kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第58部分

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〃To　Kevin　and　Bronwyn：　together　for　all　eternity。〃
He　grimaced　and　drank　the　toast；　not　looking　up　as　Morgan　and　Kelson　silently　followed　suit。　Dhugal；　even　more　mystified；　turned　to　Kelson　in　question。
〃Did　they　die　or　something？〃　he　whispered；　much　sobered。
Kelson　leaned　his　head　against　the　back　of　his　chair　and　closed　his　eyes。　〃Or　something。〃
〃What　does　that　mean？〃　Dhugal　persisted。　〃Weren't　they　…　Deryni？〃
Sighing；　Morgan　picked　up　the　wine　pitcher　and　began　carefully　refilling　his　and　Duncan's　cups；　not　meeting　any　of　their　eyes。
〃Bronwyn　was。　She　was　my　only　sister。　Kevin　was　Duncan's　half…brother；　and　human。　There　was　also　at　Duke　Jared's　court　a　young　architect　named　Rimmell　who'd　taken　a　fancy　to　Bronwyn；　though　no　one　knew　that　at　the　time　…　least　of　all　Bronwyn。　In　any　event；　Rimmell　formed　an　insane　jealousy　of　Kevin。　Two　days　before　Bronwyn　and　Kevin　were　to　be　married；　Rimmell　apparently　decided　he　must　eliminate　his　rival。〃
〃You　mean　he　killed　Kevin？〃　Dhugal　breathed。
Morgan　paused　with　the　wine　pitcher　in　his　hand　to　gaze　unseeing　at　the　fire。
〃Not　…　directly；〃　he　said　after　a　slight　pause。　〃He　obtained　a　love　charm　from　an　old　witch　woman　up　in　the　hills。　She　told　him　it　would　turn　Bronwyn's　love　away　from　Kevin　and　toward　himself。　The　charm　was　ill…set。　It　backfired。　Bronwyn　…　tried　to　protect　Kevin。　Both　of　them　died。〃
〃How　awful！〃
With　another　sigh；　Morgan　shook　his　head　and　resumed　pouring　wine　for　the　king；　obviously　trying　to　shake　the　mood　as　well。
〃I'm　sorry。　I　thought　everyone　knew。　And　I　apologize　to　you　as　well；　my　prince。〃　He　set　the　pitcher　on　the　hearth　and　glanced　at　Kelson。　〃This　is　hardly　fit　conversation　for　the　night　before　your　wedding。　We　should　speak　of　less　ill…fated　unions：　your　aunt　and　uncle；　your　parents　…　〃
〃Your　own　marriage；　perhaps？〃　Kelson　asked　with　a　faint　smile；　his　lips　red　with　the　wine　of　which　he　had　just　drunk　deeply。
As　Morgan　demurred；　unreadable　emotions　flickering　across　his　face；　and　Duncan　chuckled　politely；　Dhugal　gave　a　tipsy　giggle　and　raised　his　cup　in　unsteady　salute。
〃Here；　here。　Your　Grace！　You're　the　only　married　man　among　us。　Tell　my　virgin　brother　what　he　can　expect　on　his　wedding　night！〃
〃I　…　doubt　our　lord　the　king　needs　any　serious　instruction　in　that　regard；〃　Morgan　said　after　a　slight　pause；　suspecting　that　Kelson　might；　but　reluctant　to　go　into　too　intimate　detail　in　front　of　one　of　Kelson's　apparently　more　experienced　peers；　and　with　all　of　them　increasingly　in　their　cups。
〃What　makes　a　marriage　is　not　the　wedding　night；　however；〃　he　went　on；　〃but　what　es　after。　I　suspect　that　Kelson's　marriage　will　be　rather　like　everyone　else's　in　that　respect。　Regardless　of　how　much　he　and　his　bride　eventually　may　e　to　care　for　one　another　…　and　God　grant　that　love　will　grow　between　them　…　there　will　be　good　days。。。　and　days　that　are　not　so　good。〃　He　shrugged　and　smiled。　〃One　works　things　out。〃
Kelson　looked　at　him　strangely。　〃Is　that　the　voice　of　experience；　Alaric？〃　he　said　softly。　〃Odd；　but　it　never　even　occurred　to　me　that　you　and　Richenda　were　anything　but　deliriously　happy。　You　seemed　so　much　in　love　…　〃
〃And　we're　still　in　love；〃　Morgan　said；　raising　an　eyebrow　wistfully。　〃That　doesn't　mean　there　aren't　occasional　problems；　however。　She's　an　intelligent；　headstrong　woman。　Kelson　…　and　I'm　as　headstrong　a　man　as　you're　ever　likely　to　meet。　I　wouldn't　lie　to　you　and　say　we　haven't　had　our　bad　days；　but　I　will　assure　you　that　the　nights　are　almost　always　good。〃
