Githa gives her advice

“Oh, Matilda,” Githa sighed happily and folded her hands over her broad belly. “I am so happy you could come and visit. I have friends here, of course, but it’s not the same as my old friends that I made when I was a bride.”

“We weren’t always friends,” Matilda reminded her.

“That’s true,” Githa giggled. “But that all seems so silly now, doesn’t it? We were such children then. Such a little thing it was, but it seemed dreadfully grave to us then! Theobald broke your husband’s nose!” she laughed. “But he would probably do it again, under the same circumstances. The men never grow up, do they?”

“No, but Alred and Theobald are friends now.”

“That’s another thing about men, but it’s one I like. They have their fights and they pound on each other, but afterwards they feel better and are just as good friends as ever. We women are much nastier with one another, aren’t we? You and Maud were enemies for ever so long.”

Matilda sighed.

“Poor dear. But I’m certain she’s at ease now. And she has her little baby, that she missed so. I think that’s why she did it. After I lost Athelis, I thought that I could do the same thing. If I had been only a little troubled in my mind beforehand, I think I would have. Thank God I had Theobald,” she sighed. “That is not to say I think that Sigefrith did not do all he ought. Maud was already unwell before Harold died. And I was looking forward to little Fenric at the time,” she added, with a pat to her belly. “It’s the best thing to keep you in the present and not lost in the past.”

“How old are you, Githa?” Matilda asked suddenly.

“Let’s see… thirty-​​six now.”

“You are older than I.”

“Oh, that explains why you’re so much prettier than I!” Githa laughed.

Matilda did not laugh. “Doesn’t thirty-​​six begin to get rather old for having children?”

“Oh, nonsense! I don’t expect this one will be my last.”

“Aren’t you afraid…?”

“Of what? Surely not by now!”

“But I mean… Mother Duna says that when you get older, they don’t always make it…”

“Oh, that! I don’t know. My Elfrida said it depends more on the woman than the age. Some women lose more than they bear all their lives, like poor Githa Ashdown, and some have babies quite regularly every two years and never lose one, like my cook. I don’t think it matters. Surely you don’t think you’re too old! Only look at Cynewulf!”

“But he’s two already.”

“So it’s time for you to have another one, I say. If you like, that is. You need to have another girl to even out the family. I hope you won’t be discouraged because of the baby you lost last year. That happens to everyone.”

“To you?”

“Of course. Twice already.”

“I didn’t know.”

“It happens to everyone. If you ask around, you will find it’s true. Why do you suppose we don’t usually speak of it until it quickens? Oh, poor dear! I forget you didn’t have a mother to teach you such things. Well, in any event, we certainly aren’t too old, you and I, though one does get tired so much more easily these days. But I suppose that could be due to having all of these children already. When you have your first baby, you only have your husband to worry about. But then again, new husbands tend to be quite demanding as well!” she laughed. “But that’s something you don’t want to lose. Do you know what we do?” she asked confidingly. “I think that’s how we got this one! When Theobald can be spared for a few days, we leave the children and go off to his father’s old hunting lodge and pretend we’re only just married again. So we pull a few rugs up before the fire and sleep on the floor, even though we have a perfectly good bed at hand,” she laughed. “The people must wonder about me when they hear me ask him when we can go hunting again.”

Matilda could not help but smile at her merriment.

“You may have the keys to our lodge any time you like,” Githa said. “Well – unless we’re there! Although I’m certain you and Alred have someplace that would serve just as well. But remember – no children!”

“I’m not certain Alred could be dragged away from the children.”

“For a few nights alone with you? Oh, nonsense! He’s unique among men if that’s true. And don’t let him tell you he’s too busy, either. There’s not much he does that is more important than you, and whatever it is, he can’t be doing it all the time. Don’t take no for an answer! But I don’t think he will say it at all,” she winked.