Alred has a question for Matilda

Matilda looked up from the fire with dreamy eyes. “What took you so long?”

“Oh, let’s see,” Alred sighed as he sat beside her. “First Margaret heard me and woke up and demanded Papa’s song. Then the young patriarch heard me through the door and wanted one too. Then I found Yware with his blankets on the floor, and when I tried to put them back on him, he woke up and demanded a story. Then I found Dunstan still up and reading, and we sat and talked of war in the time of Julius Caesar. I only wish I could interest him more in war circa now.”

“What about Gwynn?” she giggled.

“Gwynn has either eloped with a groom or is sleeping in Baby’s room. She’s not in her bed.”

“Oh, I don’t think you have to worry about the grooms just yet. But I don’t believe you woke any of those children accidentally.”

“Don’t you?” he asked.

“Oh, no. What a silly old doting paterfamilias you are, after all. You don’t have the least bit of gravitas, you know.”

“It would only be absurd on a man of my size.”

“I’m certain I never dreamed you would be like this when I married you.”

“Is that so? I wonder why. I’ve always been silly, and as for doting, you might have seen that in me where you were concerned.”

“That’s different.”

“I’m certain I am the one who has been most surprised. I never thought this warrior maiden I married would be the dear Mama you have turned out to be.”

“Even the mama bear is gentle with her cubs.”

Alred turned to her and pulled her onto his lap.

“Tell me something, mama bear,” he said, “as long as we are on the subject of cubs. I noticed this evening that Sigefrith had those tiny honey cakes you love so much, and given the state of his hives this year, I can only suppose that he had them made especially to please you. And furthermore I noticed that you didn’t eat a single blessed one. Now, what is a silly old papa bear supposed to conclude?”

“I suppose you have already guessed,” she said and hid her face in his shoulder.

He sighed and laid a hand on her head to hold it there.

“Can’t you be a little happy?” she whimpered.

“I shall be. When shall I be?”

“After the first of May.”

“That’s just as well. You won’t have to suffer through the summer.”

“No!” she agreed. “And I shall be able to attend Sigefrith’s wedding, and not terrify poor Eadgith with the state of my belly.”

“Well, that’s certainly the most important thing.”

“And you and I shan’t need to be careful for a while now,” she said, tracing over his chest with her finger.

“A lot of good it does us to be careful!” he sighed.