〃I'll　bet　they　are。〃　Dhugal　chuckled；　raising　his　cup　in　oblivious　salute　as　Kelson　looked　at　him　in　astonishment。　〃I've　heard　about　your　wife。　Your　Grace！〃
〃Have　you；　now？〃
Morgan's　dry　tone　of　affront　was　only　in　jest；　for　he　knew　Dhugal　had　not　meant　his　ment　the　way　it　sounded；　but　the　look　of　consternation　which　came　over　the　boy's　face　as　he　realized　what　he　had　said　could　not　be　ignored。　Better　he　learn　about　the　consequences　of　too　much　drink　while　in　the　pany　of　friends　than　among　strangers；　who　might　take　genuine　and　perhaps　deadly　offense。
〃Your　Grace；　I'm　sorry！〃　the　boy　managed　to　whisper；　his　eyes　so　wide　Morgan　wondered　how　he　could　see。　〃I　only　meant　…　〃
〃What　did　you　mean。　Earl　of　Transha？〃　Morgan　replied　softly。　〃That　my　wife　is　beautiful？〃
〃Yes！　And　that's　all！〃
Before　their　very　eyes；　Dhugal　turned　a　pasty　shade　of　green；　so　quickly　that　even　he　was　taken　by　surprise。
〃Too　much　to　drink！〃　he　managed　to　croak；　as　he　lurched　to　his　feet　and　ran　stumbling　from　the　room　to　disappear　into　a　garderobe　cubicle；　which　shortly　echoed　with　the　sound　of　retching。　Kelson；　hardly　less　inebriated　but　in　far　better　control；　at　least　of　his　stomach；　stifled　an　embarrassed　giggle　and　hiccoughed。
〃I'm　sorry。　I　shouldn't　laugh。　I　think　I've　had　too　much　as　well。　Someone　ought　to　make　sure　he's　all　right；　though。〃
〃I'll　go；〃　Duncan　said；　rising　to　join　the　unfortunate　Dhugal。
Morgan　glanced　over　his　shoulder　at　the　retreating　bishop；　then　back　at　the　still…snickering　king。
〃Are　you　sure　you're　all　right？〃　he　asked　Kelson。
Kelson　shook　his　head　and　pressed　the　cool　goblet　against　his　forehead　as　he　closed　his　eyes。
〃No。　I'm　scared　silly　about　tomorrow。　I'm　going　to　have　a　wife；　Alaric！　She　doesn't　even　like　me。　What　am　I　going　to　do？〃
〃You're　going　to　make　the　best　of　it；　as　you　have　with　everything　that's　been　dealt　you；〃　Morgan　replied。　〃And　as　for　whether　she　likes　you　or　not；　why　not　give　her　a　chance　before　you　decide　she　doesn't？　You're　going　to　discover　a　great　change　just　since　you　last　saw　her。　And　you've　already　admitted　that　you're　attracted　to　her。　Make　that　work　for　you。　It　isn't　that　hard　to　fall　in　love。　I've　done　it　dozens　of　times。〃
Kelson　snorted　and　opened　his　eyes。　〃Only　once　that's　counted　…　and　where　did　that　get　you？　Is　something　wrong　between　you　and　Richenda；　Alaric？　Is　there　anything　I　…　　what　a　stupid　thing　to　say！〃　He　took　another　quick　gulp　from　his　cup　and　looked　back　at　the　surprised　Morgan。　〃Well；　here　I　am；　scared　witless　about　getting　married；　asking　an　old　married　man　whether　there's　anything　I　can　do　to　help　him。　I'm　as　drunk　as　Dhugal！〃
〃Not　if　you　mean　what　you　say；〃　Morgan　replied；　eying　the　king　wistfully。
〃That　I'm　drunk？　Oh　…　that　I'm　willing　to　help；〃　Kelson　answered；　echoing　Morgan's　patient　nod。
〃Yes。〃
〃Very　well。　What？〃
〃What？〃
〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do　to　help？〃　Kelson　said；　making　a　rolling　gesture　with　his　free　hand　to　urge　Morgan　on。　〃e　on；　tell　me。〃
With　a　short；　resolute　sigh；　Morgan　leaned　a　little　closer；　toying　with　his　goblet　between　his　two　hands　as　he　gazed　across　at　the　king。
〃I'd　like　Richenda　to　remain　at　court　when　we　go　on　campaign　in　the　spring。〃
〃You　mean　here　in　Rhemuth？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What　about　the　children。　Aren't　they　still　in　Coroth？〃
