Sigefrith tells Eadgith of another letter
“Have you had a letter from Sigefrith?” Eadgith asked as soon as she sat down.
“No, I haven’t,” the King said, “but he had better be with Haakon as we speak or I am in debt to a Norseman, and my father will be turning in his grave.”
“It is my debt, not yours, Sigefrith.”
“It is Leofric’s, rather, but no matter. I trust the boy made it in time, and is even now enjoying the company of a squalling newborn, a petulant wifeling, and a raging father-in-law.”
“If only I knew!”
“I am certain we shall hear from him soon enough. It’s a long journey in the winter, and if we hear from Norsemen, I don’t doubt it will be through Ireland.”
“What did you wish to tell me, then?”
“Oh, of course. I did have a letter, but not from Sigefrith. It was from Leofric.”
“Oh.” She slumped in her chair. “Is he coming home?”
“Not directly. He wrote from Denmark last month after he got my letter. He was leaving at once to go back to Haakon. He meant to meet Sigefrith there.”
“What will Sigefrith say to that?”
“I don’t know, but I do hope they don’t meet alone. He was, however, determined to see his son married, although I suppose he won’t have made it there in time unless Ma – my messenger and Sigefrith traveled significantly more slowly than my letter.”
“Your messenger hasn’t returned home yet.”
“Hmm! That’s true. I wonder where he is. No matter. We shall hear from Sigefrith, Haakon, or Leofric soon enough, I’m certain. Leofric may at least be there to celebrate the birth of his first grandchild.”
“Oh, Sigefrith, you make me feel so old.”
“I do?” he laughed. “I do! Blame your son, not me!”
“You do enjoy reminding me that I shall soon be a grandmother.”
“I suppose you already are,” he smiled.
She only sighed. “Was there anything else in the letter?”
“No, it was quite short.”
“Did he mention me?”
“No.”
“Did he mention her?”
“He begged her forgiveness for being so long away,” he replied simply.
“You could have lied to me, Sigefrith.”
“Would you prefer I did?”
“I suppose not,” she said sullenly. “But he never begged my forgiveness for being so much longer away.”
“I’m sorry, Eadgith.” She opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off. “I know, I know. I am not the one who should be sorry. I know.”
“That’s right. What will you do when he returns, Sigefrith?”
“What shall I do?”
“What will you do? You know what he is now. Will you let him march back into the valley, reclaim his black wife and his black babies, and go merrily back to the castle you built for him?”
Sigefrith blinked. “What would you have me do, Eadgith?”
“What would I – I don’t know!” She stood and paced anxiously across the room. “Can you do nothing?”
“Calm yourself, Eadgith.”
“Calm myself? I should like to know why you are so calm! You know what he did to me.”
“I am terribly sorry for what he did to you,” he said, following her, “but he is your husband. Other than offer you, as your lord and your cousin, my protection, I believe I can do little more. Leofric too is your lord and your cousin.”
“Will you not even speak to him?”
“Certainly I shall speak to him. I shall beg him to allow you to go your own way. His castle is three hours from here. You might live comfortably here and see him very rarely.”
“May I stay with you, Sigefrith?”
“As you will. You might prefer a little house of your own, would you not? He does visit here.”
“With his lady,” she said sarcastically. “And you will receive them both.”
“I have made her a lady, if he has not. You need not meet her, but you will show her no disrespect.”
“How can you receive him here after what he has done to me?”
“Eadgith, he is my cousin, my knight, and one of my oldest friends. I do not condone what he did to you, but he is your husband. He has done nothing for which he does not have the right, although I am grieved that he should so abuse the rights he has.”
“You’re sorry, you’re grieved, but you won’t help me!”
“Help you do what, Eadgith? Tell me what you think I should do!”
“I don’t know! I simply cannot believe you will allow him to come back here and resume the life he led before we came.”
“I need him. I love him. He is the father I didn’t have, he is the older brother I didn’t have. I shall do all I can to convince him to leave you in peace, if that is what you desire, but I shall not send him away. I cannot banish or imprison a man simply because he does not behave as a gentleman with his wife! Help me, Eadgith. This is a very difficult situation for me. I love you both.”
“Oh!” she sobbed into her hands. “It is the first time a man has told me he loves me in ten years. I thought I should never hear the words again.”
Sigefrith shook his head sadly. He certainly could not assure her that she would. It was best if Leofric left her quite alone now, and yet as long as he lived, she belonged to him.
“Never mind!” she said with an odd laugh. “You think you can talk to him, but you shall see where talking gets you with Leofric. One of these days he will simply beat me to death, and then you shall be sorry!”
“Eadgith…”
“Or perhaps you will not be! You will simply be happy that you no longer need bother with me.”
“Eadgith!”
“A good day to you, my cousin and my lord!” she said and went out.
