Iylaine goes back out into the cold

Iylaine braced herself against the stinging cold and ran up the hill to the house.

She had not wanted to take a fine cloak into the cobwebs of the cheese house, and she had no other sort. She had shivered as she turned the cheeses, but it was so much worse out in the February wind. How she hated the cold! How she hated chores!

In recent years, her time at Gunnilda’s house had always been spent as a guest, but now, as the weeks passed and the Duke did not call her back to the castle, her position was becoming less clear. And then Wynna and her friends had begun addressing her as “my lady,” fawning and snickering over her, and asking her what they could do for her ladyship next…

Finally her pride had won out. It was such that she would rather do chores than admit that she was too proud to do chores. But it had hurt when Gunnilda had seemed to find this new state of affairs as the most natural thing, and did not thank her for it, nor even comment on it. She could have at least praised her for offering to help!

She was so annoyed over this slight and so eager to get back to the fireside that she did not notice the giggling of Wynna and her friends in the kitchen until she had already come tearing down the hall from the back door and had nearly crashed into Colburga.

“Why! If it isn’t Baby!” Osgyth cried.

How she hated Osgyth, and her red hair!

“Hallo, Baby!” Wynna laughed. “Aren’t your cheeks pink!”

“I suppose someone’s been pinching them again!” Osgyth smiled.

“Or kissing them!” Colburga added.

“I was out in the cheese house, and it was cold,” Iylaine muttered and pushed past them to the fireside.

“I’m sure you were – but with whom?” Osgyth asked.

“Watch out, Gyth,” Colburga said. “What if it was with Bertie?”

“I was alone!” Iylaine growled.

“Well, we know it wasn’t with Cousin Malcolm,” Osgyth said. “We saw him at the market with Murchad. And all the girls,” she added with a giggle. “I hope you’re not jealous, Baby.”

“I am not jealous. Malcolm is my cousin. That is all.”

“Yes, but we know what cousin means to you,” Colburga cooed.

“What?” Wynna asked.

“‘Cousin’ means ‘boy that her father lets her run around alone with.’”

“She must have a big family, then,” Osgyth said.

“Starting with Bertie!” Colburga laughed.

Wynna and Osgyth both glared at her. Iylaine only set her teeth and glared at the fire.

“My brother doesn’t run around with her unless my Da or the Duke makes him,” Wynna said. “Anyway, you shut up and leave her alone. Why do you think they call her Baby? It’s because she is one. I’m sure she doesn’t even know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, doesn’t she?” Colburga cried. “I’m sure one of the boys would be happy to show her, if she doesn’t.”

“She should ask her cousin to remind her, you mean,” Osgyth said.

“Or Bertie,” Colburga added maliciously.

“I don’t think Bertie would care to show her,” Osgyth said.

“Oh, wouldn’t he?” Colburga cried. “We shall simply wait nine months and see what color baby comes out, then: blond or dark.”

“Colburga!” Wynna gasped.

“Don’t act so innocent, Wynn!” Colburga laughed. “What did you think we were talking about? Showing her how to make cheese in the cheese house?”

“Oh, shut up, Colburga,” Wynna grumbled. “You don’t know what you’re talking about either. Anyway, Baby hasn’t even had her lady days yet, have you, Baby?”

“And?” Colburga said. “You can get a baby even if you haven’t.”

“No you can’t!” Wynna cried. “My Ma said.”

“And my mother said you could.”

Osgyth sniffed. “Your mother only told you that because she didn’t want you to think that as long as you haven’t had yours, you could – you could – go make cheese in the cheese house like Baby!” She and Colburga broke out into giggles.

“Well, Gyth,” Wynna said, “you already had yours anyway, so no cheese for you!”

“Certainly,” Colburga laughed, “now that I know what Baby has been doing out in the cheese house, I don’t believe I shall be eating cheese at your place any more, Wynn!”

“You needn’t starve if you don’t mind making your own,” Osgyth laughed and nudged her cousin.

“Shut up!” Iylaine shrieked. “Shut up! Shut up! You’re all so – so – so vile! I never had – ” She found she could not even say the words, so abhorrent did she find the whole matter.

“Never had cheese?” Osgyth laughed. “Come now, Baby!”

“And all this time,” Wynna sneered, “I thought her ladyship only wanted to turn the cheese because it was an easy chore and she could leave the hard work to me!”

How she hated them all! But there was one thing she could do here that she could never do at the castle. She could go alone into the woods. She could be alone.

She snatched her fine cloak from the peg and went out into the stinging cold.