Sigefrith has some advice for Malcolm

“Good morning, Baby,” Malcolm said cheerily, hoping to evoke a similar sentiment in his cousin.

“Good morning, Malcolm,” she replied with a sweet smile, but wearily, as always, and did not rise.

“I can stay but a moment now, but I shall have the afternoon,” he said. “If you would like to see me, that is.”

“Oh, I would!” she said.

“You would?” he asked, surprised at her enthusiasm. Though she often agreed to see him, she rarely seemed to care. Heartened, he said, “You know, it’s the first day of spring today, and I believe I know where there are flowers to be had. However,” he said thoughtfully, as if to himself, “I remember the gratitude with which my flowers were received last year, and so I wonder now whether I shall risk it…”

“Oh, won’t you take me?” she asked breathlessly, jumping up to stand before him.

“Take you?” he laughed. “I suppose you will want to pick them yourself, as well?”

“Good morning, Iylaine,” the King said as he came in with the Duke.

Iylaine curtseyed prettily, but her eyes scarcely left Malcolm’s face.

“I knew I should find you here,” Sigefrith said to him. “Let’s get on with us. Cenwulf is fit to be tied.”

“Aye, I know it. Good day, Baby. I shall see you this afternoon.”

“Oh, you will?” the King asked him as they went out.

“I thought I might have the afternoon?”

“You may, but I am surprised you wish to spend it with a young lady. Malcolm, I wonder whether you are not attempting to make yourself eligible for promotion to the rank of squire…”

“Oh, not that again,” Malcolm growled. “She’s only my cousin.”

“Eadgith is only mine!” Sigefrith laughed.

“Aye, but Baby is only ten years old!”

“Two years younger than yourself, while Eadgith is twenty years younger than I, God help me!”

“That’s different, though. She’s a young woman, at least. My cousin Baby is still a little girl.”

“That’s true. But if I were you, I would make myself certain of her before too long. She is in a fair way to becoming the prettiest young woman in the valley.”

“Have you finished?”

“Almost. Only one more word of advice. From what I know of her, Iylaine is a jealous and hot-​​tempered little thing, and Brede’s sister Synne is a pretty one, though a bit snappish as well, at least when I knew her. You will, no doubt, soon be too much of a fool to heed my warning, but I shall make it all the same: Keep those two apart!”