Sir Sigefrith gets some good advice

His father’s response to his knock did not sound welcoming, so Sir Sigefrith was happy he had brought an ally.

He peeked inside.

“Oh, it’s you, runt,” Leofric looked up from his desk and gave him a weary smile. “I thought it was my steward come back for to have his other ear chewed off.”

“Papa!” Leia squealed and nearly leapt out of Sigefrith’s arms.

“Come here, my baby.” Leofric rose to take her from her brother.

“I brought Leia to soften you up in case you were in no mood to see me,” Sigefrith smiled.

“All of my moods like to see you, runt,” Leofric murmured as Leia squeezed his neck.

“I brought Haakon, too, but Mother wouldn’t be separated from him, even for a moment.”

“Haakon here! What are we doing in here then?”

Leofric started for the door, but Sigefrith stopped him with his arm.

“You will have more than enough Haakon in the coming weeks. Hilda wants him back by Martinmas, but you may keep him until then. First I should like to talk to you.”

“What did I do?” Leofric chuckled uneasily.

“Good Lord! I don’t even want to know. I’m not here to chew your ear off. Only to ask for your advice.”

“Oh! In that case…” Leofric went to deposit Leia by the pile of precious toys that were not permitted to leave Papa’s study. “Have a seat, runt,” he said. “I keep my advice in the cabinet with the wine. Care for a little of both?”

“Good Lord, I could use a drink,” Sigefrith sighed as he sat before the fire.

“What has Hilda done now?” Leofric asked.

“Is it so obvious?”

“It’s the obvious first guess, anyway. What has she done?”

“Something dreadful, except that I don’t know whether she has done it.”

“Well?”

“I think she’s been sick in the mornings this past week or so.”

“Oh, is that all? Son of a serpent! You call that dreadful? Here.” Leofric handed him his cup and sat heavily beside him. “Son of a serpent!” he declared again in satisfaction after having tasted his wine.

Sigefrith did not doubt his father already had visions of his next grandchild in his head.

“What is it, runt?” Leofric asked after a moment. “Say, doesn’t she usually tell you right away, as soon as she is even suspecting she is expecting? Making her announcement by way of a churn staff to the back of your head?” he added with a laugh. “Frisky little bitch!”

“She hasn’t said anything to me.”

“Don’t look so glum, Sigefrith. She’ll forgive you. She’s fond of her babies after they come.”

“But it isn’t mine!” Sigefrith wailed.

Even little Leia turned her head to stare at him with the same startled expression their father wore.

“I haven’t slept with Hilda since Easter!”

“Easter! Son of a serpent!”

“Yes, yes, son of I don’t know whom!”

“But, Sigefrith…”

Sigefrith put down his cup and stood. He could not bear to sit. He could not bear anything. He did not know what to do.

“You ought to talk to her before you begin to fret, runt,” his father said. “Perhaps she’s only ill.”

“I don’t even know who it could be! My steward is so enamored of his bride he wouldn’t dream of such a thing. And that leaves only a lot of servants and grooms.”

“Talk to her first, Sigefrith.”

“And what if it’s true?”

“Then…”

“What can I do? I’ve been here nearly all the year! Why couldn’t she have done this while I was in Denmark, so there would be no doubt?”

“She’s only a woman. Her word has no weight beside yours. If you deny the child, it is not yours. It’s that simple. Besides which, it could come along and have red hair or green eyes or something that proves it isn’t.”

“And then?”

“You may cast her out.”

“She is the mother of my children.”

“Then you may divorce her and keep her near for their sake! What advice do you want from me, runt? I never would have let you marry her if you had asked my advice then. You need a sweet little wife that’s easily managed, such as your sister.”

“Because I’m not man enough to handle the likes of Hilda!” Sigefrith snarled. “Is that it?”

“Sigefrith!” Leia wailed and trotted over to him.

“Give him a kiss, my dove,” Leofric advised her. “What he needs is a little love from a good woman.”

Sigefrith picked up his sister and let her kiss him all over his face. Baby kisses were very nice, he thought, but his father spoke more truly than he knew. He decided he would ride back that evening after all. If he left his horse in Brede’s stable, Hilda wouldn’t even know he was home. He could stay out all night.