Alred sees the last man he expected

Egelric lifted his cup to his lord’s, but he was not particularly in the mood for celebrating. It was true they had accomplished much that afternoon. Last night he had had an inspiration that would allow them to solve the problems with the foundation of the new castle in the hills above the lake, and once that was out of the way, they had made progress on planning what would go above. But this meant that he would soon need to be out at the site every day, overseeing the realization of their plans.

For a while he had considered taking Baby with him. She was a little older now, and quieter somehow. He thought he might be able to keep an eye on her while he worked. But Gunnilda had knit her little brows at the idea – “I don’t like that kind of women what hangs around a camp where only men are.” He hadn’t thought of that. These women were of a slovenly sort, and he did not even care to look at them, but he doubted Baby had developed a distaste for them, having never been exposed to them.

So she would stay behind. He and Gunnilda had decided to let her stay on at Nothelm, for she preferred to play with the boys these days, when she played at all. He had privately asked both Bertie and Malcolm to look after her – secretly of course – and both had been sufficiently flushed with self-​​importance at the request that he did not doubt they would serve her faithfully.

But it was hard indeed to leave his daughter in the charge of two nine-​​year-​​old boys and an ever more distracted Duke.

Alred joked as much as ever, if not more, but he was not his carefree, foolhardy self. Every time he laughed, he seemed to be laughing a challenge in the face of fate. And he had taken up the King’s habit of trying to drink himself into forgetting, though Egelric did doubt he managed it.

“I wish they wouldn’t light the torches so long before they even think to set the tables,” Alred snapped suddenly. “Don’t you think it’s too hot in here?”

“It is rather stuffy,” Egelric agreed. He knew he was worried about Matilda. She was not taking the heat well this summer.

“I shan’t have it. By God, we shall eat in the dark if we must. Anyway, I believe I shall find it easier to choke down Cook’s slop if I don’t have to look at it.” He turned as if he meant to go find a servant, but one presented himself at that instant.

Alred blinked at him as the man began anxiously, “Your Grace, here is Lord Co – ”

But he was interrupted when a broad hand appeared from behind the arch and pulled him away like a puppet. “Never you mind, missy,” a voice growled.

Now it was Egelric who blinked in astonishment as his cousin Colban appeared in the man’s place.

“Jupiter!” Alred breathed. “The last man I thought to see.”

“My brother!” Colban beamed at Egelric.

Egelric grinned foolishly back at him. Even Alred managed a smile.

“I come to thank you, brother,” Colban said sarcastically, “for hiding away here, that I must take my own life into my hands and go directly to the King. I see he is no wiser than he was a year before.”

“He didn’t slay you on sight, you mean?” Alred asked. “Didn’t wonder whether he had other, more painful plans for you?”

“Does he?”

“No. He doesn’t know.”

“He seemed well.”

“Better than he was last year. Won’t you have a cup of wine with us before supper, Gog?”

“I shall and I thank you, but I was warned no to accept any invitation to dine.”

“Then that is firm proof that Sigefrith doesn’t know. Otherwise you might have been sure that he meant to poison you by sending you to eat here.”

“Why do you no replace the woman?” Colban chuckled.

“I never throw away an opportunity to make a joke,” Alred said, pouring another cup, “and that woman is a fountain of mirth, in spite of herself, and despite her forbidding appearance.”

The three lifted their cups, and Colban asked, “What were you two rascals celebrating already so early in the evening?”

“I celebrate anything and everything these days,” Alred said expansively. “But if you would like a reason, we might drink to my beloved wife, who is presently expecting another little lordship or ladyship.”

“That will do well. We shall drink to your wife.”

“It wasn’t what I had planned,” Alred sighed, “but I suppose it is my fault.”

“I hope it is!” Colban laughed.

“I mean I got tired of her begging me for another brat, so I told her to beg the Lord God instead. And wouldn’t you know, she did? So I suppose I have you to thank, don’t I?” he asked Colban, feigning anger.

Colban roared. “It is no the first time a man has blamed me for his wife’s baby, but it is the first time he has thanked me for it!”

“So it is a tradition in your family, then, this sort of thing?”

“Ach, no. Every time so far I have been mistaken for another man. And this time as well, you old blasphemer.”

Alred laughed with him a moment, and then sighed. “Let’s sit a while, gentlemen. I suppose you haven’t come to me merely to say good evening.” He moved their pens and parchments and ink aside and the three sat at the table, where one of Alred’s favorite green glass lamps still burned.

Colban scratched his head. “I come to tell your King that he may now send his most flattering curses to my cousin Aed and no King William, for your fair valley finds itself again in Scotland, as it was an hundred years ago, and long shall be, I hope.”

“What?” Alred and Egelric cried together.

Colban laughed. “It is a gift to the King of Scots as thanks for no treating with the King of Danes. But I do no doubt the wily William means to let Malcolm have the bother of you and your den of rebels.”

“If he knows we are here.”

“We are far from London, and William is farther still, but I should rather no risk believing he knows less than he does.”

“Are you trying to tell me something, Gog?” Alred asked.

“No. You English underestimate William. That is all.”

“Time and again,” Alred sighed.

“What about Aed?” Egelric asked.

“The sons of black Colin shall have the loyalty of you now,” Colban said with evident satisfaction.

“Sigefrith will recognize none above him but an English king,” Alred warned.

“Sigefrith thinks like an Englishman. He and Aed shall be brothers. Aed loves him better than his own King, for Malcolm had his father killed.”

“What does this mean, Egelric?” Alred asked warily.

Egelric’s eyes went wide. “I am but a simple farmer.”

Alred snorted.

“I hope we may discuss what this means with my brother Sigefrith,” Colban said. “But I have come to speak of my godson, and if I do no mistake, I hear supper will soon come, and I do no wish to be trapped here for it.”

Alred looked too irritated to make a joke. “Have you seen him?”

“The boy? No.”

“He is the image of his father, with lighter hair, though Matilda tells me even that will soon change. Matilda knows, by the way. She guessed.”

“She guessed it was I!” Egelric protested.

Colban laughed. “I warned you, cousin.”

“She knows now,” Alred said. “As does my little friend Gunnilda, who had to be told after Matilda told her it was Egelric.”

Egelric flushed and sat back in his chair.

“This is bad,” Colban said. “I do no trust the women, if they are at the guessing and the telling now.”

“Three more years to run,” Alred said. “I fear we shall never manage that long.”

“The devil take the man!” Colban growled. “I must tell Aed. I hope your king is wise enough to see there is a world behind his wife and children.”

“Sigefrith?” Alred said thoughtfully, and then sighed. “He would, but he would not be the same man. A bitter Sigefrith would not be Sigefrith. I believe we have already had a glimpse of that.”

“Aye. But he seems better now?”

“Maud has taken the example of the Queen of Scots and has become a model of piety, penance, and wifely duty. Sigefrith seems to appreciate it. I daresay he is not deep enough to wonder why.”

“This is good perhaps. If he sees her penitential before her crime is known…”

“Let us hope.”

Egelric looked up as three or four house servants came in and stood awkwardly clustered in the entrance at the sight of them. The other two turned to look, and Alred said, “And that will put an end to our conversation, gentlemen. But it has been so edifying that I should like to continue it on the way to the King’s castle. Think you can procure invitations to dine for us, Gog?”