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Nerys had already proven herself to be a good, sweet woman, so why did Catrin’s heart sink at the thought of Nerys with Rhys?

Nerys shook her head. “Marshal Rhys deserves someone who is closer to being his equal than I will ever be. And I . . .” She paused, and color flooded her face just as it had behind the partition.

“And you have feelings for Glyn,” Catrin supplied, a rush of relief accompanying the sudden flash of insight.

Nerys placed her hands over her pink cheeks. “Oh dear. Is it so very apparent?”

Catrin chuckled. “Not any more than his obvious affection for you.”

“You . . . you truly believe that he notices me?”

“Truly.”

“He’s a good man,” Nerys whispered.

Catrin reached out and squeezed her hand. “Then you merit each other.”

Suddenly, the outer door flew open, and over the sound of the rain came the terrified whinny of a horse and the sound of hooves.

“Nerys! Catrin! Come quickly!”

At the sound of Enid’s frantic voice, the two women left their bowls and hastened across the room.

“’Tis Bleddyn,” Enid said, turning back the way she had come. “I was coming back from the milking.” She paused to catch her breath. The milk pail was still in her hand, but some of the milk had slopped out in her haste to reach the longhouse. “He was exercising the horses when a polecat darted out from the rocks and startled Glyn’s stallion. The fool horse reared, and Bleddyn lost his seat.”

Over Enid’s shoulder, Catrin caught sight of the lifeless form of the stableboy lying on the ground a few yards away, and she started to run. Heedless of the mud, she dropped to her knees beside him and carefully pulled back the hood of his cloak. A huge goose-egg-sized lump had already formed on his forehead, its purple color especially pronounced against his pale face. The boy moaned, and Catrin released the breath she’d been holding. He was yet alive.

Nerys knelt on the other side of him. “Bleddyn! Can you hear me?” He moaned again, and Nerys’s eyes met Catrin’s. “We must get him inside.”

Enid reached them, panting slightly. “Can you lift him?”

Nerys nodded. “I shall take his shoulders if you will take his legs, Catrin.”

Catrin positioned herself at Bleddyn’s feet and grasped his ankles. On the count of three, they lifted the teenager and staggered toward the longhouse. Enid scurried ahead of them, holding open the door as they approached.

“Take him directly to the corner,” Enid said. “Put him on the pallet beside Ioan.”

Catrin readjusted her grip on Bleddyn’s ankles. The mud covering his shoes and clothing was making it hard to maintain a firm hold, and she prayed that her arms would not give up his weight before they were safely over the pallet. Nerys led the way, walking backward around the partition.

“What happened?” The shock in Huw’s voice was echoed in the expressions of all three men.

“He was thrown from a horse,” Nerys panted.

“Which horse?” This time it was Glyn.

“Yours.” Enid had come, carrying more bandages and wet rags. “He’s a hundred times bigger than that hissing polecat, but he acted like a frightened mouse.”

Glyn groaned. “Where is he?”

Nerys and Catrin slowly lowered Bleddyn to the pallet, and Enid immediately set to work, taking off his wet cloak and muddy shoes.

“I don’t know,” the older woman said. “He ran off, with the two mares Bleddyn had on lead ropes following right behind.”

Glyn shifted to one side, placing his weight on his good leg. “Can you help me onto my feet, Nerys? I must fetch him back.”

Enid looked up from what she was doing. “Don’t be daft. You’re not going anywhere.”

“I have to get that horse,” Glyn said. He looked at Nerys desperately. “I cannot afford to lose him.”