'I would know first what kind of a home and hearth this man has to offer my niece. Tis not a castle, I am certain, and my niece is of noble blood. Even her mother, God assoil her, was lawfully born into a noble house. We are anxious that Rhonwyn be re-wed, but we will not act in haste and place our child in a difficult situation or one not suited to her station.'
'Of course,' the queen agreed, smoothing a wrinkle from her royal purple gown. She looked at Rafe de Beaulieu. 'Sir, what have you to say to the abbess's query?'
'Through my maternal grandfather who had no other heirs, I hold the title of Baron Bradburn of Ardley,' Rafe said. 'My manor is small in land, but I have a fine house, servants, and ten serfs to work my fields. My cousin, Edward, has a piece of land, separate from his other holdings, that matches with my land. If you will give me the lady Rhonwyn for a wife, this land could serve as my cousin's forfeit to the lady, and my holdings would thereby be measurably increased. I have cattle and I have sheep among my possessions as well. I am not a very wealthy man but I am comfortable and my wife will not lack. I am not a powerful man, but my blood is as noble as hers. I will not hold the past against her. I will take her to wife despite her adventures and her bad temper.'
Rhonwyn threw her rosary beads at his head, shouting, 'You will have me in exchange for Edward's land, you bastard?
'The choice is not yours, my child,' the abbess repeated quietly.
'Aunt…'
'Listen to me, Rhonwyn,' the abbess spoke in the Welsh, 'they will marry you off whether you will or no. At least you know this man. You may not like him, but you know him. What other will have you? Perhaps some lecherous old lordling who will use you and beat you and squander your dower portion? Rafe de Beaulieu is young. He will give you children. And, I suspect, in time you will come to an arrangement that pleases you both. I have the power to make this match, and I intend to do so. I would prefer, however, that you agree to it also. Not willingly, I know, but I beg you to agree, Rhonwyn.'
'I feel like an animal caught in a trap,' Rhonwyn said in her childhood tongue. 'I hate it!'
'I know,' the abbess sympathized, 'and I do understand, my child.'
'Why must I wed again?' Rhonwyn demanded angrily, but even as she asked the question she knew she was beaten. How in hell could she hope to prevail against the queen and the church? She couldn't. No one was going to come to her aid. Her brother stood silently, his gaze averted. She could see Oth and Dewi at the end of the hall, but she knew as much as they loved her, they would not act against what they knew her father and her aunt would want for her.
'I will marry him, but not willingly,' she said, once more using the Norman tongue.
'Excellent,' Queen Eleanor replied, well pleased.
'I shall marry them myself, here and now,' the archbishop of Canterbury announced beneficently, a broad smile upon his face.
'You honor our family, my lord archbishop,' the abbess said smoothly, 'but I know I should feel more comfortable if all the legalities were tended to first.'
'An excellent suggestion,' the queen agreed. 'They shall be wed late this afternoon, and if the king is better, he will come and give our beautiful bride away. My dear, I did not mention it before, but green becomes you well.'
'I shall take my niece back to the convent, gracious queen, until the documents are ready for signature,' the abbess replied.
The queen nodded.' I shall send my own page to fetch you.'
The abbess and her escort turned to shepherd their charge from the hall. Rhonwyn was seething with anger. Edward de Beaulieu would not look at her, but Rafe stepped forward, taking her hand up and kissing it. His eyes met hers mockingly.
'You will regret your impetuosity, my lord,' she snarled at him.
'I think not, Rhonwyn mine,' he answered her.
'I will never be yours!' she cried heatedly, and the abbess took her niece's arm and hustled her off before the now affianced pair came to blows.
'Do not cause a scene!' the abbess snapped.
'I hate him! I hate him!' Rhonwyn said heatedly. Her pale skin was flushed with her ire, and the color made her features even more attractive than they usually were.
'You are fortunate,' her brother said, coming to her side.
'You had to have another husband,' Glynn said.
'Why does everyone keep saying that?' she demanded.
'Look on the brighter side of the situation,' Glynn said. 'Ardley is far nearer to Shrewsbury than Haven. We shall see each other often.'
'I don't know why he wants to wed me,' Rhonwyn replied, ignoring her brother's comforting words.
'He lusts after you,' Glynn said with a chuckle.
'A man who is devoting his life to God should not say such things,' she scolded him roundly.
'Had I not had as full a life as I have and known my share of women, sister, I should not be able to give up my life to God so easily,' her brother told her with a smile. 'Chasing after you and my time in Acre proved quite enlightening.'
The abbess chuckled. 'You are much your father's son, Glynn. I find it amazing that you can speak of giving up the world so cheerfully. The religious life is a hard life, nephew.'
'I know,' he said. 'In my time in the abbey school I saw how difficult it could be sometimes, but it is also joyous and meaningful as well, my lady abbess. I will be happy at Shrewsbury.'
'Then God bless you, Glynn ap Llywelyn,' she said. The abbess turned to her niece. 'You must rest, Rhonwyn, for you are certainly exhausted in body and spirit after these last few weeks.'
Rhonwyn didn't argue with the older woman as they reentered the convent, allowing her aunt to help her from her beautiful gown so she might lay down in her chemise.
'Now listen to me, my child,' the abbess said. 'After the marriage ceremony I shall announce that we are all leaving immediately. That your father's men-at-arms will want to escort you to your new home, and as we yet have several hours of daylight, we shall leave right away. No one, not even your new husband, will gainsay me, I promise you. We can travel at least five miles tonight before darkness sets in. There is a small religious house just that distance away. It is there we shall shelter tonight. As you know, there will be no accommodations for a newly wed couple. You and your husband will be forced to sleep in separate quarters. Tomorrow we can retrace our route exactly, sheltering at the various convents and monasteries that we sheltered in on our way to Westminster. Until we reach your new home I can protect you from Rafe de Beaulieu's eagerness. Use that time, Rhonwyn, to know him better. You are not the frightened girl who married his cousin. You are a woman, and you know what is expected of you. I have never known a man, but I have heard it said the experience is pleasanter if the couple at least likes each other. There must be something you can learn to like in him.'
Rhonwyn shook her head, but she was smiling slightly. 'Aunt, I wish I had a predilection for the religious life, for I should enjoy being with you for the rest of my days. I do not think I shall enjoy that same pleasure with Rafe de Beaulieu. I am certainly being punished for my foolish ways.'
'Tell me something,' the abbess said, turning the subject. 'How exactly did Sir Fulk die? You have never been particularly forthcoming in that matter. Do you feel such guilt for his death?'
'He did not die,' Rhonwyn said. 'I wanted him to return home with me, but he would not. He had been put in charge of Prince Mohammed's military training. The prince is but two years younger than Glynn and just a few years younger than Sir Fulk. They liked one another, and Fulk felt his opportunities would be greater in Cinnebar. He did not believe, however, that his family would understand his remaining with the infidels.'
'Could he give up his faith so easily?' The abbess looked disturbed.
'Nay, he did not give up his faith, aunt. In Cinnebar all faiths are permitted to worship freely,' Rhonwyn told
