Don't worry, I'm not that great with them either. For some reason LJ names I find easier, but I suspect mine is sufficiently normal to be Not Memorable.

After reading Cordelia's Honor, I must admit to have been greedy enough to read whichever ones I could lay my hands on, so I got them very much out of order. And I first met Ekaterin in Without a Star, when I had no idea who Miles Vorkosigan was, so I've always known about their relationship. She hasn't had an easy life in a lot of ways but she's handled it with grace and a quiet courage that tends to go unnoticed.