Edris nearly ran into Sigefrith as she rushed into the hall.

Edris nearly ran into Sigefrith as she rushed into the hall.

“Slow down,” he said as he caught her arms, and he smiled at her, though his face was pale. “You haven’t missed anything important. Matilda is already here.”

“I don’t – I haven’t – ” she stuttered.

“You’re fine, Edris. One would say you’re the nervous papa and I’m the nurse.”

'One would say you're the nervous papa and I'm the nurse.'

“But I don’t know anything!” she protested, finding the words at last. “I don’t know why Matilda sent for me.”

“You must ask Matilda.”

“But what must I do?”

“That is more than I can say. These are mysteries to us men. If you don’t know what else to do,” he said gently, “you could always sing a Psalm to her. She likes to hear you sing.”

“Yes, even so,” she nodded. That was something.

“Good girl. Now go up to her, and take the steps slowly. I don’t want to have to explain to Cenwulf how his wife came to be broken in my castle.”

'Now go up to her, and take the steps slowly.'

He kissed her cheek and she walked off towards the stairs, all her attention focused for the moment on her feet.

She forgot about them, however, when she neared the top. She heard a dreadful moan coming from the Queen’s bedroom. But stranger than that was the soft chatter of women, who kept talking through it as though Edris had been the only one to hear.

She tried to peer between the curtains that hung in the doorway.

Once outside the room, she tried to peer between the curtains that hung in the doorway. All of the lights were lit, and there were many women – several maids, the wise woman Mother Duna, and there were Matilda and Eadgith. Maud lay in her bed, but only Mother Duna seemed to be watching her. And Maud didn’t seem to notice any of them.

Maud lay in her bed, but only Mother Duna seemed to be watching her.

Edris thought she must have shaken the curtains, for Matilda looked up suddenly at the doorway and squinted her eyes. “Sigefrith? Don’t make me come chasing you down the stairs in my dress! She’s as fine as she can be considering the state in which you have put her!”

'Don't make me come chasing you down the stairs in my dress!'

“It’s only Edris,” she said softly, and she came through the curtains, but came no closer.

“Only Edris!” Matilda beamed as she came towards her, her arms wide. “Now we can begin, ladies. Edris is here.”

'Edris is here.'

“Oh!” Edris paled.

“What is it, dear?” Matilda asked as she embraced her.

“Why did you need me? I know nothing about this, Matilda. I was in a convent all my life! We never had babies there.”

“I should hope not!” Matilda laughed. “But it is high time you learned, don’t you think?” she asked, giving Edris’s belly an emphatic rub. “I didn’t ask you to come because we needed you, although sometimes you find that you can never have too many hands. I asked you to come because you need to see this. Childbirth is one of the rare things in life that is easiest learned by watching, and not by doing,” she giggled.

'Childbirth is one of the rare things in life that is easiest learned by watching, and not by doing.'

“Oh,” Edris sighed, somewhat relieved. “I had thought you thought…”

“Nonsense! I know you’re about as worldly as this unborn babe over here. But it’s just as well that you come for a fifth baby. By that time they come quite politely, and quickly too. You may be back in your husband’s arms before he notices you’re gone.”

“He already knows I’m here, of course.”

“A manner of speaking, dear. But come here,” she said confidentially, hooking an arm around Edris’s neck and leading her into a corner. “Tell me something – I haven’t heard a peep out of Cenwulf yet. Have you told him?”

'Have you told him?'

“Leila said I should wait until I felt the baby move.”

Matilda stopped to think. “Haven’t you yet?”

“I don’t know,” Edris said, and she felt herself blush.

“You poor baby, you don’t even know. I don’t suppose they told you about that in your convent, either. Did you ever feel something like butterflies inside? That is what Col – some women say it feels like, but I always thought it felt like baby mouse paws.”

'I always thought it felt like baby mouse paws.'

“Baby mouse paws,” Edris repeated, smiling.

“Baby mouse paws pattering around for only a moment. Just when you feel it, and you stop what you’re doing to pay attention, it stops. It is very frustrating, but in a few weeks you will only wish he would lie still. Did you feel anything like it?”

“I don’t know… I have been thinking every little thing I feel might be.”

“That mainly depends on what you had for dinner. I am certain you will feel it soon, if you haven’t already. But pay attention. Soon it won’t feel at all the same, and it would be a shame to miss it, especially for your first baby. I assure you it will be one of the happiest moments of your life.”

'I assure you it will be one of the happiest moments of your life.'

Edris nodded, but she could not remember now. She had felt so many different things! But she thought she might have felt…

“Look at you!” Matilda cooed, patting her cheek, and Edris realized she must have been smiling stupidly. “You look as happy as it’s possible to be already. You are happy, aren’t you Edris?” she asked abruptly, taking her hands with an odd look of concern.

“Ach!” Edris laughed nervously, blushing again. “As happy as it is possible to be.”

But for some reason, she suddenly wished she could be alone to cry.

She suddenly wished she could be alone to cry.