Page 72 of Triumph at Pemberley

Frederica called, “Sutton!”

His father watched as Sutton limped to meet them. “You. What is your connection to to this woman?”

“I protect her.”

“Does she pay you for that?”

“I would do it anyway.”

The older man cocked his head. “Do you think you could stop me if I tried to hurt her?”

“Yes, sir.”

“With only one arm and weak leg?”

“You could not get through me, because you want to live, and I would happily die to give her time to flee.”

Rhodri ap Llewellyn studied him closely. “Why?”

Sutton’s face might as well be carved from stone. “She saved me when I was dying.”

Roderick’s father nodded. “A life bond, then. That is fair. You may remain with her.” He turned back to his son. “Now go, Roderick, and take your wife back to safety, such as it is.” It was a clear dismissal.

Roderick took a deep breath and released it slowly. “Sir.” He held out his hand to Frederica.

Chapter 29

Frederica had wondered what to expect from Roderick’s town. Would it be like the small village with the odd church where they had met his father? Desolate, like the mountaintops, or lushly forested like the valleys beneath them? Dilapidated, like the Welsh towns she had traveled through on her way to Gwynedd? Impoverished, yes, she knew that much from what Roderick had told her.

She had not expected it to be charming. Beautiful, even. And magical, oh, so magical!

Well-kept stone cottages lined a single cobblestone street through a narrow valley surrounding a tumbling river. Pines and ancient oak trees rose on steep slopes behind them. Neat drystone walls protected anyone from falling into the stream below.

Everything sparkled, at least to Frederica’s Talented eyes. Traces of illusion clung to many of the houses, adding color and depth to the stone. The narrow strips of planting in front of the buildings bloomed more luxuriantly than could be natural in this mountain soil. This was the home of the family that held the King’s Bond, and it showed through the entire village.

She glanced at Roderick riding beside her. “Is Talent so common here?”

“More so than in England, yes. Our people know to watch for subtle signs.”

“How do they live together, then? Do they have no repulsion?”

“Only those who fully develop it. Most have no more than a trace and use it only in limited ways. They generally are free of repulsion.”

“You must have had it, though, before you bonded Rowan.”

He shrugged. “The King’s Bond helped with that, but my bedroom used to be the farthest from everyone else. That made it more comfortable. Everyone understood, though. It is a common thing here.”

A land where everyone understood Talent and did not fear it. She had never truly believed that was possible. What an astonishing thing it would be to live here!

As the two of them clattered across an old bridge, she could glimpse boulders in the river below with water splashing between them. Only a few villagers seemed to be out and about, but an old woman sweeping her stoop waved to Roderick with a broad smile, and a group of young children playing called out his name. Her husband raised his hand to acknowledge them.

Now she could see him as a prince in this place.

The homes were fewer on this side of the river, interspersed with gardens, and a simple ancient church. Soon they were deep in the forest again. “You do not live in the village?”

“Our house is about a mile from here.” he said. “Just past where Granny lives.”

The thought of having Granny nearby was a cheering one, at least once the old lady returned from Pemberley. Granny had an extensive family here, too, Frederica’s distant relatives. Perhaps they would be well-disposed to another Fitzwilliam woman coming to Gwynedd. And, most likely, they would speak English.