"Since when," quoth the Duchess, soft-voiced yet menacing, "since when doth Winfrida hold sly meeting with one that is enemy to me and to Mortain?"
"Enemy?—nay, whom mean you—indeed I—O Helen, in sooth 'twas but by chance—"
"Is this treason, my lady Winfrida, or only foolish amourette?"
"Sweet lady—'twas but chance—an you mean Duke Ivo—he came—I saw—"
"My lady Winfrida, I pray you go before, we will speak of this anon.
Come, Godric!" she called.
Then the lady Winfrida, her beauteous head a-droop, rode on before, sighing deep and oft yet nothing speaking, with the Duchess proud and stern beside her while Beltane and Godric followed after.
And so it was they came to the Manor of Blaen.
CHAPTER XXII
CONCERNING THE WILES OF WINFRIDA THE FAIR
Now in these days did my Beltane know more of joy and come more nigh to happiness than ever in his life before. All day, from morn till eve, the Duchess was beside him; each hour her changing moods won him to deeper love, each day her glowing beauty enthralled him the more, so that as his strength grew so grew his love for her.