Eadgith tries to be brave
“Malcolm told me his lady was distressed,” Sigefrith said gently.
Eadgith looked up. He had come in so silently, and parted the curtain without even a rustle.
“Oh, dear! You shouldn’t have come in the middle of the afternoon, Sigefrith.”
He sat beside her and took her hands in his. “What could I possibly have to do that would be more important than your tears?”
“Ever so many things, I’m certain. Malcolm shouldn’t have told. He’s loyal to you alone,” she sniffed and smiled.
“Nonsense! It is out of loyalty to you that he told me. Now, what is it? I fear you have heard some news you did not like.”
“I – is it true?”
“Oh, dear! Is what true?”
“Are you going away again so soon?”
“Ah! Who told you? I had meant to spare you at least until I had made up my mind about a few details.”
“Yware and Selwyn were speaking of it.”
“Yware! I should have known! I told him to keep his mouth shut.”
“You told Yware to keep his mouth shut?” she chuckled sadly.
“I know. I shall never learn. Caedwulf didn’t say anything, did he?”
“No. He was telling Yware to be quiet.”
“Good boy! Well, I have that consolation. But, listen, honey. I must see Aed this summer, and the sooner the better. And the sooner I leave, the sooner I return. If I leave now, I may be fairly certain that nothing interesting will happen in my absence,” he said and patted her belly.
“Will you be home before then?” she asked.
“Nothing could keep me away.”
She nodded.
“Mind,” he said, “I shall be of no use to you, nor anyone else, and I shall make enough of a pest of myself that you may wish me in Scotland if not in a hotter place – but I shall certainly be here.”
She smiled and nodded again. “I still wish Malcolm hadn’t told you. I wanted to be brave.”
“Aren’t you, though?” he whispered and embraced her.
When her lips were free to speak again, she asked, “Is Alred going with you?”
“He asked to go.”
“Does he…”
He waited.
“Does he not yet wish to see the baby?” she asked with difficulty.
Sigefrith sighed. “I suspect his desire to get out of the valley is related to his unwillingness to do so. If I were an honest or an ignorant man I would never have allowed him to go so long without seeing her. The longer he waits, the harder it will be, I fear. But I wish you wouldn’t worry about that, honey. Allow me to handle Alred and your father, please.”
“But he might… when he learns…”
“I shan’t allow him to hurt your father, honey. Nor himself. I know what to do. Please trust me.”
She nodded her head where it lay, against his shoulder.
“Now, I don’t want to see you cry, and I especially don’t want to see you worry. I shall tell your father to stay away. I won’t allow him to surprise you as he did last time I went away. You need your peace, hmm?” he asked and stroked her cheek. “A happy baby needs a happy mother. No tears, no troubles, only smiles.”
She nodded again and relaxed her body against his. She knew she shouldn’t allow him to come to her in the afternoon, when he had so many more important things to do, but as long as he was here, she could not resist drinking in his strength. If only he could always be at her side, she thought, she would have no troubles, no need for tears.
