Sigefrith and Maud

Sigefrith sent for the Countess the first thing the next morning.

“I did it!” he told her. “I did exactly what you said. Or something like it, anyway. I told her that since she doesn’t want to be around me, I was going to send her to a convent.”

Colburga nodded. “What did she say?”

“I – I don’t know. Not much. She seemed surprised.”

“Unhappy?”

“I don’t know. I – hope so. I think she even tried to come to bed with me last night.”

Colburga lifted her eyebrows. “And?”

“And I … I suppose I frightened her off. I pretended not to notice her nightdress and told her that the Earl would arrange things with her in the morning. Did I do the right thing?”

“You have more self-​​discipline than I expected.”

“Was it wrong?”

“Let’s hope not.”

But Sigefrith wanted to know what to do next.

“I can’t tell you that, Sigefrith. When you go and see her, I think that one of two things will happen. Either she will cast herself at your feet and beg you to keep her here, or she will not. If she does not, it will be her pride that prevents her. I do believe that girl would condemn herself to a lifetime in a convent for the sake of her pride, so if she tries that, you mustn’t let her.”

“But how do I stop her?”

Colburga shook her head. “Only you know that.”

“Or I do not.”

“Or you do not.”

Sigefrith went down to the kitchens to wait for Maud when she would come down for her breakfast, but he found her already there.

“Sigefrith.”

“The Earl is still out visiting the fields,” he said.

Her lower lip trembled. He didn’t know how he was supposed to resist kissing it.

“Have you come to say goodbye?” she finally asked.

“Are you leaving then?”

“Only if you want me to,” she said, her eyes finally brimming over with tears.

He felt such a wave of relief that he could only laugh. “Weren’t you the one who wanted to run away to a peasant’s hut a few nights ago?”

“I won’t run away any more,” she promised solemnly, shaking her head and sniffling.

It was too much. She really was like a child in a way. He pulled her into his arms and kissed the tip of her nose. “Even if you did, I would just fetch you back and put you to bed without your supper.”