Malcolm gains a new suspicion

Malcolm sat quietly next to Maire, neither having quite enough courage to address the other. Malcolm had not forgiven her for her betrayal of her husband and her family, but just then he wanted the safety of a countryman with whom he could suddenly launch into a conversation in Gaelic if a certain young girl came looking to bother him.

It also permitted him to do a favor for his cousin Aengus, who was thereby freed to leave his “wife” and speak with the others. Often it was Matilda who would claim a chair next to Maire’s, especially when she had been drinking. She didn’t seem to notice that Maire didn’t understand the half of what she was saying even when she wasn’t speaking nonsense, but Aengus assured him that Maire did at least appreciate the gesture.

Tonight, however, Matilda was nowhere to be seen.

Malcolm knew where she was. The only person he had found anywhere near the nursery was Matilda, who was sitting in the nursery itself. He had boldly let himself in on the pretense that he worried about the unattended candles, but she had scarcely listened to his explanation.

She had been sitting morosely in a chair without any of her children. She did not seem to be drunk, only unhappy. She had indeed seemed unhappy to him lately, but Matilda was a greater mystery to him than other women, at least whenever she began to act like a woman. Sitting morosely alone in a nursery seemed to be one of those times.

He could not imagine what Matilda could have done to upset Eadgith. She could be a bitch at times, and as vulgar as a man, so he supposed it must have been some sort of female spat that had turned into something ugly enough to shock innocent little Eadgith. He supposed that Sigefrith would have learned all about it by now.

Indeed, when Sigefrith came into the hall he seemed to be laughing a little to himself, so Malcolm assumed it was all right.

“May I borrow Malcolm for a moment, dear?” Sigefrith asked Maire in his gentlest voice once he had spotted Malcolm’s hiding place. Sigefrith was always gentle with Maire, especially since her little baby had died. Malcolm wondered whether he would be so kind if he knew… well, none of that was certain of course, and Malcolm knew better than to speak of suspicions…

“Well, Malcolm,” Sigefrith said once they had found a quiet place to talk, “it turns out that it was only the girl’s damned father being his usual self, only this time she saw him at it.”

“At what?” Malcolm blinked.

“You expect me to believe you so innocent! I mean she saw her father with a woman who was not his wife.”

“With a – with whom?”

“I don’t know,” Sigefrith chuckled. “I didn’t even ask. Some upstairs maid no doubt. Leofric isn’t particular.”

“Where?”

“In the nursery. Or – no, I don’t know. I don’t believe she said. But I assume it was the nursery. Did you learn anything?”

“Ah… no. Nothing at all. But if it is as you say, that is surely why. I don’t suppose he stayed behind to be caught in the act twice.”

“Even he isn’t so bold,” Sigefrith laughed. “The poor girl was horrified. I’m certain you can imagine what a shock that would be to a young maid – or perhaps not, O young potlicker. It is by no means clear to me what experience you have of young maids.”

Malcolm snorted.

“You suddenly seem to prefer them older. I haven’t seen you so friendly with Maire since she came.”

“I was only sitting next to her.”

“I’m surprised at you Malcolm. I’m still more surprised that your pink shadow is nowhere to be seen. I saw Brede come in with the girls.”

“Have you finished?”

“Not at all. I haven’t had so much fun with you since I taught you how to walk a rail fully armed.”

“With a pigsty on either side, I remember,” Malcolm grumbled.

“You learn quickly how not to fall in.”

“I must say that the comparison is apt.”

“Malcolm! Is a lovely lady such as my cousin Synne to be compared to a pigsty!”

“I wouldn’t say that, but I feel as if I’m walking a rail lately, with a girl on either side. Whatever I do, I fall in on one side or the other.”

“What? With Iylaine too? Damn, boy, I told you not to get those two mixed up!”

“It would help if you didn’t tell Synne where I was when I’m with my cousin!”

Sigefrith laughed. “I told you, I haven’t had so much fun with you in ages. We shall make a squire out of you yet!”