The Discarded Countess

The wor

e had heard whispers o

eir and it was unlikel

ck of trying though. El

ive a child, she'd pr

nt Philomena. She had

hat the healers had of

to rid herself of what

had all been for naugh

, the marriage grew s

Hywel barely bothered t

hen Hywel's mistress h

he problem lay with El

rn the rumblings about

honor their vows and th

. Even though they ha

respect. He kept his

es far f

nd the ne

vow or remaining love

even been brave enoug

s steward, Briog, to br

nter couldn't have bee

had read off the edi

roposed to provide for

as nonsense, their onl

rations back. However

to either ignore o

first in

Hywel's rightful wife a

by the time Briog ha

he knew it was pointl

her, and he'd been exc

cooperation. She w

and annuity he was of

ute, and if Elan was d

could make her life v

n contesting the edi

d uncomfortably. He fin

h then gave Briog the

o

y Lord H

ct and his settlement,

can part ways

egarded

"That is my Lord's hop

sin in which this marr

ompensate y

g her fi

greatly irritated her,

t was almost more in

to hold her tongue, s

ter any hint that Elan

word, Elan took up he

passed the parchment b

it up bowed respectf

door clo

ears and bitterness. Sh

n was expected to acc

omeone who hopefully

d rose from her seat.

e cool dark hallway, t

e desired to be alone n

and consider

years of

Elan was now thirty

marriage. She was sti

air , delicate features

ving children was that

n would find these feat

g her a wife. Unfortun

someone to raise his

she believed Hywel hop

n. Elan did not want t

ired of the secular wo

eary convent did not ap

take a third option.

which included a castl

village of

Carrigan

m visited during her ma

easant, but it was cer

Llyn and Serenhilt. Hy

her during her marria

ld pawn some of the jew

hers. It was decided t

he divorce and head for

t a low enough profile

that her settlement w

attend the court afte

y and having to pay ho

than Elan could toler

in planning her exit.

onger than s

lt a wave

of Elan's reaction to

fight it, their marriag

nerous with the divorc

a convent and her lan

d no desire to press t

suitable new wife and

fathered with his mis

, now he just neede

as older

nd his age was startin

gray and his face, of

s still lean and muscul

owever as he knew all

y an illness or injury

e died without childr

nd be forgotten. Hywe

With how his first mar

ularly relish

te his

lan and how their mar

e years ago. It was an

highborn lords and la

he first time at their

isple

pleasin

eddish-brown hair, sm

eyes. She was tall w

t places. It had been

d with his luck in havi

y days of their marriag

r the first few years,

t enjoying themselves.

year of the

brother

er jumped, been pushed

lyn. Eurig had been his

been close. They looked

y that they were somet

en into bad habits as

ice. He had also falle

n to ever be considere

, and he refused to we

tention between Eurig

to mount, Eurig was st

unlevy family was a d

er lady and have legit

we

d resiste

, and as their parents

pronounced. It had bee

s long term lover to

the daughter of a rat

Hywel she had not bee

on to his own wife. Sh

nd dull blue eyes. T

ned deeply devoted to

carry on. He spent his

ale house. Until one d

ywel preferred to beli

tower window, but, he

deliberately wal

urig's d

e castle and the famil

ng after her health br

favorite son. Their fa

itterness before he di

his family. Also lost

ny feelings he had for

l with her love of son

te embroidery. It did n

become p

ontinued

at her station required

ore and more repulsed

y he more or less aban

men. Women not so diff

or many years these

She had been his lates

ir and too much face

d not believe it was hi

d began his affair, bu

hi

had bee

grew, any doubts Hywel

ld had inherited littl

a strong resemblance

raits that markedly re

n who was cursed and

side. He had paid an

pensation for his divo

to his ex-wife. It wa

ivorce and delaying a

ilt and a sense that h

. She had been a duti

ht household budget, an

part with a bit of his

acated and

ught in years and he had regard

nds were severed he f

e believed that he had

l a great beauty, she

fined and courteous. Sh

f his tapestries had b

of them behind, though

the divorce

ne. He had a duty to his house a

the Dunlevy line. Th

parents to an early gra

vain. He would do wha

not the only comely wom

ven more pleasing. Per

to each other as well

or tournaments

is issue

and braced himself for

and retired for the nig

able to work up the

nt to see the look of

want to face the fact

end he had sent Briog

her future withou