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〃Your Grace； I'm sorry！〃 the boy managed to whisper； his eyes so wide Morgan wondered how he could see。 〃I only meant … 〃
〃What did you mean。 Earl of Transha？〃 Morgan replied softly。 〃That my wife is beautiful？〃
〃Yes！ And that's all！〃
Before their very eyes； Dhugal turned a pasty shade of green； so quickly that even he was taken by surprise。
〃Too much to drink！〃 he managed to croak； as he lurched to his feet and ran stumbling from the room to disappear into a garderobe cubicle； which shortly echoed with the sound of retching。 Kelson； hardly less inebriated but in far better control； at least of his stomach； stifled an embarrassed giggle and hiccoughed。
〃I'm sorry。 I shouldn't laugh。 I think I've had too much as well。 Someone ought to make sure he's all right； though。〃
〃I'll go；〃 Duncan said； rising to join the unfortunate Dhugal。
Morgan glanced over his shoulder at the retreating bishop； then back at the still…snickering king。
〃Are you sure you're all right？〃 he asked Kelson。
Kelson shook his head and pressed the cool goblet against his forehead as he closed his eyes。
〃No。 I'm scared silly about tomorrow。 I'm going to have a wife； Alaric！ She doesn't even like me。 What am I going to do？〃
〃You're going to make the best of it； as you have with everything that's been dealt you；〃 Morgan replied。 〃And as for whether she likes you or not； why not give her a chance before you decide she doesn't？ You're going to discover a great change just since you last saw her。 And you've already admitted that you're attracted to her。 Make that work for you。 It isn't that hard to fall in love。 I've done it dozens of times。〃
Kelson snorted and opened his eyes。 〃Only once that's counted … and where did that get you？ Is something wrong between you and Richenda； Alaric？ Is there anything I … what a stupid thing to say！〃 He took another quick gulp from his cup and looked back at the surprised Morgan。 〃Well； here I am； scared witless about getting married； asking an old married man whether there's anything I can do to help him。 I'm as drunk as Dhugal！〃
〃Not if you mean what you say；〃 Morgan replied； eying the king wistfully。
〃That I'm drunk？ Oh … that I'm willing to help；〃 Kelson answered； echoing Morgan's patient nod。
〃Yes。〃
〃Very well。 What？〃
〃What？〃
〃What do you want me to do to help？〃 Kelson said； making a rolling gesture with his free hand to urge Morgan on。 〃e on； tell me。〃
With a short； resolute sigh； Morgan leaned a little closer； toying with his goblet between his two hands as he gazed across at the king。
〃I'd like Richenda to remain at court when we go on campaign in the spring。〃
〃You mean here in Rhemuth？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What about the children。 Aren't they still in Coroth？〃
〃I can have them brought here as soon as the weather lets up。 They'll be fine where they are； through the winter months。 Derry's mother has bee their governess。 And my staff have things under control otherwise。〃
Kelson grimaced； obviously having trouble following Morgan's logic。
〃So the children join Richenda here in the spring and they all stay here through the campaign。 I still don't understand why。〃
〃Well； for one thing； your future queen has taken a fancy to my wife； as you well know；〃 Morgan replied。 〃That would be reason enough； all by itself。 She could also help your aunt。 With a new baby on the way； Meraude shouldn't have to shoulder the duties of chatelaine indefinitely； and until you're sure you've won Sidana's loyalty； you won't be able to trust her with those duties。〃
Kelson nodded profoundly。 〃Aye； that's true enough。 And I'm sure Aunt Meraude would wele Richenda's pany。 But won't Richenda be needed at Coroth； with you away？〃
Morgan bowed his head and toyed with the stem of his goblet； wishing desperately that she were。
〃No；〃 he whispered。
〃No？ But she's your duchess。 Who else is equipped to manage things for that long in your absence？〃
〃Not the former wife of a traitor；〃 Morgan said quietly。
〃What？〃
〃They don't trust her。 Kelson。 I think they mean well； but I suppose they're afraid she'll betray me。 Maybe they think she'll take revenge for my part in Bran's death。〃
〃But I killed Bran … and partially for that very reason； so no one could later say you killed him to get his wife。〃
Morgan sighed。 〃I know。 There's more。 Hillary says they're nervous about her being co…guardian for Brendan … that if something were to happen to me； she'd have Corwyn and Marley at her disposal until Brendan and Briony came of age。 And then； if she were to betray you … 〃
〃Alaric； that's insane！〃 Kelson blurted。 〃She's loyal！ She'd never betray either of us！ There must be some other explanation。〃 He made a vexed face。 〃It's probably Hamilton and Hillary's fault； not wanting to let go of the authority they've had all these years you weren't married。 One can hardly blame them for being jealous。〃
Morgan shook his head。 〃I wish it were that simple； my prince。 Actually； Hamilton and Hillary like her very much。 They're as mystified as you and I。 But a few of their officers have e right out and told them they can't be responsible for the men's behavior if I leave her in charge and something goes wrong … even if it isn't her fault〃。 He sighed。 〃So I haven't given her any authority； and I haven't been able to bring myself to tell her why。 It would make it seem like I agreed with them。〃
Kelson was sobering fast as he listened to Morgan's account； and he set aside his cup with a grimace of distaste as Morgan finished。
〃You should have told me sooner。〃
〃I didn't want to bother you。 Before Carsten of Meara died and everything blew up； I thought I'd be home all winter and get things straightened out。 Now it's going to be the end of next summer before I get home。 I didn't know she was ing for Christmas court； you know； but I'm glad she did； under the circumstances。 Rhemuth will be the best place for her until I get things sorted out。〃
〃You still should have told me。 Does Duncan know？〃
〃No。 No one else。〃 He broke off as Duncan appeared in the garderobe doorway supporting a weak and contrite Dhugal。
〃He's going to be fine；〃 Duncan called； grinning as he helped Dhugal cross the room and sit gingerly in his former place。 〃He isn't nearly as drunk now as he was a few minutes ago； are you； son？ I think he's learned a valuable lesson； too。〃
〃Aye。 Never again；〃 Dhugal nodded miserably。 〃What kind of wine was that； anyway？ I've never felt this awful before； just from drinking。〃
Lazily； Morgan raised his cup to sniff at its contents。 〃Fianna red。 It's quite good； actually。 Does your head hurt？〃
〃Like a smithy's forging swords；〃 Dhugal muttered； palming across both his eyes and tipping his head against the chair back。 〃I may die。〃
Duncan； perching casually on Dhugal's chair arm； slipped one hand behind the back of Dhugal's head and began to massage at the base of his skull； steadying him with his other hand on a shoulder as Dhugal sighed and immediately began to relax。 Morgan； guessing what Duncan was about and sensing that Dhugal did not； glanced at Kelson and prepared to divert Dhugal's attention further。 At least they might salvage something for Dhugal from this evening's work。
〃Well； I suppose we all know that feeling；〃