«Isn't he beautiful?» Alyce whispered, as young Brion stood on his tiptoes for a closer look.
«He's just a baby», piped Blaine, sounding a little disappointed.
«Well, he was just born», Brion replied, quite reasonably. «Mama, can I hold him?»
Richeldis laughed gently as the babe nuzzled closer to her breast. «Maybe tomorrow, darling. Right now, he's very hungry, and Mama is very tired».
«But, you been in bed all day, Mama», Blaine pointed out.
«Yes, but your mama has been working very hard», Jessamy explained, smoothing the younger boy's jet-black hair. «Shall I lift you up so you can see him better?»
Nodding solemnly, Blaine held up his arms to be picked up. Brion was already clambering up the side of his mother's bed to see, assisted by Alyce. Xenia, too, was reaching toward the baby and her mother, so Zoë obliged by bringing her closer.
«Ba-bee!» Xenia crowed, reaching out to stroke the infant's blanket.
«What're we gonna name him, Mama?» Brion wanted to know, grinning as a tiny hand closed on his forefinger.
«Well, your father has suggested Nigel», Richeldis replied. «What do you think?»
«Nigel's a good name!» Brion agreed, nodding. «Now I got two brothers, named Blaine an' Nigel!»
«And a very pretty sister!» Zoë added, bestowing an audible kiss on the cheek of the squirming Xenia.
The arrival of the new prince, coupled with having Zoë with them again, helped both Alyce and Marie ease back into life at court, now on a far happier note than the weeks before Christmas, while they waited for their father's body to return. And as spring eased toward summer, preparations for the June wedding of another of the queen's ladies likewise occupied both minds and hands, for the dashing Sir Jared McLain, Earl of Kierney, had claimed the hand of Elaine MacInnis.
«I still cannot believe my good fortune», Elaine confided to Alyce and Marie, soon after their return to Rhemuth. «Apparently our fathers made the arrangements at Christmastime. He asked me on Saint Stephen's Day, and our betrothal took place at Twelfth Night court».
«How I wish we could have seen it!» Marie declared, honestly delighted. «What a couple you shall make — for he is one of the comeliest men at court. Everyone says that he's ever so brave and dashing!»
«More important, he is kind and gentle», Alyce agreed, not giving voice to a vague misgiving, for Elaine was but fifteen. «But — shall you live in Kierney, Elaine? I fear we shall never see you!»
Elaine shrugged, a tinge of wistfulness crossing her fair features. «It is far away, I know. But his sons must be born on his own lands — and I hope I shall give him many! Besides, when he is duke, he will be called often to court — and I shall come with him, when I can». She gave them a bright, delighted smile. «And both of you shall be married and with families of your own, before you know it».
«Pray God that it will be to as much contentment», Alyce said, with a glance at her friend, whose smile had turned a little wistful.
To the relief of both girls, the king gave no indication that he intended to rush the disposition of their marriage portions, but allowed them to return to their previous pursuits in the queen's household. Alyce focused on the education of the royal children, while continuing to avail herself of the royal library and the scholars who passed through court — and delighted in executing commissions of special documents for the king's chancery, for which Zoë provided illuminated capitals and embellishments.
Marie's pure voice soon brought her to the attention of the royal music master, who groomed her for performances both in the chapel royal and as entertainment in the king's hall; and her skills with loom and embroidery needle were much sought by the artisans who spent their days creating tapestries for the great hall. In addition, the sisters' suggestions to the queen regarding Lady Vera Howard met with royal approval, to the end that Vera soon joined the ranks of the queen's demoiselles.
«Believe me, Lady Rosmerta was not happy to receive the queen's summons», she told them privily, the first night after her arrival, as she dug in the recesses of a capacious leather bag. «She will have been even less happy when she discovered that I left with these».
She pulled out a wooden box the size of a man's two hands and opened the lid for Alyce's inspection. Inside, wrapped individually in pieces of crumpled linen, were most of the items of jewelry listed in their father's bequest: several rings and brooches, a bracelet, and a necklace of emeralds the size of a man's thumbnail, with blue fire at their hearts.
«Ooooh, Alyce!» Marie breathed, as Alyce lifted out the necklace.
«I remember seeing our mother wear this», Alyce murmured, turning it in the candlelight. «Family tradition has it that it once belonged to the Lady Tayce Furstána, a first cousin of the King of Torenth, whose son became the first Duke of Corwyn».
«Then, it's good that it comes back into the family», Vera said, looking pleased with herself as Marie plucked out a gold bangle set with opals and sapphires. «And doesn't that bracelet appear in that painting of Stevana at Cynfyn?»
Alyce nodded. «Aye, the one at the top of the main stair». She watched her younger sister slide the bangle onto her wrist and turn it appreciatively in the light.
«So much for Rosmerta», Marie said, smiling smugly.
«Not entirely», Alyce replied, taking the bracelet back from her sister. «She'll probably try to claim that Vera stole them. But we'll take them to the queen for safekeeping, and send to Ahern for the letter Father left».
Chapter 16
«Then shall the lame man leap as an hart…»[17]
Much to their relief, no complaint came from Rosmerta, but Alyce sent to their brother anyway, that a fair copy might be made of the bequest, witnessed by Father Paschal under seal.
The next several months passed quickly, with all the ladies of the royal household happily focused on the upcoming nuptials of Elaine MacInnis and Jared McLain, which took place at the end of June in St. Hilary’s-Within-the-Walls, the royal basilica adjoining Rhemuth Castle. As a personal favor for the wedding day, Alyce allowed Elaine to wear the Furstána emeralds. It was an occasion of pageantry and celebration, for Jared McLain was Earl of Kierney and heir to the Duchy of Cassan; but it was a day also tinged with sadness, for the newlyweds soon left for Kierney. The new Countess Elaine would be sadly missed from the queen's household.
That was the summer, in the fifteenth year of King Donal's reign, that Donal Haldane began his great inquest of all the lands in Gwynedd, even more ambitious than the one carried out by his father, King Malcolm, to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the great Battle of Killingford.
Then the royal commissioners had sent deputies only into the heartlands of the kingdom: from the Purple March southward across the great Gwynedd Plain as far as Carthmoor and Corwyn, and northward along the Coamer Mountains through Lendour and as far north as Eastmarch. This time, the inquiries would include all of Old Kheldour: the Duchy of Claibourne, the Kheldish Riding, and the Earldoms of Marley and Rhendall. Donal had hopes for including Cassan and Kierney as well, but they lay close to rebellious Meara, so he was not certain that local conditions would permit such activities — but that decision could wait while the rest progressed.
That summer was gentler than some in recent memory, so the commissioners were able to make good progress as the lazy summer days eased into autumn. Likewise, as the months wore on, the demoiselles de Corwyn made plans for their promised visit to their brother in Cynfyn — with some trepidation on Alyce's part, for her sister and Sir Se had been exchanging letters with alarming frequency since Easter, along with the progress reports that Ahern sent regularly, first from Corwyn and then from Cynfyn once again. Though Vera was obliged to remain behind, having no legitimate reason to accompany them, Alyce enlisted Zoë to come along and help her keep Marie in line regarding Se.