kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第58部分

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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　he　could　sense　her　mirth　as　his　head　got　stuck　when　she　tried　to　pull　both　off　at　once。
〃Just　hold　still　until　I　get　this　sorted　out；〃　she　whispered。
He　could　feel　her　body　warm　against　his　back　as　she　rose　up　on　her　knees　behind　to　free　him；　every　nerve　tingling　at　the　touch　of　her　hair　trailing　over　one　of　his　shoulders。　She　tugged　at　the　tunic　and　muttered　as　something　started　to　rip。　He　yelped　as　one　ear　got　bent。
More　fumbling　at　the　tangled　opening；　a　grunt　as　she　lifted　the　weight　of　the　chain；　and　he　was　finally　free。　Drawing　a　deep　breath；　he　pushed　the　mail　and　the　rumpled　undertunic　out　of　the　bed　and　turned　to　gaze　at　her　again；　doing　his　best　to　suppress　a　foolish　grin。
〃Thank　you；〃　he　said　softly。
Her　smile　was　still　just　a　little　tentative　as　she　nodded　in　answer；　but　her　eyes　never　left　his　as　she　brushed　one　hand　down　his　side　to　play　at　the　waist　of　his　breeches。
〃And　you　are　sure　you're　not　angry；　my　lord？〃　she　murmured。
〃You　know　that　I　should　be；〃　he　said；　taking　her　in　his　arms　and　bearing　her　gently　back　onto　the　bed　with　the　weight　of　his　body。　〃But　I'm　not。　That　passed　as　soon　as　I　saw　you　lying　here。　All　I　can　think　about　is　how　long　it's　been　since　I've　been　in　your　bed。　I　think　you　must　be　some　kind　of　witch　…　a　Deryni　witch；　perhaps。〃
She　laughed　delightedly　at　that　and　drew　him　down　to　kiss　him；　lightly　at　first　and　then　more　lingeringly；　as　their　speech　shifted　beyond　mere　words。
A　witch；　am　I？　she　whispered　in　his　mind。　And　have　I　ensorcelled　you；　my　love？
Totally　and　utterly；　he　managed　to　reply；　before　losing　himself　in　the　growing　urgency　of　what　her　hands　were　doing；　working　at　the　laces　of　his　breeches。　God；　how　I've　missed　you；　Richenda！
But　even　in　the　sharing　of　minds　as　well　as　bodies；　he　was　not　totally　ensorcelled。　Some　things　he　knew　she　understood　he　could　not　share；　for　he　held　the　trust　of　other　minds　besides　her　own　and　might　not　grant　those　trusts　even　to　a　wife　without　leave。
But　the　thing　he　would　n