Githa has news for the Earl

Githa smiled at the Earl smiling at his little boy. She wondered whether he ever smiled at other times.

She had heard from the servants’ gossip that things at the castle had remained unchanged since the Countess had died. Her bedroom had not been opened since her body had been carried out of it, and the children’s rooms remained locked up as well.

The Earl only went between the kitchen and his study, where he had a bed placed, and none of the servants knew what he did in there every evening, alone for the hours following supper. Sometimes he even ate there, and then? Who knew?

But it was time for things to change. “I guess you’re just that fond of your little boy, aren’t you?” she asked.

“Words cannot express,” he said quietly.

“Well, I wonder how you can bear to be without him all the day. I believe he misses you, you know.”

“Do you miss me?” he asked the baby.

“He knows who loves him! He has to share me and Ethelmund between Brandt and the girls, but he knows his Papa has eyes only for him. He does cry for you when you go, sometimes.”

“As do I, sometimes.”

“Well, why don’t you take him home with you then?”

“Home with me?” he asked, startled. “How could I?”

“He’s just about weaned, or he better be. It’s hard to wean Brandt when he sees that Baldwin still gets to nurse. Besides, I hate it that you’re the first person I tell – and don’t tell Ethelmund till I’m sure – but I believe I shall be having another one in a while, and there’s nothing more exhausting than nursing a baby when you have another one on the way.”

“I am pleased to be the first to congratulate you, Githa, in any event. Is my son truly a burden?”

“Oh! I wouldn’t say that. He’s my own darling, that he is. But if I know Ethelmund, he’s likely to be jealous of Baldwin once he learns that I’m expecting another. We’ve had a hard time, you know, with that. I’ve lost more babies than I’ve borne.”

“I wasn’t aware.”

“Well, that’s why I don’t like to tell anyone so soon, but it’s a bit different this time, because of Baldwin. If anything happens, I don’t want Ethelmund to think that it’s because of him. It wouldn’t be – but he might think it, and that would be hard on his lordship, because he is fond of Ethelmund.”

“Oh, Githa – I had no idea,” the Earl said awkwardly. “What shall I do?”

“Well, I’m not so cruel as to wean him overnight. And I haven’t told Ethelmund yet. But I guess it’s about time for you to start thinking about getting a room ready for him, and finding a nurse for him, and what all. If I were you I would put him in my own bedroom, because he knows you and loves you. But I’m just saying. You do what you think is best.”

Cenwulf bounced the baby, looking rather miserable, Githa thought. But so it would have to be. Of course he loved his boy – he was surely thinking that he would have to open Colburga’s bedroom again, with all that meant. But so it would have to be.

“Now, you don’t have to go home and do it right now. Simply think about it. I declare, with the way men are, you wouldn’t have thought of it yourself until the boy was taller than you are. But luckily you have the women to keep things running the way they should.”

“I can never thank you enough, Githa,” he murmured.

“Oh! It’s an honor and a pleasure, that’s what. But just you think about what I said.”

“I shall.”