Egelric wakes

Alred wiped his quill and shoved the scrap of parchment aside.

“Now that we have the tedious business out of the way,” he said, “let’s have a nice gossip like a couple of old biddies.”

Egelric smiled indulgently. He supposed he knew where the conversation would start.

“Have you heard our man Sigefrith the Younger is getting married?”

“You’ve forgotten I’m not living out in my little cottage any longer,” Egelric chuckled. “I have a household full of gossipy servants, and a lady who filters the news up to me – though I admit that I too have a hard time believing it. The household and the lady, I mean. I can believe the story about Sigefrith.”

“Damn. I suppose I truly am the last to know. I was hoping to have the opportunity to tell you. You’ll see – I shall receive a letter from Yware later this afternoon asking me to congratulate Sigefrith for him.”

“I think the spread of even gossip is stopped at the sea’s edge.”

“Can I at least tell you who the girl is?”

“I already know her.”

“You do?” Alred whined. “Have you met her?”

“I have indeed had that good fortune. I knew her father, and by ‘knew’ I mean I busted his face once. But she’s a pretty little girl, and by ‘pretty’ I mean pretty, and by ‘little’ I mean little.”

“Damn! I have only met her sister. But that was an experience. ‘So you’re the Duke!’ says she. ‘I know all of your songs.’ And looks me in the eye, which she can just about do, because she isn’t very tall herself.”

“Her elder sister is smaller.”

“Well! She must be exquisite. But I like the younger sister already and hope she is often invited to visit at Sigefrith’s. Saucy little thing, and by ‘saucy’ I mean I should like to eat her with a spoon.”

“Caught your eye, did she?” Egelric grinned.

“With both hands. She likes to be called Mouse.”

“I know.”

“Jupiter! Is there anything you don’t know about that family?”

“I told you I knew their father, and by ‘knew’ I mean I ‘knew’ his first sweetheart.”

“Not the girl’s mother, I hope.”

“She was his second. And too fine a lady for the likes of me,” Egelric said, bowing humbly from the couch. “I have never posed a danger to ladies.”

This was no longer entirely true, but he had been saying it for so long that the words were out of his mouth before he considered them.

Alred did not seem to want to contradict them, but he had obviously had the same thought as Egelric, for he asked suddenly, “How is your expanding family these days? I should get out to see everyone before Bruni is walking and Wulf is getting married.”

“Bruni isn’t even smiling yet, and Wulf is far more interested in puppies than girls. So I hope you will come before then. The ladies will wonder where you are hiding. Or why.”

“I don’t wish to make a pest of myself.”

“I hope you don’t think we find you to be.”

“No. But I don’t think you are sighing over the lack of me, either. Your household seems rather complete out there.”

“What do you mean?” Egelric asked, growing uneasy. His lord’s voice had a hard edge to it, and he did not seem to be joking. If he were, he did not seem to intend to be funny.

“I only think that with Lady Lili to make you laugh,” Alred said, “you don’t need me any longer.”

“And who will make Lili laugh?”

“Ah! but she should have thought of that before.”

“I hope you will come,” Egelric said weakly. “One can never have too much laughter.”

“I disagree. But I shall come, if it would please you. And how is Lady Hedwige?” he asked, suddenly gentle.

“I suppose she could be worse. She has her baby to distract her. It is difficult for me to judge how much women love husbands they are forced to marry. It is not something we farmers often experience.”

“I suppose love blooms more readily than you realize, Egelric. Wherever its seed is sown, there oftentimes will it grow. Unless it fall on a rock,” he murmured almost to himself, “and have no root, and for a while love, and in time of temptation fall away.”

Egelric smoothed his tunic across his lap and tried to understand. Was it meant to be a criticism of him? or of whom?

“I think she was fond of him,” he said slowly, “but they had not been married long. And I think some of her fondness may have based on having a man to care for her and provide for her.”

“That is very important to a woman, Egelric, and I hope you will not think less of her for it.”

“I do not. I only think less of Sir Friedrich for taking her into danger and failing her as he did.”

“But in that case she should be fond of you.”

“I suppose she is. But not in that way.”

“I should hope not,” Alred said dryly. “That would be a little too much luck for one man.”

“I think it is anyway,” Egelric said, trying to sound as humble as he often felt. “I still can’t believe what I’m doing when I ride up into the hills and head towards the castle rather than to my little cottage in the pines, or even my old shack. And I can’t believe it when the men bow to me and call me sir, and when Ethelwyn asks for my orders as if he has no other lord than me, and when I come into the hall and see Lili at her harp, and her sister, and the children, and… I tell you,” he smiled helplessly, “sometimes I think that it all must be a dream.”

Alred did not reply, but he pushed back his chair and stood. He walked around his table and into the room, and Egelric expected him to go for a book, for he often knew the very page where a certain quote or parable could be found, even if he could not remember the exact words.

Instead he stopped before Egelric and drew back his hand. And Egelric, who had indeed busted a good many faces in his time and had rarely allowed his own face to be so used, was too stupefied to defend himself when his lord slapped him across the cheek.

“Did you feel that?” Alred asked. His voice was tight from the strain, Egelric thought, of preventing himself from hitting his knight again. And again.

“…Aye.”

“Then you’re not dreaming.”

They stared at one another for a moment, and Egelric’s eyes were truly humble now.

Alred seemed to have more to say, and his lips seemed to tremble with their desire to say it. In the end he only choked out, “Excuse me,” and turned on his heel and left.

Egelric sat for a while after he had gone and held his stinging cheek in his hand, awake at last.