"What were you thinking on?"
She sighed deeply. "I was contemplating my condition as an appallingly ungrateful wretch."
Nicholas laughed. "I daresay not. There is a chapel nearby, my dear, which you may use on the morrow for your penance. For now, fill this old man's ears with your adventures. We'll speak about other business tomorrow. "
Morgan lifted her eyebrows. "Other business? Is that why you sent for me, in truth?"
"Tomorrow."
Morgan shot him a final, disgruntled look that he completely ignored, then she relented, and sat back against his dreadfully comfortable couch to give him the tales he wanted.
She told him of her travels, leaving out the more unsavory encounters. She told him of the places on the island she'd seen, the wonders she'd seen come in on ships at port, the tidy sums she'd earned.
"Obviously not, of late," Nicholas said dryly, casting a look at her clothes. "A rough year so far, I'd say."
"Not the most profitable," Morgan agreed.
"I told you the last time you were here, my child, to marry one of Harding's sons, not fight the man's battles for him. He is notoriously stingy."
"Only because you've coerced so many donations out of him, my lord."
"Goodness," Nicholas said with a laugh, "you've been too many years out of polite company. Although it is all too true about the funds, we usually don't like to bring it up. Now you realize I have Harding's youngest here. He's a handsome lad."
"He's likely half my age."
"But he is rich."
"Wasrich," she corrected. "I hazard a guess he will be less rich still once you're through with him?"
A discreet knock prevented her from discussing with Nicholas his extortionary techniques. Soon she found herself with a hearty repast sitting atop a table before her. Nicholas invited her to help herself, which she did without hesitation. It had been, after all, a rather lean autumn. Nicholas watched her thoughtfully as she ate.
"You know," he said casually, "there are richer prizes farther afield."
Morgan stopped chewing and looked at him. "What?"
"There are nine kingdoms, Morgan, my dear. The last time I checked, those nine kingdoms contained at least nine kings. I would imagine that any of them would be more than happy to pay you quite handsomely to raise your sword in his defense."
Morgan continued to chew. When she thought she could swallow successfully, she applied herself to her goblet of wine. "I don't fancy traveling," she said with conviction?the conviction of one who truly did not enjoy traveling.
"A pity," Nicholas said, admiring his own wine in the handblown glass goblet. "Gold, silver, renown. Glorious deeds." He looked at her placidly. "Hard to resist."
"And yet I manage," she said. "What are you about in truth, old man? I've resigned myself to a decent meal and pleasant conversation, but I only find one of the two here."
Nicholas smiled. "Finish your meal, my dear, then get yourself to bed. We'll speak on other things tomorrow. You'll stay for a bit, won't you?"
"Perhaps," she said, but she knew she didn't dare. Too many nights with her head on a soft goose-feather pillow and the rest of her under an equally soft goose-feather comforter would completely ruin her for hard labor.
"However long you can manage will be long enough," he said enigmatically. "Eat some more, Morgan. You're too thin. "
She ate her fill, ate a bit more just in case, then sat back with a cup of the orphanage's finest and savored polite conversation for a bit. She and Nicholas spoke of the weather, of the harvest, of his garden that still produced a very fine grape even past the hard frost. Morgan learned of new lads who had come to be sheltered and of older lads who had come to study, then gone on to make their way in the world.
All of it perfectly normal; all of it unremarkable and secure. It eased her heart.
All but the part of her heart that knew such peace was not to be hers for long.
She thanked Nicholas for the meal, bid him a good night, and walked with him to the door. He put his hands on her shoulders, then kissed both her cheeks. "A good sleep to you, daughter. You'll need it before you start your next journey."
"My next journey?" she asked blankly.
