Castle of Dreams (51 page)

One dark night, Lord Guy, my friend now after
we had endured so much together, told me the full story of Thomas’s
fathering, and at my request gave me permission to write it down,
because this information might one day affect the inheritance of
his or Thomas’s property. We agreed the volume should be sealed. So
it has been and so it will remain until need for it arises. I hope
that will never happen. Neither Lord Guy nor I have ever mentioned
it again.

Now I must leave Wales. My king has other
uses for my talents, and my first duty is to him. Before going I
will commit this library, which I have collected in my chamber and
which contains Rhys ap Daffydd’s ancient book as well as my records
of the castle, to Lady Meredith’s care, begging her not to open the
histories but rather to hold them in trust for her children and
grandchildren. I know she will promise, and keep her promise. She
was ever honest and true, Meredith, my friend, and my dear, dear
lady.

Afoncaer, Tÿnant, and the Welsh border lands
surrounding them, as well as Kelsey in Mercia and Llangwilym Abbey
in Wales, are entirely imaginary places. Also fictional are all the
characters mentioned in this story, except for the kings of
England, Queen Matilda, the earls of Chester, Shrewsbury, and
Hereford, Ralph Flambard, and Duke Robert of Normandy.

Although Norman incursions into Wales began
shortly after William the Conqueror seized England for himself in
1066, and were continued by his son William Rufus, the Welsh were
tenacious in defense of their land, and it was not until the reign
of Edward I that the conquest was completed in 1283.

At the time when this story takes place, the
date of the new year was not yet firmly fixed. It tended to wander,
from September 1 to September 24, to Christmas Day, or to March 25
(the Feast of the Annunciation), or even to January 1, depending
upon the chronicler and his system of reckoning, and whether
ecclesiastical or civil events were being recorded. In the interest
of simplicity, I have used modern dates throughout, and have begun
each new year on January first.

The herbal remedies concocted and used by
Rhys, Branwen, and Meredith reflect medieval knowledge and use of
these plants as described in historical accounts and in herbal
treatises of that period.

Flora Speer is the author of twenty-two
full-length novels and two novellas.

She writes historical, futuristic and
time-travel romances. Born in southern New Jersey, she now lives in
Connecticut. Among her favorite activities are doing the research
for the next book, gardening (especially herbs and flowers used in
medieval gardens) and amateur astronomy. She believes in space
travel and wishes the U.S. would restart its space program.

Flora can be reached at
[email protected]
and at
www.floraspeer.com

Historical

By Honor Bound

Much Ado About Love

The Viking Passion

For Love And Honor

Rose Red

Castle Of Dreams

Castle Of The Heart

Two Turtledoves (Christmas novella)

Time-Travel

Twelfth Night (Christmas novella)

Christmas Carol

A Time to Love Again

A Love Beyond Time

Timestruck

Love Just In Time

Love Once And Forever*

Paranormal

Heart’s Magic

The Magician’s Lover

A Passionate Magic

Love Once And Forever*

Futuristic

Venus Rising

Destiny’s Lovers

No Other Love

Lady Lure