«Lord Rathold, my lord, counsel to the duchy. And my colleague is the Bishop of Coroth», he added, opening a hand toward the silver-haired cleric at his left elbow.
«Esmé Harris, my lord», the bishop said, inclining his head. «I shall pray that God grants you wisdom in your new estate».
«The bishop speaks for all of us, my lord», said James of Tendal, seated directly across from Kenneth and Alyce. «I am, as you know, the hereditary chancellor. In the absence of a duke, I suppose you might say that I stand in the king’s stead in Corwyn. My son Robert serves as my aide, and will eventually succeed me». He nodded toward the younger man at his left elbow, who smiled and inclined his head.
«My lord».
To Sir Robert’s left, Trevor’s father smiled and shifted in his chair.
«Sir Laurenz Udaut, my lord. Special counsel».
Kenneth nodded and shifted his gaze to the priest seated at Udaut’s left. «And you, Father?»
The priest inclined his head. «Tivadan, my lord. Chancellor of the Exchequer».
«A vital function», Kenneth said with a smile. «And you must be…?» he said to the man between Tivadan and Sir Crescence.
«Hamilton, my lord. Seneschal of Coroth Castle. I bid you welcome».
«Well met, Lord Hamilton», Kenneth said. «I look forward to working with all of you».
«And we with you, my lord», said the chancellor. «And we are honored to meet our future duke at last», he added, jutting his chin toward Alaric, who had listened gravely from his seat on his father’s lap. «He looks a sturdy lad».
Kenneth smiled faintly. «It is certainly my intention that he should become the man you would wish, eventually to govern Corwyn. I trust that Lord Kushannan will ensure that he learns of his illustrious great-grandsire and other things pertaining to his illustrious ancestry». He glanced at Alyce. «Did you know Duke Stíofan?» he said tentatively.
Alyce smiled and shook her head. «Alas, he died before I was born, my lord. But on many a winter’s night my mother told tales of him to me and Ahern and Marie, when we were very small. And Alaric bears his second name, Anthony». She brushed a fond hand against her son’s cheek. «Speaking of whom, perhaps Zoë and I should take this young man elsewhere, now that proper introductions have been made, so that you gentlemen can accomplish something useful in what remains of the morning».
As she made to rise, Trevor Udaut pulled back her chair and the other men came to their feet. Kenneth eased Alaric to the floor to put the boy’s hand in his mother’s.
«Mama!» Alaric whispered, loud enough for all of them to hear. «Do we have to go now?»
«I think it’s best, darling», she replied, crouching down to his level to look him in the eyes. «Papa and these good gentlemen have work to do. Besides that, I wanted to show you where your Grandmama Stevana played when she was a girl».
The boy’s lower lip started to quiver in a pout, but at Zoë’s additional cajoling, he let himself be led from the room.
Later that evening, as they lay abed, Kenneth acquainted Alyce with the progress of the day’s meeting, and pronounced himself well satisfied.
«The king has chosen his Corwyn regents well», he said. «Having met them now, I feel far less daunted than I did before, about having the duchy run from a distance. If you had been allowed to rule in your own right, of course, we’d be here most of the year, which would make things much easier. But given the realities of the situation, I’m quite confident that we can manage».
«Well, there have been regents since my grandfather died, after all», Alyce pointed out, «and that was eight years ago. My father was never Duke of Corwyn; only Earl of Lendour. And sadly, Ahern only ever got to govern Lendour, and then only for a few months». She sighed wistfully. «He would have made a wonderful duke».
«And you would have made a wonderful duchess», Kenneth said, kissing her on the nose. «And you are the duchess, in all but name».
She smiled and snuggled closer to his side, taking up the invitation his lips had begun.
Beginning the next morning, they settled into what was to become their regular routine for the next few weeks. After breaking their fast in the castle’s great hall, where they made a point of chatting with whichever courtiers were present for business later in the morning, Kenneth, his aides, and his future son-in-law adjourned to the council chamber, where they would spend the day hammering out the business of the duchy with its regents. Often Alyce would accompany him, sitting at his side as advisor and sounding board, but on that first day, she and Zoë rode down to the cathedral with Alaric in tow, attended by a maid, Sir Trevor, and Sir Xander of Torrylin, who had accompanied them from Lendour. It was market day, and the cathedral square was crowded with the stalls and goods wagons of local farmers and craftsmen.
«Oh, Alyce, look!» Zoë whispered, as they paused on the cathedral steps while Xander engaged a pair of local men to look after their horses. «Do I see silks on offer over there?» she asked, pointing toward a distant stall where lengths of shimmering silks and damask glistened in the morning sunlight.
«So it would appear», Alyce replied. «I told you that traders from farther east pass regularly through Corwyn’s port. After we’ve been inside, I thought we might try to find some lengths of silk for your wedding gown. Xander», she said a bit louder, «you and Melissa may wait here. Feel free to browse at this edge of the market, if you wish». She did not include Trevor in the order, knowing he would be a discreet shadow for necessary protection.
«Ah, so that’s why you wanted to come down here so early», Zoë said, as she and Alyce continued up the steps, Alaric between them and Trevor dutifully following. «You’d mentioned eastern silks on the ride from Cynfyn, but I hadn’t expected such prompt attention to the mission».
«Well, I can’t have you disgracing the family when you walk down the aisle to meet Jovett, can I?» Alyce said brightly. «Whether you’re my heart-sister or my daughter, it’s my responsibility to make certain you’re well turned out. Besides», she added with a sly wink, «you helped me with my bridal finery, as I recall».
«True enough», Zoë agreed. «Oh, Alyce». She sighed as they reached the west door and paused to gaze up at the carving above the tympanum, depicting the Last Judgement. «The last time we walked through this door, it was to bury poor Marie. We have shared some sad times, haven’t we?»
Alyce nodded, remembering the cathedral aisle strewn with the flowers that should have conveyed Marie to her bridal bed, and instead had lined the way to her tomb.
«Aye, both of us», she murmured. The memory of her brother Ahern on that occasion brought unbidden the image of a similar sad journey to bring her brother home to rest at Cynfyn: Ahern, who briefly had also been Zoë’s husband.
«But that’s all behind us now», Alyce went on brightly, forcing a smile to her lips as they continued into the church. «And we’ve shared joys as well. God willing, you shall soon be wed to your Jovett. The past is as it is. We must look to the future with hope».
Just inside the doors, they paused to bless themselves with holy water from a stoup carved like a seashell, and Alaric stretched up to gravely dip his fingers in the water and copy what his mother did.
«Mummy», he whispered, tugging urgently at her skirt as they started down the side aisle that led to the crypt entrance. «Does God live here?»
«Yes, He does, darling», Alyce answered distractedly.
«Oh», said Alaric. Then, «God must have lots of houses».
Alyce and Zoë exchanged glances, and Zoë rolled her eyes.
«He’s your son», Zoë whispered under her breath.
Alyce controlled a smile and hugged Alaric to her side as they continued walking.
«Yes, I suppose He does. God is always with us».
Alaric stopped dead in his tracks and looked up at his mother with wide, apprehensive eyes.
«Is God with us right now?» he whispered.
«Yes…»
The boy looked around surreptitiously and took his mother’s hand, pressing closer to her leg as he craned at the shadowed side aisles, lit by flickering candlelight.
«Why I don’t see anybody?»
«Well, God doesn’t have a body like you and me», his mother began.
«No body?» Alaric whispered.
«But that doesn’t mean He isn’t there», Alyce went on. «There are lots of things you can’t see, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Can you see the wind?»
Alaric shook his head.