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Catrin’s smile deepened at the memory. The time she’d spent with Rhys on that blustery day had changed the very course of her life. He had surely not been impacted nearly as much, but she was glad to know he remembered it fondly.

She gave Seren’s rope a slight tug, and he fell into step beside her.

“Where would you have me put Seren, Bleddyn?” she asked.

“Over there, I’m thinkin’.” The stableboy pointed to a spot near one of the few windows and not far from where Rhys was already untacking Castan. “I reckon the extra light will be a good thing when tending those wounds.”

She nodded. “Do you have a clean rag?”

He pulled one from his belt and handed it to her. Seren eyed the cloth warily and gave a nervous snort.

“He may not take happily to your ministrations,” Bleddyn warned. “’Tis likely those cuts are still smarting, and if he’s that high-strung, there’s no tellin’ what he might do.”

“Which is why I must take care of him myself,” Catrin said.

Bleddyn looked at her worriedly, but Rhys came up behind him and placed a hand upon his shoulder.

“It is well, Bleddyn. Your concern is appropriate and appreciated, but the other men are bringing in their mounts, and you have many horses to tend to. I will stay with Catrin and offer whatever assistance she needs.”

Relief flickered across Bleddyn’s face. “Yes, Marshal Rhys.” The sound of hooves reached them from the other side of the door, and Bleddyn stepped back a pace. “I’ll go, then.”

Rhys nodded. “You have my thanks, lad.”

With a pleased grin, Bleddyn turned and hurried to meet the men who were walking their mounts through the door.

Chapter 28

Rhys lowered his mug to the table and allowed his gaze to travel the room. The men’s enthusiasm over the completion of another successful foray was obvious. Their loud voices and laughter echoed off the rafters. They were glad for the warm fire, good food, and ale, and Rhys guessed that it would be some time before they were ready to sleep.

“How is Seren faring?”

Maredudd’s voice broke into Rhys’s private musings, and he pulled his thoughts back to focus on his brother’s question. “He seems to have settled,” Rhys said. “He did not take kindly to having his wounds washed or Enid’s salve applied, but Catrin managed to talk him into standing still long enough to do the job.”

“She’s fearless with that enormous stallion.”

“She is indeed.” Even though he’d witnessed their mutual trust before, Catrin’s confidence in caring for her horse and Seren’s complete faith in her despite the abuse he’d so recently endured had been extraordinary. Rhys had stayed with them the whole time, assisting when asked, but Catrin had done virtually everything herself. “She has a way about her with horses unlike anyone I’ve encountered before.”

“I would hazard to say that she is uncommon in other respects also.”

Rhys raised a curious eyebrow. “Such as?”

“I can think of no other young woman of Catrin’s beauty and upbringing who would willingly leave the luxuries of castle life for the rigor of a remote longhouse, and I know of no other young woman who has stirred your heart the way she has done.” Maredudd shrugged. “I am not sure which of those two is the most remarkable.”

Instinctively, Rhys’s eyes were drawn across the room. It was true. Everything Maredudd had said. The firelight was reflecting off Catrin’s golden hair. She was smiling at something Nerys was saying, and suddenly, more than anything, Rhys wanted to be with her.

Beside him, Maredudd chuckled. “If you wish your feelings for her to remain a secret, you are going to have to work much harder to hide them.”

Rhys turned back to his brother. He and Gwilym had been with King Richard in Ireland during Maredudd and Margaret’s courtship and knew very little regarding how it had developed. “You married for love, did you not?”

“I did, and I have never regretted it.” He offered him a challenging look. “And if Margaret were in this longhouse now, I would most certainly not be sitting with my brothers at the head table.”

Rhys grinned. “Your point is well taken.” He pushed his chair back and came to his feet. On his other side, Gwilym was in deep conversation with Emyr and did not seem to notice that he had risen.

“Explain to Gwilym, would you?”

“It will be my pleasure,” Maredudd said, raising his mug.

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