kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第69部分

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〃Indeed；　do　not　coddle　her　at　all；〃　Richenda　retorted；　before　Kelson　could　reply。　〃But　I　speak　as　one　who　was　herself　a　bride　of　expediency；　wed　to　the　benefit　of　lands　rather　than　any　desire　of　my　own。　Give　the　girl　a　few　days　to　realize　her　duty；　to　decide　that　this　is　what　she　herself　wants；　for　the　sake　other　own　land。　She　may　thank　you　in　years　to　e；　when　she　is　your　queen。〃
〃And　I　thank　you；　my　lady；〃　Kelson　murmured。　〃You　do　right　to　remind　us　of　Sidana's　part　in　all　of　this。〃
She　inclined　her　head　gracefully。
〃May　I　also　ask　you　to　serve　her　while　you　are　at　court？〃　he　went　on；　with　a　strained；　hopeful　grin。　〃And　perhaps　to　supervise　the　feminine　aspects　of　our　preparations？　I　have　no　illusions　that　she　will　be　any　more　enthusiastic　about　this　match　than　I　am；　but　perhaps　your　experience　and　sympathy　can　help　her　accept　what　must　be。〃
〃I　would　be　most　honored　to　serve　your　intended　queen；　Sire　both　now　and　in　the　future；〃　Richenda　murmured。　〃My　lord　and　I　discussed　the　very　matter　only　this　morning。〃
〃Ah；〃　Kelson　said。　〃Well；　that's　a　relief。〃
He　glanced　at　the　rest　of　them；　drawing　a　deep　breath　a。id　letting　it　out　audibly；　then　stood。　Immediately　the　rest　stood　as　well。
〃Very　well；　then；　gentlemen　…　and　my　lady；〃　he　said。　〃I　go　now　to　speak　with　your　future　queen。　Lady　Richenda；　I　would　be　pleased　if　you　would　acpany　me　…　and　Bishop　Duncan　as　well。　I　leave　the　rest　of　you　to　continue　setting　plans　for　the　ing　nuptials。　Uncle；　I　shall　ask　you　to　preside　in　my　absence。〃

Kelson　was　glad；　a　little　while　later；　that　he　had　asked　Richenda　and　Duncan　to　go　with　him；　for　he　found　himself　more　anxious　than　he　wanted　to　admit；　as　he　led　them　along　the　dimly　lit　corridor。　He　had　installed　Sidana　in　his　mother's　former　apartments　on　her　arrival　in　Rhemuth；　judging　them　the　only　suitable　quarters　for　a　princess　of　however　dubious　seniority；　now　he　wondered　whether　he　had　been　contemplating　this　visit　all　along。
His　mouth　was　dry　as　dust　as　he　approached　the　outer　door；　and　he　cleared　his　throat　nervously　as　he　motioned　Duncan　on　ahead　to　announce　him。　The　guards　came　to　smart　attention　and　rendered　royal　salute　as　the　three　of　them　approached；　but　he　gave　sign　for　them　to　be　at　ease　as　he　straightened　a　fold　of　his　heavy　court　robe。　He　had　exchanged　his　state　crown　for　a　simpler；　lighter　circlet　of　gold；　and　he　glanced　nervously　at　the　shadow　he　cast　by　torchlight　as　Duncan　paused　before　the　door。　Richenda　waited　slightly　behind　him。
〃You're　sure　you're　ready　to　go　through　with　this；　Sire？〃　Duncan　murmured；　glancing　aside　at　him　with　hand　poised　on　the　brocaded　bell　pull。
Swallowing　awkwardly。　Kelson　nodded；　conveying　just　a　little　of　his　sense　of　apprehensive　duty　in　a　lightning　thought　as　Duncan's　yank　brought　an　answering　chime　of　bells。　The　Deryni　bishop　glanced　at　him　again　in　radely　support　and　passion　and　posed　his　own　expression　as　the　door　was　opened　by　a　serving　maid。　The　girl　gaped　at　his　episcopal　purple。
〃The　king　wishes　to　see　the　Lady　Sidana；　child；〃　Duncan　said；　quietly；　putting　on　his　most　reassuring　yet　manding　demeanor。　〃May　we　e　in？〃
A　little　flustered；　both　by　his　rank　and　his　mere　male　presence；　the　girl　dropped　him　a　curtsey　and　stood　aside　to　let　them　enter；　making　another；　deeper　reverence　to　the　king；　whose　eyes　she　would　not　even　meet。　As　she　closed　the　door　behind　them。　Duchess　Meraude　appeared　in　the　doorway　to　the　next　room；　smiling　as　she　saw　who　had　arrived。
〃Nephew；〃　she　said；　ing　forward　to　dip　in　formal　curtsey。　〃You　are　most　wele。　And　Bishop　Duncan　…　and　Richenda！　Ah；　Richenda；　what　a　wele　Christmas　gift　you　are！　Alaric　neglected　to　tell　me　you　were　ing。〃
As　the　two　women　embraced　happily；　even　Kelson　managed　a　wan　smile；　murmuring　his　own　greeting　as　Meraude　brushed　his　cheek　with　a　dutiful　kiss。　He　was　always　surprised　at　how　short　Meraude　was。　The　top　of　her　head　reached　only　to　his　chin。　In　his　new　awareness　of　things　feminine；　sweeping　his　glance　over　her　deep　green　gown；　he　found　his　eyes　drawn　unabashedly　to　her　slightly　swollen　abdomen。
