kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第61部分

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only　breed　yet　more　spite；　and　…　〃
〃Aye；　now　there's　a　key　word；〃　Ewan　butted　in。　〃Breeding。　Let　the　lad　get　on　with　his　wooing。　Archbishop。　He　needs　to　breed　an　heir。〃
A　rumble　of　agreement　from　the　other　laymen　around　the　table　gave　Ewan　encouragement　to　go　on。
〃Go　ahead　and　marry　the　lass。　Sire。　Wed　her　and　bed　her　as　quickly　as　ye　may　…　and　get　her　with　child　before　the　spring　campaign！　There　are　many　in　Meara　who'll　e　flocking　to　yer　standard　if　there's　an　heir　to　two　crowns　in　the　offing。　But　ye　haven't　time　to　waste。〃
As　Bradene　sighed　and　bowed　his　head；　lifting　a　ringed　hand　in　grudging　acquiescence；　a　little　of　the　tension　seemed　to　leave　the　room。　After　a　moment；　Nigel　gazed　down　the　table　at　his　royal　nephew；　attempting　a　strained　smile。
〃Wise　counsel。　Kelson；〃　he　said　quietly；　〃though　I　should　have　phrased　it　a　trifle　more　delicately。　You　need　an　heir　of　your　own　body　and　you　need　a　Mearan　alliance。　And　the　heir　born　of　a　Mearan　union　would　be　the　strongest　asset　of　all。　I　know　this　marriage　is　not　what　you　would　have　chosen；　had　things　been　different；　but　…　〃　He　shrugged。　〃What　can　I　say；　except　to　wish　you　the　best　of　fortune　and　offer　you　every　power　at　my　disposal　to　facilitate　this　match？〃
Kelson　glanced　up　at　Nigel　listlessly；　hands　folded　still　and　quiet。　〃Thank　you。　Uncle。　Please　do　not　mistake　my　lack　of　enthusiasm　for　lack　of　gratitude。　All　that　you　and　Duke　Ewan　have　said　is　perfectly　correct。〃　He　sighed。　〃We　must　now　pray　that　the　Lady　Sidana　sees　matters　in　a　similar　light。〃
〃And　if　she　does　not　…　〃　Arilan　said　archly；　his　glance　again　conveying　the　implication　of　extraordinary　methods　of　persuasion。　〃Will　you　marry　her　anyway；　against　her　will？〃
〃I　have　already　said　that　I　would；〃　Kelson　answered　a　little　sharply。　〃Will　you　perform　the　ceremony。　Bishop；　if　I　bring　an　unwilling　bride　before　the　altar？〃
Arilan　pursed　his　lips；　nodding　resolutely。　Bradene　and　Cardiel　looked　shocked。　Ewan　snorted。
〃Take　him　at　his　word。　Sire。　This　is　no　time　for　too　many　niceties。　If　she　will　n？？　have　ye　at　first；　bed　her　and　then　wed　her　…　or　at　least　threaten　to　do　it。　She'll　e　around。〃
That　remark　elicited　its　own　flurry　of　ment　and　indignation；　principally　among　the　clergy　but　also　from　Richenda　and　Dhugal；　until　Kelson　finally　cleared　his　throat　and　swept　them　all　with　his　grey　Haldane　eyes；　some　of　the　old；　hard　fire　of　his　father's　day　touching　each　one。
〃I'll　manage　my　own　wooing；　thank　you；　gentlemen；〃　he　said　when　they　had　quieted。　〃It　will　be　conducted　with　as　much　honor　as　possible　on　both　our　parts；　but　there　shall　be　a　royal　wedding　at　Twelfth　Night；　I　promise　you；　one　way　or　another。〃
〃Why　the　delay？〃　asked　Saer　de　Traherne。　〃If　pan　of　the　purpose　of　this　exercise　is　to　get　an　heir　before　the　spring　campaign。　Sire；　you　should　be　sowing　the　seeds　as　quickly　as　possible。　The　Mearan　lass　is　young。　It　may　take　her　a　while　to　begin　breeding。〃
As　Kelson　blushed　furiously；　at　a　loss　how　to　answer　Duncan　came　to　his　rescue。
〃If　I　read　his　Majesty's　intentions　correctly；　my　lord　I　suspect　he　plans　to　crown　the　queen　on　the　same　day　he　marries　her；　which　presents　a　somewhat　different　logistical　problem　than　merely　publishing　the　banns　and　bringing　the　intended　couple　before　a　priest。〃
As　Kelson　nodded　and　murmured；　〃Aye；〃　obviously　grateful　for　the　rescue；　Duncan　went　on；　〃Indeed；　if　the　lady　is　to　be　enthroned　in　state　fitting　the　consort　of　the　King　of　Gwynedd；　we　shall　all　find　ourselves　hard…pressed　to　plete　the　preparations　in　so　short　a　time。　And　as　I'm　sure　the　Lady　Richenda　will　confirm；　twelve　days　will　be　only　barely　adequate　to　prepare　the　gowns　and　jewels　that　our　queen…to…be　will　require　for　this　momentous　event。〃
〃'Tis　true；　my　lords；〃　Richenda　said　quietly。　〃Not　only　that；　I　beg　you　have　some　care　for　poor　Sidana　herself。　Is　it　asking　too　much　that　she　should　have　at　least　a　little　time　to　prepare　for　the　role　being　thrust　upon　her？〃
〃She　will　hae　guessed　what's　in　store；〃　Ewan　muttered。　〃She　has　been　bred　to　her　duty。　Dinnae　coddle　the　lass　too　much；　Sire。〃
〃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