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oal brazier warmed his booted feet； propped on a green leather foot…stool。 But psychic frost in the air made Morgan glad of the heavy； fur…lined court robe he wore this morning； though it was a poor substitute for snuggling next to the sultry warmth of his wife on such a morning； back in their great canopied bed。
Not that such a pleasant pastime was likely； with Richenda in her present state of agitation； even if official duties would not call him from her within the hour。 While he had been reviewing revenues for an assizes court to convene shortly in the ducal hall… a tedious task； at best； that was made no more pleasant by his wife's ill humor…Richenda had been pacing back and forth before his table and arguing。
Or rather； Richenda was arguing and Morgan was allowing himself to be preoccupied by the counting board and the tally sticks spread out before him； only half listening； for he had heard all these arguments before。 Stacks of markers dotted the checkered cloth covering the counting table； each representing the ine of a particular manor in the east of Coroth over the past year…ines in knights' services as well as cash and kind； the former a vital ingredient for the defense of the eastern borders with Torenth； with which Kelson had charged Corwyn's duke。
And then there was the baby to consider…far more attractive a proposition than Richenda's arguments or manorial ines； so far as Morgan was concerned。 He and Richenda had already chosen Kelric as the boy's first name； to honor Kelson as well as Alaric； and Richenda favored Alain as a second…the name Morgan himself had borne the first time he and Richenda met； outside the Shrine of Saint Torin…while Morgan preferred Richard。 Perhaps the lad would end up with both。
But as Morgan mused on the joy of soon having a son in addition to the little daughter with which Richenda had presented him two years before； his attention to the mother of those children strayed beyond even her forbearance。
〃Alaric； have you heard a word I've said？〃 Richenda asked； suddenly stopping to rest both hands on the table opposite him； blue eyes flashing。
Morgan； checking a tally stick for the newly refortified manor of the Sieur de Vali； looked up in surprise。 In the sweeping blue robe she had donned upon rising…for she had announced her adamant intention to attend court with him； despite the advice of Master Randolph； her physician…he could almost forget that in less than a month； she would present him with his first son。
〃My dear； I've heard every word。 The problem is； I've heard them all before…and there really isn't time to go into all of this again； with court convening in a quarter hour。〃
'There's never time；〃 she murmured； twisting angrily at the marriage ring on her left hand。 〃You've been home for a week； after nearly a month's absence and most of a winter's procrastination about dealing with this； and I still can't get you to give me an honest answer。 Do I have to Truth…Read to find out what's bothering you； Alaric？〃
〃I've told you； I don't want to talk about it anymore；〃 he murmured； returning his attention to the counters representing the de Vali ines and dipping his quill to make a notation。 〃You shouldn't be concerning yourself with serious matters when your time is so near。〃
〃Ah； I see；〃 she said softly。 〃So a breeding woman's judgment is not to be taken seriously； is it？ You think this is just a hysterical reaction？〃
〃Not hysterical； dear。 But you really needn't worry your pretty head about it。 In a few months； after the baby's born and you're yourself again； we'll talk about it。〃
The next thing Morgan knew； Richenda was yanking the checkered counting cloth off the table in front of him； upsetting ink across his assize roll and sending tally sticks and counters flying in every direction as he watched in helpless horror。 He lunged to try to save the inkwell from smashing on the floor； but realized only just in time that to do so would have added his hands and possibly his court robe to the list of casualties。 The sound of shattering glass only punctuated Richenda's continuing tirade。
〃Listen to me； damn you！〃 she screamed。 〃I am not just a ducal brood mare！ Nor am I just an ornament for your court！ And I am not even mistress of my own house！〃
〃Richenda！〃
He caught her wrist as she swung at him halfheartedly and burst into tears。 Even though he was very angry…for the counters now scattered over the carpet represented hours of work undone； not to mention the ruined assize roll…he tried to draw her closer to calm her。
〃Richenda； you're overwrought；〃 he murmured。 〃It's your condition。〃
〃It is not my condition！ There's nothing wrong with my condition。 And if I'm overwrought； it's because of you！ I'm not sick and I'm not a child。 Why do you persist in treating me like one？〃
〃Because you're acting like one； and a spoiled one at that！ Look at what you've done！〃
〃Aren't you going to hit me？〃 she taunted。 〃That's what one does to a spoiled child； isn't it？ I've upset your precious tallies。 They obviously mean more to you than I do！〃
〃Hit you？〃 Morgan released her instantly。 〃When have I ever hit you； or even been unkind to you？ Why would you even think such a thing？〃
Drawing herself up with dignity； Richenda half turned away from him。
〃I do believe I've finally engaged your attention；〃 she said coolly。
〃My attention？〃 Morgan set his fists on his hips in amazement。 〃Richenda； you almost always have my attention。 You are never far from my thoughts。〃
Tears started to well in her eyes again； and she lowered her head to stare at her hands； twisting a fold of her gown in agitation。
〃Alaric； I know you love me in your way；〃 she said softly。 〃But your heart is in Rhemuth with the king and Duncan； even when your body is not。〃
〃That isn't true。〃
〃It is； and you know it。 I don't begrudge you that； for they were your family long before I came into your life… and even if I didn't know how much you love them both； your simple duty as a duke and privy councillor would require that you spend a certain amount of time at court each year。〃
〃Much of which you； too； have spent at court with me；〃 Morgan replied。 〃Our separations have not been that great； I think。〃
〃Perhaps not；〃 she conceded。 〃But this is my home now； Alaric。〃
〃Well； haven't you been here at home for the past six months？ And haven't I been with you most of that time？〃
She sighed。 〃Even when you are here； I am not mistress of my own house； for the master's wishes take precedence。 And when you are gone。。。〃
Morgan folded his arms at that； for they had e back to an old； old bone of contention that he had never been able to bring himself to explain。
〃Why will you not make me regent in your absence； Alaric？〃 she asked。 〃And why will you never answer me that question？ Surely； after three years of marriage； you can trust that I know the affairs of Corwyn well enough to govern in your place when you're away。 I'm the granddaughter of a sovereign prince； for goodness' sake！ I learned statecraft at his knee。 Do you think I didn't run Bran's estates for him when he was away？ Have I been that bad a manager of Brendan's lands？〃
Agonizing inside； Morgan came and took her hand； though he kept his mind tig