The King’s Justice by Katherine Kurtz

household befitting your rank. Aunt Meraude will assist you to choose new ladies-in-waiting. I pray you to take as many as you need.”
    â€œYour offer is most generous, Sire, but I have found my needs to be far less in these past three years than one might believe. Sister Cecile shall continue to attend me—and if a place might be made at court for my chaplain, my Lord Archbishop?”
    Cardiel bowed. “I shall see that Father Ambros is housed in my own palace, my lady,” he murmured. “In fact, if you have no further need of him for the rest of the afternoon, I shall take him now to begin meeting some of our brethren.”
    â€œThank you, Excellency,” she breathed. “Father Ambros, I shall not require your services until morning Mass.”
    â€œAs you wish, my lady.”
    â€œAnd now, Sire,” Jehana went on, “if we may be shown to our quarters? Sister and I are very weary from our journey.”
    â€œCertainly, Mother.” He cocked his head hopefully. “May I tell the court that you will join us at table tonight?”
    â€œThank you, no, Sire. I fear I am not yet ready for so public an appearance. I would be grateful if my knights could be afforded that courtesy, however. They have served me most loyally.”
    Kelson inclined his head coolly, not surprised that she had declined his invitation. “Sir Delrae and his fellows are most welcome at our table, Mother. Gentlemen, our royal cousin, Prince Rory, will conduct you to lodgings befitting your rank. And now, if I may,” he went on, returning his attention to Jehana, “I’ll take you to your rooms.”
    â€œThank you, Sire, but I prefer that Nigel escort me, if you do not mind.”
    Kelson minded, but he was not about to make a further fool of himself in front of so many witnesses, albeit that almost all of them knew what had raised the frosty barrier between Jehana and himself. As an apologetic Nigel set his hand under the queen’s elbow and led her up the stairs, Sister Cecile following meekly behind, Kelson watched them go. Young Payne stood by him, even after Rory had taken away the knights and Cardiel had drawn the young priest Ambros in the direction of the episcopal palace.
    â€œShe must be really mad at you, Kelson,” Payne whispered after a moment, glancing shyly at his silent cousin as his father and aunt disappeared through the great hall door.
    Snorting, Kelson laid an arm around Payne’s shoulder and shook his head sadly.
    â€œI’m afraid she is, Payne. I’m afraid she is.”
    â€œHe seems so grown,” Jehana murmured, as soon as she and Nigel were out of Kelson’s earshot. “I had no idea he would be so tall.”
    Nigel glanced at her in surprise, but waited until they had passed a bowing knot of courtiers before answering.
    â€œYou’ve been away for three years, Jehana,” he said softly. “Children do grow, whether their parents are there to see it or not. Wait until you see Conall—and I wonder that you even recognized Rory and Payne.”
    â€œI would have known them,” Jehana replied, as they passed out of the great hall and headed down a long corridor leading to the residence wing. “They bear the Haldane stamp. No one could ever mistake a child of yours or Brion’s.”
    â€œPerhaps not. But I might never have recognized you in a crowd. Jehana, what have you done to yourself?”
    â€œI don’t know what you’re talking about,” she murmured, averting her eyes and thrusting thin hands briskly into her sleeve openings as she walked a little faster.
    â€œOh, yes, you do. You look like you’ve been in a dungeon rather than a cloister. How much weight have you lost?”
    â€œFasting is good for the soul,” she replied, lifting her chin defiantly. “But I wouldn’t expect you to understand that, knowing the company you keep.”
    Seizing her elbow, Nigel