat together in the second-floor solar, Selene with her embroidery, Gwenefer spinning wool. Their conversation was light-hearted and easy, yet Gwenefer always made it plain that they were not equals. Selene was a great lady, Gwenefer only a servant, deferring always to one set far above her. They discussed housekeeping concerns whenever Geoffrey’s aging chatelaine Rohaise joined them, turning to more intimate subjects when Rohaise had gone off to kitchen or cellars.

“Doesn’t she resent your presence here?” Selene asked one afternoon when Rohaise had just left them.

“Not at all. We are fast friends, and I am a great help to her. She depends on me.

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