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In the ordinary course of things； certainly within the first year of their marriage； Morgan's duchess should have bee his chatelaine at Coroth and regent of Corwyn in his absence。 Morgan had not granted Richenda that status。 The fact was that many of his own men distrusted her … not because she was Deryni； for probably no one at Coroth even suspected that … or would have cared； if they had； since Corwyn's duke was Deryni anyway … but because her first husband had betrayed the Crown。
Perhaps she was tainted with treachery as well； they reasoned … perhaps even plotting revenge for her first husband's death； for the sake of her son by him。 As Dowager Countess of Marley； she already had young Brendan's guardianship jointly with her new husband； with virtual freedom to manage the lands and ine of the six…year…old earl as she chose。 If anything were to happen to Morgan； Her Grace the Dowager Duchess of Corwyn and Dowager Countess of Marley would have access to Corwyn's vast wealth as well； until the infant Duchess Briony came of age。 For such power and position； what might the 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