Margaret Moore - The Saxon

“I assure you, Adelar,” Ordella said even more coldly, “ some of us earn our keep around here. I do have many things to do. I simply wanted to make Bayard’s wife feel welcome.”

“You have,” Endredi said quickly. “I see that Adelar and Godwin have already broken the fast. Please, Ordella, eat with me. You can tell me of the village while we break bread and before you must go. I am most interested to hear what you can tell me.”

Ordella gave Adelar a triumphant look and moved toward the high table.

“I shall leave the spices here for the present,” Endredi said to Duff. “Use them sparingly. They are quite strong. Please bring us some bread and meat as soon as you can.”

“Bring some ale,” Ordella said to Gleda, who had only just arrived. The maidservant hurried off at once.

Endredi was now nearly alone with Adelar and Godwin. “Godwin, would you be so good as to fetch my warmer cloak from the bower? I feel a slight chill.”

“As you wish, my lady.” He paused a moment, then went on seriously. “Perhaps you should give me a word of passage, lest your servant think I come to ravish her?”

Endredi had to smile at the gleeman’s words. It seemed he understood Helmi rather well. “I think Helmi will not fear you, Godwin, if you smile at her as you do at me.”

The gleeman grinned and hurried out the door.

Endredi turned to Adelar, very aware that Ordella was watching them. “That wasn’t very clever, Adelar,” she said quietly but firmly. “There is no need to treat Ordella as an enemy.”

“And you have no need to make jests with Godwin.” He gazed at her with his penetrating brown eyes. “You know nothing of the people here, especially Ordella and Ranulf. Leave me to handle those two in my own way.”

“There can be no harm in a little banter with Bayard’s gleeman. You used to be a clever boy. Have your wits grown dim with age? My husband has plenty of enemies outside the burh . Why make more within?”

“Again, you do not understand.”

Realizing that she should not spend any longer in conversation with him, she said, “We will speak of this later.” Then she hurried toward Ordella, a smile on her face. “I am sorry, but I wanted Adelar to know that I cannot allow such disrespect in my hall.”

Ordella’s eyes widened with genuine pleasure. “I see Bayard has indeed chosen his wife wisely. Adelar has been too free with his ways.”

The two women watched Adelar leave the hall. Gleda made her way past him, and Endredi saw the girl press against his body quite unnecessarily. He seemed to find nothing amiss, although he had chided her for exchanging a jest with Godwin. Still, his brow remained furrowed and he said nothing to the serving wench at all.

Endredi looked away. She should not be pleased that he ignored Gleda. It could be that he was oblivious to many things, for he also seemed not to care that he had angered Ranulf’s wife. Ranulf was not worthy of respect, perhaps, but he was Bayard’s kin.

Gleda poured the women some ale while Ylla brought bread and meat.

“I see you have managed to instill some proper respect in that harlot, too,” Ordella said, her lips pursed as she watched Gleda stroll away.

“Harlot?”

“She goes with any man who looks at her, even that fool Godwin, probably. She will be with child again soon, and then you will have to find another to take her place.”

“Again? She has children?”

“Two. They died during their birth.”

“Oh, how sad for her!”

“It was a punishment from God, which unfortunately has not made her change her ways,” Ordella said peevishly. “I think every man in this burh has been with her, except Bayard, of course. He

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