At the sound of a horse crashing through the trees behind, William turned and pulled his sword. He sheathed it when he saw who the rider was.
“How the devil did you know where to find me?” he called out to Stephen.
“The abbess sent word she has news!” Stephen said as he drew his horse up.
“Praise God!”
They galloped all the way to the abbey. When they burst into the abbess’s private parlor, they found it was not a message waiting for them this time. It was the troubadour himself.
“Heaven above,” William said, clapping Robert on the back, “who would have thought I would be so glad to see you!”
When Robert laughed, William noticed the lines of fatigue etched on his handsome face.
“I have found where she is,” Robert said. “It will not be easy, but there is hope we can get her out.”
“God bless you, Robert,” William said as he squeezed Stephen’s shoulder. “I am forever in your debt.”
“I was able to speak with her briefly at Harlech,” Robert said. “She was well and sent her love.”
William ran his hands through his hair, overcome with emotion.
“The next day she was gone,” Robert said. “No one—except Glyndwr himself—knew where she went or who took her.
“Eventually, I heard a whisper that someone had seen Maredudd Tudor in the castle the night she went missing,” Robert continued. “Glyndwr loves music, so it was another week before I could leave Harlech without raising suspicion.
“I followed Maredudd’s trail to the south, until it disappeared. On a hunch, I went north again. I did not catch wind of an English lady again until I was all the way to Beaumaris Castle.”
“Beaumaris is a fortress on the coast of Anglesey,” William explained to Stephen. “It is still in English hands.”
“I sought news among the Welsh servants at Beaumaris,” Robert said, picking up his tale again. “I found a maid whose sister works for the Tudors at their manor house, Plas Penmynydd. From her, I learned a beautiful Englishwoman is living with the Tudors.”
Robert leaned forward. “William, the house is butfive miles from Beaumaris.”
“You know this for certain?”
“I do.” Robert stretched out his long legs and folded his hands on his stomach. “Believe me, I had to work hard to get the information. That Welsh maid is homely, but energetic.”
“Robert!” the abbess said, but her lips twitched with amusement.
“As I see it, there are two ways to do this,” William said. “I can surprise the Tudors and take her by force. Or, I can approach this Maredudd Tudor and see if he is willing to give her up for a price.”
“If you parlay with him first,” Stephen interjected, “you lose the advantage of surprise.”
William nodded and turned to Robert. “Do you think it worth the risk?”
Robert would understand, as he did, that there was a greater chance of Catherine coming to harm in an attack.
“I will go to Plas Penmynydd and find out,” Robert said.
When William started to object, the abbess put her hand on his arm. “Robert can gain entry to the household without alerting them to your plans.”
“You can take your men and wait at Beaumaris,” Robert said. “Catherine has been in the household for weeks and can tell me whether Maredudd Tudor will negotiate. If she says nay, I can forewarn her to be ready for the attack.”
Chapter Twenty-five
Marged frowned as she came into the solar and saw Owain asleep on Catherine’s lap.
“Owain is too big for that,?? she said, resting her hand on Catherine’s shoulder.
