«Unwelcome news, I’m afraid», he said without preamble, showing her the document with the king’s seal as he came to kiss her on the forehead. «I’m commanded back to court. Not merely summoned, mind you, but ‘commanded.’ He’s given no specific reason, but it can’t be trivial. He knows I had hoped to stay longer, perhaps even through the New Year. But it may be some weeks before I can return. And if the weather is bad…»
She did her best to hide her disappointment as she took the missive from him and quickly scanned it, but Kenneth knew. But he did not anticipate her next words.
«Perhaps I should go back to Morganhall for my lying-in, then», she said matter-of-factly, looking up at him from under long lashes. «The summer heat is past, and ’tis far closer to Rhemuth — and much less apt to be snowed in. And I should very much like to have you at my side when our daughter is born».
«And I should like to be there», Kenneth replied. «Do you think that Vera would come there to be with you?»
«I don’t see why not», she answered. «’Twould be easier for her and Jared, as well, especially if Jared is also called to court — which could well happen, since you have been called. They would like another baby, you know — and that’s rather difficult if they hardly see one another».
«There is that», Kenneth agreed. «But Culdi is larger, and far more comfortable».
«But not as close to Rhemuth, and you», Alyce countered. «Morganhall will be fine. And your sisters will be thrilled to have a new baby to coo over».
He inclined his head in agreement. «I’ll not argue that».
«Then, it’s settled», she said.
Kenneth dared not delay to travel with them, for the king seemed to require his presence urgently — and, in fact, had summoned Jared as well, by means of another courier who arrived later that evening.
«You have no idea what this is about?» Jared asked him, handing him his own summons.
Kenneth shook his head. «None whatsoever. But Alyce had already asked whether Vera and your boys might accompany them to Morganhall. There’s room — just. And it’s far closer. You could see your wife more often», he added with a sly grin. «I know you’d like another bairn».
Jared’s smile spoke volumes. «I’ll not deny that», he said, «though it isn’t for want of trying».
«Well, you can try more often, if your wife is at Morganhall», Kenneth retorted. «Shall I write to my sisters, and tell them the ladies are coming?»
«Do», Jared agreed. «Better yet, we can stop there on our way back to Rhemuth and tell them in person. The women can follow by easier stages. And I’ll have extra provisions sent as well. They’ll have more mouths to feed».
Kenneth inclined his head in thanks. «My sisters will be grateful».
He and Jared left the next morning, charging Trevor and Llion with the task of moving their wives and sons by slow stages. On reflection, Jared offered the use of his coach — which Kenneth gladly accepted. It was a ponderous thing, but easier and safer than travel by litter, with Alyce now seven months gone.
«And Lady Alyce is not to travel by any other means save the coach, no matter how she might protest», Kenneth told the two knights, «with plenty of pillows and featherbeds to cushion her».
«Kenneth, I am not ill!» Alyce protested. «I am simply pregnant».
«Yes, and you are carrying a precious burden: our daughter», Kenneth replied coolly, though he smiled as he said it, a hand lightly skimming her abdomen. «Trevor, you have your orders».
«Aye, m’lord», Trevor said with a grin.
Alyce made a moue at her husband, but then she twined her arms around his neck and drew him down for a kiss before heading off to begin packing for the journey.
The distaff-halves of the two families were resettled at Morganhall by the middle of October, much to the delight of Kenneth’s two sisters — and with the approval of Alaric, Duncan, and Kevin as well, for there were other children to play with, and more hounds to induct Alaric’s new puppy into the canine mysteries. Claara, the younger of the sisters, had been widowed young, and had a daughter and granddaughter staying with her until the spring. Little Clarice was nearly four, slightly younger than Alaric, and as full of mischief as any child Alyce had ever seen.
By contrast, Kenneth’s other sister, Delphine, the elder of the pair, had never married, but she adored her nieces and nephews, and was delighted to have the extra company through the end of the year, especially with the promise of additional provisions to feed them all. It was Delphine who ran the Morganhall estate on her brother’s behalf — and usually turned a profit.
She was also, it soon emerged, an accomplished poet, and soon had enlisted Alyce’s services in copying out a small collection of her poems as a Christmas gift for her brother. The familiar work set Alyce to remembering the days she and Zoë had spent together in the scriptorium at Arc-en-Ciel, and the illuminated book the two of them later had crafted for the king for another Christmas, now several years past.
She wrote to Zoë shortly after her arrival at Morganhall, informing her of the move down from Culdi and her scrivening project, and inquiring after Zoë’s new pregnancy, for her heart-sister was due to deliver early in the new year.
