Cenwulf stretched out on the bed with a sigh of relief. He had finally managed to transfer the fussy Lady Eadith to her cradle without waking her, for the only way he knew to get her to sleep was to rock her in his arms. And the meeting with poor Theobald had taken a lot out of him as well. Who would have thought that Githa Selle of all people…?

He drummed his fingers on his stomach as he waited for his wife. He had heard her chattering with Witburga as she came up the stairs into the castle, and he imagined she must be putting the girl to bed in her tower room.

Colburga swept in on a blast of night wind

A few moments later, the door opened and Colburga swept in on a blast of night wind. “Here lies Cenwulf, may he rest in peace,” she laughed softly, as he tried to hush her by pointing furiously at Eadith’s cradle.

Colburga’s smile faded as she sat on the edge of the bed. 

Colburga's smile faded as she sat on the edge of the bed

“Did you talk to Theobald?” she asked.

“I did.”

“How was it?”

“How else could it be? I took Eadith with me so he couldn’t punch me in the nose.”

“Or if he did, you could always throw the baby at his head and run.”

“That’s so.”

'Alred I can see, but Githa!'

Colburga sighed. “It doesn’t seem possible. Alred I can see, but Githa! And her with a baby on the way – ”

“Unless it’s Alred’s.”

“Oh, Cenwulf. You don’t really think so?”

He snorted. “How’s Matilda taking it?”

“I don’t know. Maud was going to Nothelm to see her after we left.”

'Good Lord, Colburga, what were you thinking?'

“Maud? Good Lord, Colburga, what were you thinking letting her go up there? Matilda will tear her limb from limb.”

“Oh, she has a way with Matilda. Besides, she won’t hurt her, Maud’s going to have another baby, did Sigefrith tell you?”

“Only ten or twelve times.”

She giggled. “He’s a proud papa, bless his heart. I wonder if this would be a good time to tell you that I think I’m expecting another little one of my own?”

“If it’s Alred’s baby, I would say that this is your golden opportunity.”

She laughed

She laughed. “Can you imagine that silly kitten mounting a lioness like me?”

“How does he manage Matilda then?”

“To hear Matilda tell, it’s the other way around.”

“I admit, I never have that sort of conversation with Matilda.”

“I would be worried if you had.”

'And what do you tell Matilda about me?'

“And what do you tell Matilda about me?”

“Nothing that isn’t true,” she purred.

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

“Good,” she whispered, and kissed him.

'Good,' she whispered