«Exactly», Alyce said. «But we can do something to get Father's plans for you back on track. I thought to ask the queen about bringing you to court, when we go back to Rhemuth».
«To court?» Vera breathed.
«Why not? You've already been part of an earl's household. Don't think for a moment that this wasn't part of Father's plan for you. I'm sure he intended to arrange an extremely advantageous marriage, so that your eventual children — his grandchildren — would be in positions to improve the lot of our people. And no one would know that any of you are Deryni».
Vera was nodding by the time she finished, and Marie was grinning.
«The queen is very kind», Marie said. «And so many handsome young knights at court! Think what a fine marriage you might make!»
«There is that», Vera agreed.
«Then, it's settled», Alyce said. «We'll make inquiries as soon as we return.
The household of the late Keryell Earl of Lendour kept the feasts of Christmas at Castle Cynfyn, though the observances were muted because of his recent death. Two days after Saint Stephen's Day, to no one's particular regret, his widow announced, from the back of a horse, that she was departing at once for her father's lands near Dhassa.
«Madam, I am certain that my father did not intend that you should be turned out of your home», Ahern said dutifully, standing in the snowy yard with a hand on her horse's bridle, and balancing on one leg and a crutch.
«No, I am resolved», Rosmerta replied. «I have had several weeks to consider, while I waited for my husband's body to come home. But God did not consent to give me children by Lord Keryell, so there is nothing for me here. I wish you well, Ahern, but you do not need my presence. You must make a life of your own».
There was nothing he could say to that, for while his relationship with his stepmother had been civil, at least in his father's presence, there had never been true warmth between them.
«At least permit me to send an escort with you», he said, beginning to weave on his feet.
«I thank your courtesy, but my father has sent men of his own», she replied, nodding toward the half dozen liveried men interspersed among the sumpter animals and the mounts of her household and servants. «I desire to greet the new year with the family of my birth. God grant you health, my lord».
With that, she headed out the castle gate, her daughter at her side and with Vera among her household — hopefully, only for a few weeks or months, until Alyce and Marie could speak to the queen about her.
By Twelfth Night, the customary time for formal transactions of important business in any lord's hall, Ahern was sufficiently improved in health to preside at his first official court as Earl of Lendour — yet unconfirmed in his full authority, because of his youth, but lawfully acknowledged by the presence at his side of Duke Richard, who witnessed the investiture of the new earl's council of advisors and took their fealty in the name of the king his brother. Two days later, Richard bade all farewell and departed for Rhemuth, and life began to settle into some semblance of a pattern of daily life for the new young earl.
Not for several weeks, as Ahern and his seneschal reviewed the inventories of the late earl's possessions, was it discovered that certain valuables had gone missing.
«You don't suppose that Rosmerta could have taken these?» Ahern asked, as he showed the list of missing items to his sisters. «Some of the jewelry was left to you in that letter from Father».
«Then, I expect that Rosmerta's coffers have been considerably enriched by the appropriated items», Alyce replied. «Can aught be done about it?»
Ahern shook his head. «Probably not. Just be glad that she didn't have any sons. If she had, I'd probably be dead — and she'd be working on the two of you».
Marie wrinkled her nose. «I still don't understand why Father married her».
«Better to marry than to burn», Ahern muttered, coloring slightly as Alyce looked at him sharply. «Well, he was a man of — passions», he added, somewhat lamely. «Though, in this case, I think I'd rather he had diddled with serving wenches».
Alyce only rolled her eyes, though she made a mental note to ask their sister to look into the matter further.
Meanwhile, the winter snows swept in, rendering travel difficult, especially for an invalid who must still travel by horse-litter — though, in truth, young Ahem had made no plans to move before the summer, when he would visit his lands in Corwyn. Fortunately, he gained strength almost daily, though his shattered knee continued to give him pain, albeit tempered by the nursing of his sisters.
Early in February, however, Sir Kenneth Morgan arrived with orders recalling the demoiselles de Corwyn to Rhemuth — with his daughter Zoë at his side.
«The queen particularly asks for your presence», Kenneth told them, when the girls' joy at their reunion had subsided enough for him to get a word in edgewise. «Her lying-in will soon be upon her, and she greatly desires that you attend her.
«She also has graciously offered my dear Zoë a place at court, as further incentive to speed your return», he added, slipping a fond arm around his daughter's waist.
«Alyce, I was presented at Twelfth Night court!» Zoë blurted, joy in her sea-gray eyes. «You should have seen my beautiful gown! And I've brought a new gown for each of you as welclass="underline" presents from the queen and Lady Jessamy. We're done with our school habits! I'm to stay at court with Father, and attend the queen — and try my hand in the king's scriptorium, if I desire it!»
Few developments could have cheered Alyce more — and the queen's request underlined a more serious reason for their return to court, for all were well aware of the dangers of childbed. Still, Alyce turned to her brother in concern.
«Would you prefer that one of us remain with you?» she said. «I know that your knee still pains you».
Ahern had graduated to a walking stick to help him hobble around the castle, and thwacked it lightly against the thigh of his propped-up leg, mustering a brave smile.
«No, the queen needs you more than I do», he said lightly. «I’m not the one who's having a baby. Go to her. I'll manage».
They left the following day, riding fast along the road that skirted the River Molling, as it lazed its way westward across the great Gwynedd Plain. They arrived in Rhemuth mid-February, only days before the queen was brought to bed of another Haldane prince. Eased by the ministrations of Jessamy and Alyce, the latter grown considerably more knowledgeable from her studies at Arc-en-Ciel, the queen's labor was hard but short, at least some of her pains blunted by Deryni magic — much to the annoyance of a new royal midwife, who firmly believed that the travails of birth were a woman's just recompense for the sins of Eve.
«You have another son, Sire», Alyce said, emerging from the birthing chamber while Jessamy and Marie cleaned up mother and child. «He is perfect in every way, and his mother is well».
Bursting into a wide grin, Donal gave a relieved sigh.
«Thanks be to God!»
Later that evening, when the mother had rested and the babe was rousing from sleep, the girls brought the rest of the royal children to see the new arrival.
«Come and greet your new brother», Alyce said to Princes Brion and Blaine as she shepherded them into their mother's bedchamber.
Zoë was carrying their sister, the Princess Xenia, who squirmed to get down as Jessamy helped the queen to sit more upright and the midwife lifted the child from his cradle to lay him in his mother's arms. The king had already visited the pair, and now was gone to inform his council of the safe delivery of the new prince.
«Isn't he beautiful?» Alyce whispered, as young Brion stood on his tiptoes for a closer look.