“Nonsense, I’d far rather have music I can hum or whistle than those intricate and – yes, I’ll say it – tortured musical forms.”
Robinton couldn’t stifle a nervous chuckle at Juvana’s remark.
“There, that’s better,” Kasia said. “If I ever meet him, I’ll be oh so punctilious and formal. Now your mother… she’s a dear and loving person.”
Robinton gawked at her. “How do you figure that? Have you met her?”
“Not really, but I’ve heard her sing. And her face is so expressive that she must be loving. And if she brought you up the way you are now, she’s a dear.” Then she gave him a warm hug and a loving kiss
before she relaxed against his arm. He covered her hand with his.
“Should I ask the MasterHarper’s permission?” he asked.
“You’re a journeyman,” Juvana said, lifting one shoulder.
“You’ve the permission of your contract holder and have officially announced your intent. But I think it would do no harm to tell Master Gennell.”
“I’d like to tell the whole world,” Robinton said, beaming down at Kasia, still marvelling that she would love him. That was when the music poured into his head and he knew exactly how he could publish his happiness. Sonata to Sea-Green Eyes, he would call it, and he hung on to the lyrical line as he often did when there was no opportunity to write music down.
“As Kasia’s sister and as your Lady Holder, I will expect you to come to me with any problems you might encounter as you start your lives together,” Juvana said, coming to the real purpose of her interview with the pair. “I have already discussed this with Kasia, and she will protect herself, which is her duty, until such time as you are settled enough to contemplate children.”
Robinton blushed. He and Kasia had not discussed the natural outcome of their love-making and he realized that he had been remiss in this regard.
Juvana went on. “I offer the suggestion that you should spend several years enjoying each other’s company, consolidating your new relationship, especially since it is unnecessary for either of you to need children to help in your professions.” She was quite matter-of-fact, and Robinton knew that she spoke common sense. “You’re both young. You have time. I have told Kasia that I would gladly foster any child of yours should your work make it impossible to give that child the advantages of a permanent home.”
Robinton managed to stammer out his astonishment at such a magnificent offer: an honour that he had never imagined being offered him. Usually it was the grandparents who offered fostering, or a very close friend. To have his child fostered at Tillek Hold would be a privilege.
“That’s an incredible offer, Juvana,” he said, getting his wits together. “I’d like to think I’d be a sufficiently good father that a child would not need more than his parents to reassure him, wherever we went.”
Juvana regarded him solemnly for a moment. “Yes, you would want to be a good father. And I think you would be. I’ve watched you with the slow ones, and you’re kind and patient, though some of their antics would be enough to drive me to sea in a leaky boat.”
Kasia laughed. “Juvana gets seasick just looking at a rocking boat.” “This is all’ – he gestured with the hand Kasia was not holding to indicate being overwhelmed – “rather more than I thought espousing entailed.”
“That’s why there are such wise women as myself,” Juvana said portentously, grinning to take any sting out of her tone. “So we’ll plan the formal vow-taking for the Autumn Equinox. I doubt our parents can come …
“If they wouldn’t mind riding a dragon, I think I can arrange conveyance,” Robinton said, wondering at himself for speaking out since he had been delighted her parents lived as far away as Nerat and he’d be unlikely to meet them. But that was just faint-heartedness on his part, and silly of him, since he’d been reassured by Melongel, as well as Juvana, that Kasia’s parents had no objection at all to a harper in the family.
“Can you arrange such a ride?” Juvana was surprised.