Page 66 of Triumph at Pemberley

“Yes. She made me leave Jack practically in the middle of a battle to come here.”

“Then she sees a way to avoid the worst here?” Was that a tiny bit of light flickering in his eyes?

She would feed those flames. “Yes. Gwynedd is Cerridwen’s home Nest, remember? Her earliest visions were about the dragons here. And she told me to come here to save Gwynedd.” That was perhaps an overstatement, given how little Rana Akshaya had told her about Cerridwen’s foresight, but clearly both Roderick and his besieged country needed some hope.

Roderick made a guttural sound in his throat. Then he convulsively pulled her into his arms, like a drowning man seizing a rope thrown to him. “Thank God,” he murmured, his voice uneven. “I do not know what I did to deserve this, but thank God.”

It was like coming home again to the one place in the world she belonged. Her knees trembled beneath her, as if the earth itself was feeling her relief.

Abruptly Roderick pushed her away. Before she could even react, he dropped to his knees, scrabbling to remove his gloves. Pushing his hands down on the ground, he let his head drop.

Of course. Because the land truly was rocking underfoot like a boat at sea. Not like the massive quaking she had experienced with Jack, who could knock her off her feet, but a steady, rhythmic pulse. Around her trees were creaking, as if preparing to march off on their roots. A loud splash came from the river.

Slowly the power receded, the earth settling into place again.

Without looking up, Roderick held out a hand to her. When she took it, he tugged her down until she crouched beside him. He pressed her hand against the earth beneath his own.

Prickles of magic shot up her arm. Was he introducing her to the land? Presumably Roderick knew what he was doing. At least she hoped so.

Finally he released her and stood once more. He took a deep breath and said, “Now, very calmly. I am glad to see you and to hear Cerridwen’s news.”

If he needed calmness, she would help him. “Good. I hope you will let me across this river of yours now.” She glanced over at it, lest she drown in his dark eyes. A boulder had come loose from the bank and a bit of earth had slumped into the river. Then she exclaimed, “What is wrong with your men? Are they hurt?”

He followed her gaze to where the riders were lying flat against the earth. “Not at all. It is for their safety. They know what to do if the land gets away from me.” He cupped his hand to his mouth and called out something in Welsh.

The men rose and waved back at him.

Clearly life was going to be interesting here! Long ago, back at Pemberley, Roderick had told her he had to remain calm and unmoved lest the land respond too strongly to him. He had not exaggerated.

It was more than a bit frightening.

Roderick dusted off his hands. “Now. Who have you brought with you?”

“My maid, two guards whom we hired for the road, and Sutton.” She knew better than to give him his military title. The English Army was considered an enemy here.

He shook his head. “The men cannot come in. Is your maid important to you? It would be better for you to have a local maid.”

“I hired her before this journey, specifically because she speaks Welsh. It has already proved useful in our travels.”

Roderick spoke to the maid in rapid Welsh. After her reply, he changed back to English. “Welsh by birth, but from the south, and living in England. People will suspect her, especially if she is new to you. My apologies, but she cannot come in without my father’s approval.”

“Very well,” Frederica said evenly. “I can spare her. But Sutton stays with me.”

“An Englishman? No,” Roderick said. “I am sorry.”

“Sutton saved my life, even though it nearly cost him his own. I promised him a position for life.”

Roderick sighed. “Can you not pay him a pension?”

Sutton limped forward. “Where ’er ladyship goes, I go. That’s the way it is. She’s no’ going into a strange place what’s under attack all by ’erself.”

“She has her dragon and me, and that is enough. I am sorry. I will send a wagon to take you back to the nearest town. You can take the stagecoach to England from there.”

A chill rose in Frederica. He was not even listening to her views. She had never seen Roderick giving orders like this, and she did not like it. At least as it applied to her.

And she would not stand for it. “There is no need. I will take them myself. Sutton, pray ready the others.”

Roderick’s brow furrowed. “You are leaving? But Cerridwen’s vision...”