Egelric has plans

“You have requested an audience?” Alred asked grandly. “My ears are at your disposal.”

“I shall only require one of them, but I thank you for your generosity,” Egelric bowed, grinning.

That smile had only recently made a reappearance, and Alred had not realized how he had missed it until its return. He still couldn’t stomach Malcolm, but he had to admit that the man must have had some good qualities if he could work such a transformation on his cousin. He felt he ought to thank him for returning his old friend to him, for he certainly needed one now.

“I should like to know which barrel you tapped lately, old man. I could use a drink of whatever you’ve been taking.”

“I’m not certain it would agree with you,” he said thoughtfully.

“If it’s your upcoming journey to your ancestral home, then I suppose I must agree, at least as far as the food is concerned.”

Egelric laughed, “Oh, that,” as if he had forgotten. “You’re welcome to come. You can always bring Cook if you fear you will miss your ‘good English cooking’, as His Majesty quaintly calls it.”

Alred did not care to leave Matilda, nor did he like the thought of a long journey with Malcolm, but he did not like to mention either, so he made a joke instead. “‘Ironically calls it’ you mean, at least when he is talking about Cook’s cooking.”

“Puts hair on your chest – that’s what I tell the boys.”

“They must believe she was your childhood nurse, to look at your chest now.”

“They must believe she was my childhood mother, to look at the beard on her!” he laughed.

“She must eat her own cooking. Perhaps it also serves to put hair on one’s chin.”

“I don’t know. Have you ever seen her chest?”

“That I have not!” Alred shuddered. “Don’t tell me you have?”

“Good God, for what do you take me?”

“I suppose you are a bit more discriminating than that.”

“A bit,” he said dryly.

“But surely you did not come here this morning to discuss the ravishing features of my favorite Gorgon?”

“Not at all. I wanted to ask you what are your plans for me.”

“Sigefrith finished with you?”

“He could keep me busy with building until I’m so old they have to wheel me about in a barrow. But I have lately recalled that I am your man, and I believe your agreement was that he would have me until the wedding.”

“That is correct, although I have said nothing thus far because I intended to let you amuse yourself with your cousins. I don’t know whether you realize what a difference these last few weeks have made in you.”

“I feel it.”

“Originally I had thought to send you off with Colban, giving him the instruction to keep you until you were a man again, and not the snarling wolf you have been lately. But you’re looking more like a lapdog every day.”

“I shan’t even need the trip, if you can’t spare me.”

“Are you serious? Go, by all means. Anyway, Sigefrith wanted you to go so that Cubby would have a familiar face around until he was settled.”

“He will have young Malcolm.”

“It isn’t the same as a man.”

Egelric shrugged. “I shall go, with pleasure. But what will you have me do afterwards?”

“I don’t know, Egelric. I hesitate to ask, but I wonder whether you feel up to the task of building another castle.”

“On the other side of the lake?” Egelric asked, sitting forward in his chair, almost eager-​​looking.

“Precisely.”

“I thought you might ask me that. I wanted to know whether I might be permitted to build a small house by the lake, for the time I am there.”

“A house! So you did get tired of living in a shack without so much as a fire.”

“It’s on the wrong shore anyway.”

“I don’t know whether I shall permit you,” Alred said thoughtfully.

“I shan’t – I mean – I shan’t use it to do anything I wouldn’t have done here.”

“What did you not do here, Egelric?”

“Well…” he said sheepishly.

“All I know is that you have never threatened the old-​​maidenhood of my hirsute cook. And it may be a shame, as it might have made her a little more congenial if you had.”

Egelric laughed. “I swear I shall behave. I was thinking of taking my daughter with me.”

“Oh! That’s different. But won’t that be a little hard on her? It will be a ride of three quarters of an hour for young Bertie, and at least half an hour for Malcolm on his Pegasus.”

“You’re already thinking of how the boys will manage to come courting?”

“Not quite, but they are the best friends she has. She doesn’t have much use for girls. Which brings up another point – what will she do without a lady at hand? You know she’s getting close to that age…”

“Perhaps I shall find one…” Egelric said modestly.

Alred slapped his palm on the table and crowed, “That would have been a blush on anyone less swarthy than you!”

Egelric grinned.

“Jupiter! I was thinking I had Magog to thank for your sudden exuberance. You’re in love – admit it!”

“I am beginning to think I am.”

“Who is she? Do I know her?”

“You do not.”

“Shall I like her?”

“I think you will, very much. She likes nothing better than to laugh. She makes me laugh until it hurts.”

“In that case, I shall adore her. But you had better make certain of her before you ever introduce her to me, if laughing is her favorite pastime.”

“Agreed.”

“So, Egelric, that changes everything…” Alred said and rubbed his nose thoughtfully. “You may build your little house if you like, but I suppose I had better tell you of my plans for you before you make too many of your own. I had meant to put you in the keep you’re about to build. Sigefrith means to knight you.”

“Oh…”

“You knew he would do it, once he had tamed you.”

“Has he?”

“No, but perhaps your lady will. Is she ladylike, at least?”

“Ladylike?” Egelric considered the question, grinning foolishly all the while.

“Never mind! You’re hopeless.”

“She isn’t vulgar,” he said thoughtfully. “Nor common. She is quite unusual.”

“Not one of your usual crowd of beauties?”

“Certainly not!”

“Hmm! Now I am eager to meet her. So build your house, Egelric. Get Aylmer started on it while you’re away – if you can indeed tear yourself away to visit your cousins. But tell yourself that it shall belong to one of your tenants in a year or two.”

“I shall, and I shall even attempt to believe it.”

“You don’t even care, do you? I could tell you that Sigefrith means to make you archbishop, and you would still sit there grinning at me like a looby. I shall tell him to strike while the iron is hot, in that case. But it does me good to see you happy.”