kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第65部分

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e　former　wife　of　a　known　traitor　not　do？
It　was　all　utter　nonsense；　of　course；　but　convincing　his　men　of　that；　other　than　the　few　officers　close　to　Morgan；　had　proven　far　more　difficult　than　Morgan　ever　imagined。　He　had　expected　some　controversy　and　suspicion　when　he　first　brought　his　bride　home　to　Coroth；　less　than　a　year　after　Bran　Cons'　death；　but　he　had　thought　the　suspicion　would　diminish　as　they　came　to　know　and　trust　her。　They　had　not。
They　did　not　trust　her　because　they　did　not　know　her。　They　did　not　know　her　because　when　Morgan　was　away；　which　was　far　more　often　than　he　would　have　liked；　she　kept　largely　to　herself；　having　no　authority　to　exercise　in　his　absence。　He　could　not　give　her　authority；　since　they　did　not　trust　her　…　and　they　did　not　trust　her　because　they　had　no　opportunity　to　observe　any　behavior　that　might　have　confirmed　her　stated　loyalty　to　her　new　lord。　It　was　an　unfortunate　vicious　circle　that　Morgan　had　not　yet　figured　out　how　to　break。
Hence；　Richenda　had　remained　a　mere　resident　of　his　castle　at　Coroth；　treated　courteously　enough　by　the　immediate　ducal　household；　but　given　no　responsibility。　Explanation　had　been　easy　enough　in　the　beginning；　when　Richenda　was　at　first　new　to　Coroth　and　then　pregnant　with　their　first　child　…　both　good　reasons　for　letting　Morgan's　seneschal　and　garrison　mander　continue　to　run　things　in　his　absence　as　they　had　for　years；　but　Briony　was　eleven　months　old　now；　and　Richenda　had　been　Duchess　of　Corwyn　for　nearly　two　years。　The　old　excuses　had　grown　lame；　and　Morgan　could　not　bring　himself　to　admit　the　real　reasons　to　his　wife。　Small　wonder　that　the　intelligent　and　capable　Richenda　chafed　increasingly　under　what　appeared　to　be　irrational　restrictions　on　her　role　as　his　wife。
〃You　know　what　the　problem　is；　Derry；〃　Morgan　said　with　a　heavy　sigh。　〃There　just　hasn't　been　time　to　do　much　about　it。　I　don't　want　to　hurt　her。〃
Derry　averted　his　eyes　and　hooked　his　thumbs　in　his　sword　belt；　chewing　at　his　lower　lip。
〃Do　you　think　it　doesn't　hurt　her；　not　knowing　why　you　shut　her　out　of　your　affairs？〃　he　said　quietly；　looking　up　again。　〃Forgive　me；　sir；　but　in　the　past　year　I've　spent　far　more　time　with　your　wife　than　you　have。　She's　far　too　well…bred　to　pry；　even　though　she　easily　could；　but　she　senses　the　distrust　on　the　part　of　the　men。　And　if　you　don't　tell　her　that　you　don't　share　their　distrust　…　〃　He　swallowed。　〃Sir；　I　…　thought　being　Deryni　was　supposed　to　make　it　easier　to　work　these　things　out。〃
〃Sometimes　that　makes　it　harder；　Derry；〃　Morgan　whispered。　〃Don't　you　reproach　me；　too。〃
〃I'm　sorry；　m'lord。〃
〃It　isn't　your　fault；〃　Morgan　said　after　a　few　seconds。　〃Maybe　her　ing　here　is　for　the　best；　though。　With　a　spring　campaign　almost　inevitable；　I　was　already　planning　to　have　you　bring　her　to　court　as　soon　as　the　weather　broke　again。　Kelson　has　made　it　clear　that　she'd　be　wele　on　his　council　as　Brendan's　regent　…　and　I　suspect　her　presence　would　be　doubly　wele　now　that　we　have　Sidana　of　Meara　to　hostage。〃
〃Sidana？〃　Derry　said。　〃Here？　How　did　you　manage　that？　Is　he　going　to　marry　her？〃
Morgan　chuckled　despite　his　concern　over　this　new　turn　of　affairs。　〃Odd　how　that　proposition　seems　obvious　to　everyone　but　Kelson　himself。　He　may。　A　lot　depends　on　the　answer　we　get　from　Meara　tomorrow。〃
〃Ah。〃
〃I'll　fill　you　in　on　all　the　details　after　court　tomorrow；　if　you　haven't　already　found　out　from　other　sources　by　then；〃　Morgan　went　on。　〃I'm　sure　there'll　be　a　briefing；　once　we've　had　the　Mearan's　answer。　In　the　meantime；　you　should　probably　get　some　sleep　…　and　I　undoubtedly　should　go　and　greet　my　wife。　I　assume；　by　the　way；　that　Hamilton　and　Hillary　have　things　under　control　at　home？〃
〃Aye；　m'lord。　And　my　mother　has　charge　of　the　little　ones。〃
〃That's　fine。　How　many　men　did　you　bring？〃
〃Half　a　dozen　…　and　one　maid　for　Her　Grace。　I　hope　you're　not　angry；　sir。〃
〃No；　I'm　not　angry。〃　Morgan　sighed；　then　clapped　Derry　on　the　shoulder　as　he　set　his　hand　on　the　door　latch。
〃Go　get　some　sleep；　then。　We'll　see　you　at　court　in　the　morning。　And　thank　you　for　bringing　my　wife　here　safely；　Sean。〃
