The Lady Witburga

The Earl spent most of the days away helping the young king manage the affairs of his little kingdom, so Countess Colburga wasted no time making friends. She found the Duchess a little chilly, so she grew closest to the wives of the gentlemen, or as she called them, Scharfe Githa and Süße Githa. “Sweet” Githa was the ladylike wife of Theobald Selle – she never said much but somehow her smiling presence made everyone happy. “Sharp” Githa was none other than Githa Ashdown, who, in addition to her own saucy self, rarely failed in those days to bring Alwy Hogge along to provide the afternoon’s entertainment.

Of course, sometimes Githa could be pretty entertaining herself.

It hadn’t been all joy and laughter for the young nobles. In the fall of 1067, soon after moving into their castle, the Countess lost her first baby, born far too early to survive. Meanwhile the Queen chose her to be her confidante, and Colburga had to work to bring about a truce in that marriage while dealing with the strain on her own caused by the loss of the little heir.

But the new year brought new hope, and in the fall, another baby came to the castle. This one seemed to have the battle axe will of her mother, and apparently meant to stay. The Countess named her Witburga, after her own mother, and she had never been happier.