Miles in Love - Lois McMaster Bujold [282]
"Not anymore, I don't think," said Mark morosely.
"Damn." The Countess frowned into her cup. "Miles told us practically nothing about her in his, I think I'm justified in calling them briefs, to us on Sergyar. If I'd known then half the things the Professora told me later, I'd have intercepted her myself."
"It wasn't my fault she ran off," Mark hastened to point out. "Miles opened his mouth and jammed his boot in there all by himself." He conceded reluctantly after a moment, "Well, I suppose Illyan helped."
"Yes. Simon was pretty distraught, once Alys explained it all to him. He was afraid he'd been told Miles's big secret and then forgot. I'm quite peeved at Miles for setting him up like that." A dangerous spark glinted in her eye.
Mark was considerably less interested in Miles's problems than in his own. He said cautiously, "Has, ah . . . Enrique found his missing queen, yet?"
"Not so far." The Countess hitched around in her chair and looked bemusedly at him. "I had a nice long talk with Dr. Borgos, too, once Alys and Illyan left. He showed me your lab. Kareen's work, I understand. I promised him a stay of Miles's execution order upon his girls, after which he calmed down considerably. I will say, his science seems sound."
"Oh, he's brilliant about the things that get his attention. His interests are a little, um, narrow, is all."
The Countess shrugged. "I've been living with obsessed men for the better part of my life. I think your Enrique will fit right in here."
"So . . . you've met our butter bugs?"
"Yes."
She seemed unfazed; Betan, you know. He could wish Miles had inherited more of her traits. "And, um . . . has the Count seen them yet?"
"Yes, in fact. We found one wandering about on our bedside table when we woke up this morning."
Mark flinched. "What did you do?"
"We turned a glass over her and left her to be collected by her papa. Sadly, Aral did not spot the bug exploring his shoe before he put it on. That one we disposed of quietly. What was left of her."
After a daunted silence, Mark asked hopefully, "It wasn't the queen, was it?"
"We couldn't tell, I'm afraid. It appeared to have been about the same size as the first one."
"Mm, then not. The queen would have been noticeably bigger."
Silence fell again, for a time.
"I will grant Kou one point," said the Countess finally. "I do have some responsibility toward Kareen. And toward you. I was perfectly aware of the array of choices that would be available to you both on Beta Colony. Including, happily, each other." She hesitated. "Having Kareen Koudelka as a daughter-in-law would give Aral and me great pleasure, in case you had any doubt."
"I never imagined otherwise. Are you asking me if my intentions are honorable?"
"I trust your honor, whether it fits in the narrowest Barrayaran definition or encompasses something broader," the Countess said equably.
Mark sighed. "Somehow, I don't think the Commodore and Madame Koudelka are ready to greet me with reciprocal joy."
"You are a Vorkosigan."
"A clone. An imitation. A cheap Jacksonian knock-off." And crazy to boot.
"A bloody expensive Jacksonian knock-off."
"Ha," Mark agreed darkly.
She shook her head, her smile growing more rueful. "Mark, I'm more than willing to help you and Kareen reach for your goals, whatever the obstacles. But you have to give me some clue of what your goals are."
Be careful how you aim this woman. The Countess was to obstacles as a laser cannon was to flies. Mark studied his stubby, plump hands in covert dismay. Hope, and its attendant, fear, began to stir again in his heart. "I want . . . whatever Kareen wants. On Beta, I thought I knew. Since we got back here, it's been all confused."
"Culture clash?"
"It's not just the culture clash, though that's part of it." Mark groped for words, trying to articulate his sense of the wholeness of Kareen. "I think . . . I think she wants time. Time to be