〃Ah；　yes；　there's　finally　to　be　another　little　one；〃　she　said　casually；　noticing　his　notice。　〃She's　due　late　in　the　spring。〃
〃She？〃　Richenda　said；　smiling。
〃Yes；　how　do　you　know　it's　a　girl？〃　Kelson　asked。
〃Well；　with　three　boys　already；　I'm　allowed　to　hope　it's　a　little　girl；〃　Meraude　replied。　〃Not　that　I　would　wish　her　the　fate　of　some　princesses。〃　She　glanced　among　the　three　of　them　speculatively。　〃Is　there　to　be　a　royal　wedding？　Is　that　what　you've　e　to　tell　her？〃
Biting　at　his　lower　lip。　Kelson　nodded。　〃I　fear　it　is；　Aunt。　And　I　…　think　it　best　if　only　Father　Duncan　acpanies　me　just　now。〃
〃Of　course。　Sire；〃　Meraude　murmured；　suddenly　a　little　cooler。　〃She's　in　the　solar。〃
She　held　her　head　high　as　she　led　king　and　bishop　across　the　room。　She　might　have　been　a　queen　herself。　The　long　hair　coiled　at　the　back　of　her　head　beneath　her　veil　was　black　as　any　Haldane's；　her　plexion　fair　and　smooth。　As　she　paused　at　the　entrance　to　the　solar　and　turned　to　beckon　him　pass　through；　she　looked　hardly　older　than　her　royal　charge　…　who　turned　and　froze　in　the　mouth　of　a　deep　window　embrasure　on　the　other　side　of　the　room。
〃Good　afternoon；　my　lady；〃　Kelson　said　neutrally。
Sidana　blanched　at　the　sound　of　his　voice；　immediately　turning　away　from　him　to　stare　out　at　the　falling　snow；　her　apprehension　apparent　even　from　where　Kelson　stood。　The　dying　sun　shining　through　the　window　beyond　cast　reddish　highlights　on　her　long　chestnut　hair　and　purpled　the　pale　blue　of　her　gown。
〃The　lord　Llewell　is　visiting　his　sister。　Sire；〃　Meraude　warned；　restraining　Kelson　with　a　hand　on　one　forearm　as　he　started　toward　the　girl。　〃Well；　it　is　Christmas；〃　she　added；　at　his　expression　of　annoyance　as　he　stopped　to　stare　down　at　her。　〃No　one　said　they　couldn't　see　one　another　…　and　it　was　only　for　an　hour。　Should　I　not　have　let　him　e？〃
Sighing；　Kelson　shook　his　head　and　continued　toward　the　embrasure　until　he　could　see　Llewell　sitting　stiff　and　indignant　at　the　far　end。　He　had　hoped　not　to　have　the　Mearan　prince　present　for　this　conversation；　but　perhaps　it　was　for　the　best。　If　he　could　win　Llewell's　cooperation；　it　would　be　easier　for　Sidana。
But　Llewell　stood　as　their　eyes　met；　defiance　like　a　wall　between　them；　hand　going　automatically　to　his　belt　for　the　weapon　which　was　not　there。　For　just　an　instant；　Sidana　looked　like　a　trapped；　frightened　bird。
〃No；　there's　no　harm　done。　Aunt；〃　Kelson　replied　easily。　〃What　I　have　to　say　concerns　Lord　Llewell　as　well　as　the　Lady　Sidana。　I　must　warn　you；　though；　Llewell：　I　intend　this　to　be　a　civilized；　reasoned　discussion。　Any　disruption　on　your　part　will　be　dealt　with。　Do　I　make　myself　clear？〃
For　an　instant　Llewell　only　stood　there　glowering；　right　hand　flexing　and　unflexing　where　the　hilt　of　his　dagger　would　have　been；　and　Kelson　wondered　whether　he　and　Duncan　were　going　to　have　to　deal　with　a　physical　confrontation。　He　sensed　Duncan　tensing　beside　him　in　readiness；　and　knew　Duncan　wondered；　too。　But　Llewell　was　stayed　from　any　further　indiscretion　by　Sidana's　urgent　touch　on　his　arm；　the　slight　shake　of　her　head。
〃Let　be；　brother；〃　she　whispered。　〃I　would　not　be　the　cause　of　your　hurt。　If　he　wills；　he　will　speak　with　me。　There　is　nothing　you　can　do　to　stop　it。〃
〃Your　sister　is　very　wise；　Llewell；〃　Meraude　agreed。　〃You　must　accept　what　is。　Do　not　make　me　regret　I　allowed　you　to　e。〃
Sullenly　Llewell　turned　a　long；　bitter　gaze　on　Kelson　and　dropped　his　hands　to　his　sides；　forcing　the　wound…up　tension　from　his　body　with　visible　effort。　In　answer；　Kelson　inclined　his　head　in　cool　acknowledgment。　Llewell　continued　to　stare　at　him　for　several　seconds　before　dropping　his　head　to　murmur　something　to　Sidana　that　no　one　else　could　hear。　Then　the　prince　turned　his　back　on　his　sister's　royal　caller；　to　stare　out　the　window。　Even　Sidana　looked　embarrassed　at　his　rudeness　and　wrung　her　hands　worriedly　as　she　stole　a　glance　at　the　king。
〃Please　go　and　make　the　Duchess　Richenda　wele；　Aunt；〃　Kelson　said　to　Meraude；　not　taking　his　eyes　from　Sidana。　〃Father　Duncan　and　I　have　matters　well　in　hand。〃
As　Meraude　curtseyed　and　departed；　closing　the　door　behind　her。　Kelson　tried　not　to　give　any　outward　sign