〃My　pleasure；　m'lord。〃
As　Derry　sketched　a　bow　and　turned　to　go；　obviously　relieved；　Morgan　lifted　the　latch　and　slipped　into　his　quarters；　softly　closing　the　door　behind　him。
Only　firelight　greeted　him　at　first。　Near　the　curtained　entrance　to　the　garderobe；　he　could　make　out　a　small　pile　of　trunks　and　travel　valises　that　had　not　been　there　earlier；　a　fur…lined　cloak　spread　before　the　fire　to　dry；　but　there　was　no　sign　of　the　maid　who　should　have　acpanied　them。　Moving　on　through　the　room　and　into　the　adjoining　bedchamber；　a　glimmer　of　candlelight　caught　his　eye　from　behind　the　curtains　of　his　canopied　bed。　He　darted　a　quick　Deryni　probe　inside　as　he　approached；　confirming　the　presence　of　Richenda　and　not　some　lurking　assassin；　but　he　resolutely　shuttered　off　the　part　of　his　mind　that　dealt　with　the　subject　he　most　definitely　did　not　want　to　discuss；　on　this　first　night　back　together　in　months。
〃It　was　too　late　to　join　you　for　Mass；〃　a　soft；　tentative　voice　whispered　as　Morgan　parted　the　curtains　with　both　hands；　〃but　I've　said　my　own　prayers。　Shall　you　e　to　bed　now；　my　lord？〃
Richenda　lay　in　the　middle　of　the　bed　with　the　sleeping　furs　pulled　close　under　her　chin；　her　face　aglow　in　the　light　of　the　single　candle　set　in　a　sconce　at　the　head　of　the　bed。　Her　eyes；　bluer　than　any　summer　lake；　mirrored　a　mixture　of　mischief　and　uncertainty　as　she　gazed　up　at　him；　flame　gold　hair　pletely　veiling　the　pillow　beneath　her　head。　The　gold　of　his　marriage　ring　on　her　hand　glittered　bright　and　chill　as　she　fingered　the　edge　of　the　sleeping　fur　at　her　throat。　She　was　nervous。　He　knew　she　was　expecting　him　to　be　angry。
〃So。　Just　what　do　you　think　you're　doing　here？〃　he　asked；　his　words　cool　but　his　eyes　warming　as　her　thought　reached　out　in　caress。　〃And　stop　that　when　I'm　trying　to　scold　you。〃
Lowering　her　eyes　demurely；　she　obeyed；　though　as　she　raised　up　on　her　elbows　to　look　at　him　again；　the　furs　slipped　down　a　little　to　expose　a　bare　shoulder　and　shake　his　posure。
〃I　came　to　keep　Christmas　with　my　lord　and　husband；〃　she　murmured；　letting　another　tendril　of　thought　brush　more　lingeringly　against　his　mind。　〃Should　I　not　have　e？〃
The　contact　was　excruciating　pleasure　after　so　long　a　parting。　With　a　gasp；　Morgan　dropped　his　surface　shields　to　her　and　lurched　onto　the　bed；　taking　her　in　his　arms　and　pressing　his　lips　hungrily　to　hers　as　she　embraced　him。　The　touch　of　her　flesh；　intensified　by　the　touch　of　mind　against　mind；　sent　fire　pulsing　along　every　nerve。　He　groaned　as　she　pushed　him　far　enough　away　to　unbuckle　his　swordbelt；　both　of　them　trembling　as　she　slipped　it　from　his　waist　with　one　hand　and　cast　the　sword　on　the　bed　beside　them　while　she　worked　at　the　clasp　of　his　cloak　with　her　other　hand；　her　lips　continuing　to　nuzzle　kisses　on　his　neck　and　throat。
〃All　the　clothing；　my　lord；〃　she　whispered　around　the　kisses；　starting　on　the　laces　of　his　overtunic。　〃Especially　the　boots。　I've　brought　our　own　linens　from　Coroth　and　put　them　on　the　bed；　and　I　won't　have　you　ripping　holes　with　your　spurs。〃
He　raised　up　on　his　elbows　in　astonishment　and　burst　out　laughing　at　that；　causing　her　to　begin　giggling　as　well；　then　shook　his　head　and　sat　up　all　the　way；　still　grinning；　the　fire　in　his　loins　only　banked；　not　slaked；　as　he　drew　up　his　knees　to　unfasten　low　indoor　boots。
〃Fortunately　for　both　of　us；　I　didn't　ride　today；　so　I'm　not　wearing　spurs　and　I　can　manage　the　boots　myself；〃　he　said；　as　the　buckles　came　free。　〃It　would　take　far　too　long　to　call　a　squire。〃
〃Oh；　aye；〃　she　agreed；　wide…eyed　and　dutiful。
Grinning；　he　kicked　both　feet　through　the　curtain　opening　and　heard　the　satisfying　slap　of　leather　hitting　floor　somewhere　outside。　His　overtunic　quickly　followed　the　boots。　She　sat　up　to　help　him　with　his　mail　shirt；　but　the　sleeping　furs　slipped　down　around　her　waist；　almost　too　distracting　even　for　Deryni　self…control；　and　he　had　to　close　his　eyes　and　take　several　deep；　shuddering　breaths　while　together　they　peeled　the　dead　weight　of　the　chain　up　his　torso　and　over　his　shoulders。　His　overtunic　came　〃P　partway　as　well；　tangling　around　his　neck　with　the　mail；　and　h