Leofric hadn’t found Sigefrith in his study nor in the room where Maud had been sleeping in the last weeks, and he was beginning to run out of places to look. He thought he would take a walk to the kitchens, where, if he did not find Sigefrith, he might at least find a mug of ale.
But the door at the end of the passage opened before he reached it, and he paused, wondering whether it might not be the man himself.
It was his wife.
He had seen her many times around the castle in the past days, but it was the first time they had met alone.
“Well, now,” he smiled.
She had stopped and stood a safe distance from him. Her cheeks were already flushed red.
“If you are looking for your dear Sigefrith,” he said, strolling up to her, “I can inform you that he is not in his study.”
“I – I wasn’t,” she said.
“Liar.”
“How dare you?”
“What else would you be doing here?”
He was not surprised to see that she did not have an answer.
“Leave that poor man alone, Eadgith,” he warned. “He doesn’t need your scrawny self hanging from his neck just now.”
“How dare you?” she huffed.
“I’m not blind,” he chuckled. “It must suit you very well to find him a widower, no?”
“You – you – ”
He laughed. “Go ahead and say it. I don’t mind. Now all you need to do is wait for me to die, and the way is clear.”
“I wish you would!”
“I appreciate – and return – the sentiment, my dear.”
“I hate you!”
“Likewise.”
“I should like to know why you may take a second wife and I may not take a second husband!”
“Because you are only a woman, and deserve not even the one you have.”
“What is this – this purgatory into which you have thrust me?” she cried. “Why, why did you not die as you were supposed to have? I must be unhappy all the rest of my life, so long as you live!”
“Be happy in that you have turned my eldest son against me,” he growled. “You have had your revenge, woman.”
“I did nothing! Sigefrith hates you because of what you are, while you have turned my daughter against me, and made her scorn me, and have her playing midwife to your harlot – ”
“Silence!” he roared. “Not a word about my wife or I shall break my promise to Sigefrith and beat some respect into you!”
“How dare you?” she squawked. “How dare you say such things to me, me, your lawful wife!”
“My wife! Don’t forget it, woman! You are still my wife, and if I find that you have laid a hand on your beloved Sigefrith, or he on you, then, by God, I shall – ”
“You will do what?” Sigefrith thundered from the doorway.
“Oh, God,” Leofric whispered, mortified.
“Sigefrith!” Eadgith wailed.
“Neither of you shall have the opportunity to lay a hand on me! Get away from me, both of you! Go home, and may you rot there before I call you back to me!”
“Listen, runt,” Leofric began. He didn’t know what he could say, but it didn’t matter, for Sigefrith did not intend to give him the opportunity.
“Go home, and God help you if I see either of you again!” he shouted, and then he walked past them to the stairs and was gone.
Eadgith was sobbing into her hands. Leofric had never hated her more. He hated her too much to shout at her, too much to strike her. He merely walked past her to the door and was gone.
At that point in my writing career (over four years ago now) I am not sure it was deserved.
Chapters
Just what a man needs to hear as his wife just died, two of his closest friends arguing over who should marry him next...