«I wish Zoë could be with us», she said wistfully to Vera, as the two of them sat in a sheltered patch of sunshine in a corner of the stable yard and watched their sons romping with the new puppy. Farther off, Llion groomed Cockleburr and prepared for a ride. «Perhaps next summer I shall take Alaric to Cynfyn for a few months; you could join us, if Jared agreed. Little Kailan will be walking by then. And maybe he’ll have a baby brother».
Vera smiled and nodded, basking in the sunshine and inhaling deeply of the musky stable-scent and the tang of autumn leaves burning in the nearby garden.
«It might be possible», she replied. «It would certainly be pleasant. Maybe I will…»
In that moment, as the two sisters sat in the autumn sun and dreamed of the future, all things seemed possible.
The work on Delphine Morgan’s manuscript occupied much of Alyce’s time in the weeks that followed, as her pregnancy advanced and sitting became preferable to more strenuous exertion. She was obliged to hastily put the manuscript aside, however, when her husband paid her a surprise visit late in October.
«I think our daughter may arrive early», she told him, later that night, as she lay contentedly in the curve of his arm after a day spent watching him interact with their son. «She is certainly very active. Here, feel». She took his hand and placed it on her abdomen so he could feel the baby moving.
«Maybe you miscalculated», Kenneth said, though a delighted grin creased his face at this tangible evidence of the new life his wife was carrying.
«It’s possible. I had thought she might be born around Christmas, but now…»
«So long as she and you are healthy», Kenneth said happily. «And I will try to be here for the birth. Incidentally, I had a letter from Jovett last week, tucked in with more official correspondence from Cynfyn. He tells me that both Kailan and Zoë are getting bigger by the day, and she says she thinks the new baby is determined to kick out her ribs. They both seem certain that it will be another boy. Could they really know that?»
Alyce shrugged, smiling. «I knew; but Zoë isn’t Deryni. Heaven knows whether Jovett has the skill. Men usually don’t, since they don’t bear. Now, if Sé were to put his mind to it…»
«Is that an Anviller talent? Determining the sex of babies?» Kenneth asked, grinning.
«I doubt it», Alyce replied, «though they are very talented. I don’t suppose you’ve heard from him?»
Kenneth shook his head. «I had thought he might make an appearance in June, for Prince Brion’s coming of age. It’s the sort of thing that his order tends to keep track of. But I suppose he was otherwise occupied».
«And Brion — is he still on his progress?» she asked.
«Aye, but they should be heading south any time now. The weather will turn very soon. The last I heard, they were up in Claibourne».
«Duke Ewan probably has him out hunting», she replied, snuggling closer to his side. «He’ll probably catch his death of cold. The queen told me once that Haldane males are about the most stubborn men in all of creation, and she long ago despaired of making them dress sensibly or come indoors when the weather is foul!»
«They do love their hunting», Kenneth agreed. «In Brion’s case, though, I can hardly blame him. Duke Richard’s last letter said that the new mare is absolutely sensational in the hunting field. Brion couldn’t be more pleased. It seems that Oisín Adair’s reputation is well deserved».
«So it seems», Alyce agreed, shifting to ease her back. «In the spring, after I’m more of a size to consider getting on a horse again, perhaps you might have him look for a nice Llanner mare for me. And it won’t be long before Alaric will need a proper pony: something gentle and reliable. There’s only so much he can do with Cockleburr, though Llion swears that horse treats the boy like he was made of glass».
«I’ll mention your concerns to Master Oisín the next time I see him», Kenneth agreed. «And I think I’ll see about getting Llion a better mount as well. I should’ve done it months ago. Cockleburr really is about ready for honorable retirement».
«So long as you keep him around for Alaric’s sake», Alyce replied. «He’s still worth his keep — a fine old beast for a beginning rider».
«I promise you he shall have a place with us for the rest of his life», Kenneth agreed sleepily.
Kenneth stayed only two days before returning to the capital, for he had no leave to remain longer. A letter from Zoë arrived two days after his departure, though it mostly confirmed news that Kenneth had already shared with Alyce. It did, however, include a quick sketch of an emaciated lion chewing on the tail of a very fat squirrel, alluding to the teasing artistic assessments the two of them had made regarding one another’s work during the many hours they had shared in the scriptorium at Arc-en-Ciel.
Alyce wrote back that very day, reporting her progress on Delphine Morgan’s scrivening project — nearly complete — and adding her own, less competent drawing of a very fat lion with several squirrels’ tails in its teeth.