She had felt him tense beside her as she spoke, each new observation like a physical blow, but he only said, «No. I did not.
«But never believe that I did not love him, in my way», he went on, after a few seconds. «What I could do, I did — and my purgation later tonight will be the cost of it. But there is nothing that you or I can do to change what was and is. He is gone. I have other sons who must be protected. As a king, I must put that above all other considerations».
«Yes, I am well aware of what you have been willing to do, to protect those sons», she said dully.
«Then, you will understand why I am minded to place that protection into the hands of the next Duke of Corwyn, who will be half Deryni».
She gave a mirthless chuckle and lightly shook her head. «Better half Deryni than no Deryni at all», she said. «But even if Alyce were to wed your precious Kenneth tomorrow, I doubt that I shall ever see any child of that union». She paused a beat. «Or — is it that you do not mean it to be Sir Kenneth's child?»
When he said nothing, she shifted position to stare at him more directly. «Donal?»
«It is the obvious solution to my present dilemma».
«That assumes that she would agree to such an arrangement», Jessamy said incredulously.
«You did».
She snorted. «I was a respectable matron with many children already, and a husband I merely tolerated».
«She shall have a husband», Donal said mildly.
«And then you would ask her to bear your child? I think not».
«You do not think that I would ask her?» the king countered.
«I do not think she would agree to it», Jessamy said. «And if you took her against her will, all would know of the child's bastardy. Besides, her first son must be the next Duke of Corwyn — and you may not have time to breed a second».
«Her first son shall be duke regardless of his father — and I had not thought to take her against her will», Donal said carefully. «I had not thought to let her be aware of it at all. You could help me do that».
«I?..»
He gave a careful nod. «Did you not tell me, years ago, that her father Keryell had set certain controls upon her and her sister before sending them to court, and had given those controls into your keeping?»
She turned her face away, troubled by what she was hearing.
«Those controls were set so that I might assist in their training, and to ensure that they exercised due caution regarding what they are. By rights, I should have released her by now».
«But you have not released her, have you?»
«No».
«Then, it appears that you can, indeed, help me in what I desire».
A heavy silence fell between them, stirred only by the sound of their breathing for a long moment, as Jessamy weighed her answer. In the cathedral above, the sounds of public devotion were gradually fading away, the last worshippers departing for the night.
«You are asking me to deceive her», she finally said, «to use the trust her father placed in me as a tool for your purposes».
«I am asking you to serve the future of my line», he replied. «Of a time, you believed that to be a worthy cause. Worthy enough to bear me a son in secret, to be the protector and boon companion of Gwynedd's next king».
«A son who now is dead», she said bleakly. «And you would attempt this experiment again?»
«Yes».
She rose, turning to rest both hands on the lid of Krispin's sarcophagus.
«I will not have her reputation sullied. She must be safely married first».
«Of course».
«And she must never know what you do to her. She must believe that any child is her husband's».
«I would treasure such a child as well, for Sir Kenneth Morgan is a good and faithful servant of the Crown, as well as a friend. And there is time for many children of his loins. My time is limited».
«Not so limited as mine», she retorted. «Still, I will do as you ask. But you are not to have her maidenhead. At least grant her husband that grace!»
With obvious reluctance, he inclined his head.
«There is still the matter of her excommunication», he said. «Once my own is lifted, I shall be free to see to hers. Meanwhile, I believe that she has summoned her family chaplain from Cynfyn, who will perform the marriage regardless. I would hope for a wedding in May or June. And after that…»
Jessamy slowly nodded. «I will need to make certain preparations», she said. «I have made little use of the triggers set by her father; those must be assessed, to be certain they shall serve our needs».
«Could not the same purpose be served by a flask of good wine, suitably embellished?» Donal said lightly.
«Once, perhaps. But the getting of a child may take several attempts — though I shall enlist one of the laundresses to begin making note of her monthly courses. From that, I shall be able to ascertain the spans when she is likely to be fertile. And once she is married, you, in turn, must be certain to keep her husband from her during those days, until the time is propitious for your own endeavors».
He gave a nod, closing his eyes briefly against the sight of her, remembering the getting of that son who was lost, and praying that the getting of another would be as expeditious.
«Thank you», he whispered. Silence had settled in the cathedral above as he reached up to take her hand, pressed it to his lips.
«I must go now», he murmured, reluctantly getting to his feet. «I fear that I have an appointment with an archbishop. Be sure that, for the sake of our sweet Krispin, I shall offer up my penance gladly».
Much later that night, when the king was safely returned to his bed, his stripes dressed, and Kenneth left to keep watch outside his door, Seisyll Arilan reported to the Camberian Council on what had transpired.
«He had not truly prepared us for what was to happen», Seisyll said, «though we knew that the meeting had something to do with the reconciliation in progress between king and Church. He had gone down into the royal crypts beforehand — to pray, he said, though we had earlier seen Lady Jessamy enter there as well. One may surmise that perhaps he told her of the price he was about to pay for having avenged her son.
«He looked shaken when he came out — though perhaps that was the effect of three days' fasting. We went next to the chapter house, where the monks had been gathering for the past half hour. The archbishop was there, waiting before the sedilla, and so was Bishop de Nore, the brother of the priest who was executed.
«Before entering the room; the king removed his cloak, his sword, his boots, his over-robe, and gave them into our care, then lay himself prostrate before the two bishops, with the monks ranged around the edges of the room. I could not hear what was said between them, but after a little while, the king came onto his knees and put off his shirt before lying down again, this time with his arms outstretched in a cross».
Seisyll shook his head and let out a sigh, still much affected by what he had seen.
«They flogged him then: thirty strokes, as he had meted out to Septimus de Nore, five strokes each from six different monks. Thank God it was not the flagellum, as was used on de Nore. The weals glistened with royal blood — and it is red, not blue or purple, as some would have it — but he uttered not a sound.
«When it was done, he took back his shirt, kissed the hand of each of the six monks who had flogged him, then knelt before Archbishop William to receive absolution and Holy Communion. He spoke not at all as we rode with him back to the castle. Lady Alyce came to bathe his stripes and anoint them with soothing salves. I do not think he spoke with her, either, though it was clear how he had incurred them.
«I left him sleeping peacefully — on his stomach, to be sure. I think there will be no scarring, but he will not soon forget this night, or the cost of his momentary defiance. At least he is restored to grace».