Maud wins

Maud scowled as she watched Matilda slowly come up the road with her servants. It was a long walk from Nothelm. Why did she come? To flaunt her belly, no doubt. Never mind if she did the baby harm – Matilda could not resist a chance to make Maud miserable.

“Send Her Grace up when she arrives,” she called out to a servant. Meanwhile she would figure out what she could say to her.

“Good morning, Maud,” the Duchess said contritely as she came in. So, Matilda meant to make her feel like she was the spiteful one, did she? “It’s odd,” she laughed lightly, “I don’t remember the castle being so far away.”

Ah, she didn’t waste any time! As if her ostentatiously pregnant walk didn’t make her belly evident enough!

“I brought Yware to play. I hope that the young Prince is not otherwise occupied?”

“Caedwulf is eating a late breakfast,” Maud said coolly. “Perhaps he would like to play with the Princess while he waits?”

Maud had the servants take the two children up to the nursery and then turned back to Matilda. She looked rather ridiculous – her bulky gown was not at all flattering, and strands of hair clung to her damp face. And she looked tired. Really, not at all well. It would serve her right if her baby came early because of this. What was that worthless husband of hers thinking to let her go out walking on such a sunny day?

“Britamund is getting so big!” Matilda said. “I haven’t seen her in so long.”

“I don’t doubt you have been occupied,” Maud replied.

“Oh, not at all! I am going mad from boredom. Alred won’t let me ride or do anything. I thought a short walk would be a good idea, but truly I do think you have moved the castle some distance away from where it was last time,” she laughed awkwardly. “I stopped at the church to rest.”

“How are you going to get home again? It doesn’t seem wise to walk so far in the heat.”

“I don’t know. Perhaps it would be better for me to ride home after all. Perhaps I shall send for one of the quiet old mares and a groom to lead her home.”

“I shouldn’t think it would be safe for you to ride, either.”

“Oh, I don’t know!” she laughed. “The Blessed Mother rode all the way to Bethlehem on a donkey’s back.”

“Surely you don’t compare yourself to the Blessed Mother.”

“No – not in that way at least.” She smiled, but Maud did not.

“Oh, Maud!” she gushed. “Let us be friends again! We both said things we didn’t mean.”

“You did, perhaps.”

“Maud!”

“No – ” Maud admitted. “You’re right. We both said things we didn’t mean.”

Matilda smiled in relief.

“In my defense,” Maud continued, “I must say that if I have been cruel, it is simply because I have missed my husband so terribly. It has been very difficult for me to see you with yours.”

“I know, Maud, I’m sorry – ”

“But it was terribly unfair of me, wasn’t it?” Maud said, smiling triumphantly. “That is to say, terribly selfish. After all, at least there is a chance that my husband will still be alive this time next year.”

Matilda’s jaw dropped.

“What, dear?” Maud asked innocently. “Surely you know that Alred is dying? It’s as plain as can be. Everyone knows he won’t last the winter. It’s almost as if – ”

Matilda drew back her arm and slapped Maud hard across the face.

“Say that again, you witch!” she snarled. “Say that again and you won’t live to see whether your prophecy ever comes to pass!”

“Guard!” Maud shrieked.

“And God help you if you ever repeat what you just said to my husband or my children.”

The guard blinked in helpless confusion when he rushed in and found only the two women in the room.

Matilda rushed past him and threw the heavy door shut behind her with a boom that echoed through the castle. 

Maud’s cheek was burning, and yet she smiled – for she had won.