Gunnilda is informed

The girl was staring up at her with an air of self-​​important expectation.

“Colburga and Wynna aren’t here right now,” Gunnilda said weakly.

“I know that, Mistress Ashdown,” the girl said with a little bounce that was apparently meant to be a curtsey. “It’s you I came to see.”

“Me? Well, please come inside and have a seat.”

Living at the crossroads, Gunnilda was accustomed to letting strangers into her house to wait out rainstorms, but the day was bright and fair.

“May I offer you a cup of milk and some cake? Just let me put this boy down and I’ll take your cloak…”

“No, thank you,” the girl said. “I can only stay a minute. I just want to have a word with you, Mistress Ashdown.”

“Well, all right,” Gunnilda said dazedly. “Are you a friend of Wynnie’s?”

“That’s right. I’m Wynna’s friend, but we haven’t been close lately, and… Mistress Ashdown, I just want to tell you that I’m a little worried about her.”

“Worried about Wynnie?”

“That’s right. You see, Wynnie’s changed a lot lately. She always used to be so nice and friendly, but lately she’s been kind of shy and secretive. And, Mistress Ashdown, I’m sorry to have tell you this, but I know for a fact that Wynnie spent Saint Bartholomew’s night with Anson and not at Osgyth’s house.”

“Saint…”

“I don’t know where they slept, but they went away together and didn’t come back that night.”

Gunnilda felt a rising nausea such as she had not felt since the early weeks of her pregnancy.

“And, I don’t know what they’ve done since then, but I find her changed lately, and I know she’s been seeing Anson. And I keep thinking: ‘Wynnie, you have got to have a talk with your mother,’ but I don’t know how to get through to her. So, Mistress Ashdown, I hope you will have a talk with her. I’m afraid if she’s not careful she’s liable to get herself into trouble.”

“Trouble…” It was that dread word, almost more feared among young women and their mothers than Death itself.

“And I hope you won’t say anything about this talk, Mistress Ashdown. I know she won’t ever forgive me if she knows I told you. But I hope you will talk to her and I hope you will be able to put her back on the right path.”

Gunnilda did not know what to say. She hoped her horror was not apparent on her face. She wanted to get this girl out of her house and then go think a while before Wynna came home… cry a while perhaps…

“Well, I don’t know,” she murmured, “but I guess I have to thank you for telling me about all this.”

“You don’t have to thank me, Mistress Ashdown. I’m just trying to help my friend.”