〃I　can　have　them　brought　here　as　soon　as　the　weather　lets　up。　They'll　be　fine　where　they　are；　through　the　winter　months。　Derry's　mother　has　bee　their　governess。　And　my　staff　have　things　under　control　otherwise。〃
Kelson　grimaced；　obviously　having　trouble　following　Morgan's　logic。
〃So　the　children　join　Richenda　here　in　the　spring　and　they　all　stay　here　through　the　campaign。　I　still　don't　understand　why。〃
〃Well；　for　one　thing；　your　future　queen　has　taken　a　fancy　to　my　wife；　as　you　well　know；〃　Morgan　replied。　〃That　would　be　reason　enough；　all　by　itself。　She　could　also　help　your　aunt。　With　a　new　baby　on　the　way；　Meraude　shouldn't　have　to　shoulder　the　duties　of　chatelaine　indefinitely；　and　until　you're　sure　you've　won　Sidana's　loyalty；　you　won't　be　able　to　trust　her　with　those　duties。〃
Kelson　nodded　profoundly。　〃Aye；　that's　true　enough。　And　I'm　sure　Aunt　Meraude　would　wele　Richenda's　pany。　But　won't　Richenda　be　needed　at　Coroth；　with　you　away？〃
Morgan　bowed　his　head　and　toyed　with　the　stem　of　his　goblet；　wishing　desperately　that　she　were。
〃No；〃　he　whispered。
〃No？　But　she's　your　duchess。　Who　else　is　equipped　to　manage　things　for　that　long　in　your　absence？〃
〃Not　the　former　wife　of　a　traitor；〃　Morgan　said　quietly。
〃What？〃
〃They　don't　trust　her。　Kelson。　I　think　they　mean　well；　but　I　suppose　they're　afraid　she'll　betray　me。　Maybe　they　think　she'll　take　revenge　for　my　part　in　Bran's　death。〃
〃But　I　killed　Bran　…　and　partially　for　that　very　reason；　so　no　one　could　later　say　you　killed　him　to　get　his　wife。〃
Morgan　sighed。　〃I　know。　There's　more。　Hillary　says　they're　nervous　about　her　being　co…guardian　for　Brendan　…　that　if　something　were　to　happen　to　me；　she'd　have　Corwyn　and　Marley　at　her　disposal　until　Brendan　and　Briony　came　of　age。　And　then；　if　she　were　to　betray　you　…　〃
〃Alaric；　that's　insane！〃　Kelson　blurted。　〃She's　loyal！　She'd　never　betray　either　of　us！　There　must　be　some　other　explanation。〃　He　made　a　vexed　face。　〃It's　probably　Hamilton　and　Hillary's　fault；　not　wanting　to　let　go　of　the　authority　they've　had　all　these　years　you　weren't　married。　One　can　hardly　blame　them　for　being　jealous。〃
Morgan　shook　his　head。　〃I　wish　it　were　that　simple；　my　prince。　Actually；　Hamilton　and　Hillary　like　her　very　much。　They're　as　mystified　as　you　and　I。　But　a　few　of　their　officers　have　e　right　out　and　told　them　they　can't　be　responsible　for　the　men's　behavior　if　I　leave　her　in　charge　and　something　goes　wrong　…　even　if　it　isn't　her　fault〃。　He　sighed。　〃So　I　haven't　given　her　any　authority；　and　I　haven't　been　able　to　bring　myself　to　tell　her　why。　It　would　make　it　seem　like　I　agreed　with　them。〃
Kelson　was　sobering　fast　as　he　listened　to　Morgan's　account；　and　he　set　aside　his　cup　with　a　grimace　of　distaste　as　Morgan　finished。
〃You　should　have　told　me　sooner。〃
〃I　didn't　want　to　bother　you。　Before　Carsten　of　Meara　died　and　everything　blew　up；　I　thought　I'd　be　home　all　winter　and　get　things　straightened　out。　Now　it's　going　to　be　the　end　of　next　summer　before　I　get　home。　I　didn't　know　she　was　ing　for　Christmas　court；　you　know；　but　I'm　glad　she　did；　under　the　circumstances。　Rhemuth　will　be　the　best　place　for　her　until　I　get　things　sorted　out。〃
〃You　still　should　have　told　me。　Does　Duncan　know？〃
〃No。　No　one　else。〃　He　broke　off　as　Duncan　appeared　in　the　garderobe　doorway　supporting　a　weak　and　contrite　Dhugal。
〃He's　going　to　be　fine；〃　Duncan　called；　grinning　as　he　helped　Dhugal　cross　the　room　and　sit　gingerly　in　his　former　place