The Conquest

'Deep thoughts?' Felice asked, nudging her lightly.

Ailith gave a pensive smile and shook her head. 'I was brooding upon what might have happened,' she said. 'Rolf is always complaining that I worry about her too much. I suppose it is because I lost Harold, and since bearing her, I have not conceived again.'

'It is the way I feel about Benedict,' Felice sympathised with a fond glance at her son. In contrast to Julitta, he was demolishing the food on his trencher with a healthy gusto. 'But I try not to clip his wings too much. Of course,' she added quickly, 'he is older than Julitta and a boy.'

'It would have been simpler if Julitta had been born male.' Ailith sighed. 'She would rather be out among the horses or romping in the mire than learning to spin and sew and brew and bake. I know she could do those things if she applied her mind. She does not lack the wit, just the desire.'

'It will come in time.' Felice nodded sagely. 'Besides, it is not given to all women to be paragons of domestic virtue, and it does not suit all men to have wives who are such. She will have fire and beauty enough to catch any man she wants.'

Ailith grimaced. 'That is no comfort,' she said. Just before Julitta's face drooped into her frumenty dish, Rolf caught her, and lifting her from her place, drew her into his lap. She put her thumb in her mouth and snuggled tightly against him.

'I'll take her to bed now.' Ailith held out her arms. She could not help but give Rolf an 'I told you so' look.

'I'll carry her.' Rolf returned her look with a sharp one of his own, and setting his other arm beneath Julitta's knees, rose and walked down the crowded, smoky hall to their sleeping quarters. Ailith followed him, and when he laid Julitta down on their bed, she stripped her of tunic and undergown to leave her clothed in her best linen short shift. Once more, her eyes were drawn to the scratches and livid bruises on Julitta's slender legs.

'It is not the first time that Inga's gander has attacked someone,' Ailith complained as she gently drew the covers over their daughter. 'Wulfhild was telling me that the shepherd's youngest son was badly pecked at midsummer. I know that Julitta should not have been out on her own, but those birds are a danger to anyone who walks near the dew ponds.'

Rolf was silent for a while. 'The geese are her livelihood and her independence,' he said at length. 'She will not easily give them up.'

'Just that gander.'

'Him least of all.' Rolf grimaced. 'She brought the bird from the north as a gosling. He represents all that used to be hers.'

'And her sensibilities are reason enough to let everyone else go in fear?' Ailith curbed her anger with difficulty. Of late there had been a lack of harmony between herself and Rolf. She sensed a restlessness in him like the swallows that gathered at harvest time in preparation to fly away. It burned her to think of him with his wife and daughter when he went to Normandy, and she was frequently waspish to him despite her best intentions. He had ceased to argue with her or give her reassurances. Instead he would calmly shut her out and go about his work with the horses as if she did not exist, or spend yet more time away, visiting clients.

And then there was Inga; cold, fair-haired Inga who was as indifferent to Rolf as she was to everyone else. Ailith could sense how much it irked him, itching away beneath his skin.

'I did not say that,' he replied with laboured patience. 'Of course she must be held accountable for her flock. I will speak to her.'

'For all the good that will do,' Ailith said witheringly.

'More good than speaking to you,' Rolf retorted, and walked out of the room.

Ailith closed her eyes and bit down on her lower lip. The promise of forever was bleeding away and she did not know how to staunch it.

Rolf replenished his cup and sat down before the hearth with Aubert. The women had retired, and although the servants and retainers had laid out their pallets along the walls or rolled themselves in their cloaks to sleep, to all intents and purposes they were alone.

'Ailith was quiet tonight,' Aubert remarked.

Rolf shrugged. 'She was brooding about Julitta.' He pulled a face. 'I sometimes think that all women are the same, not a hair to choose between any of them.'

Aubert raised his brows, inviting confidences.

Rolf drank from his cup and let out a deep sigh. 'I love Ailith, but sometimes she is so impossible that I cannot bear to be in her company. It is like being caged.'

'And of course your own nature is so perfect that you are never the cause of her contrariness,' Aubert said neutrally.

'I know I have my faults, but of late, whatever I do or say is wrong in her eyes.' Rolf scowled at his cup, and then at Aubert. 'You said you wanted a word in private. If it's about myself and Ailith, I might as well take myself off to bed.'

Aubert just looked at Rolf and beneath the sharp, hazel stare, Rolf's indignation crumbled to be replaced by embarrassment. 'Very well,' he said with a grudging smile, 'I have no redeeming features and the fault is all mine.'

'Just have a care, Rolf. Some broken hearts mend, but I doubt that Ailith's would, or yours for that matter. And there endeth my sermon. I'm not here to preach what you already know. Besides, I need you in a listening humour and not out of sorts with me.'

'Indeed?' Rolf raised an eyebrow and felt a pleasant curiosity. Conversations with Aubert, whatever else, were never boring. Although Aubert had mostly given up the more questionable activities attached to his wine trade, he still dabbled here and there at the request of the King. But what Aubert said next took Rolf completely by surprise.

'I have been deliberating upon approaching you for no small time; I would not have you think this is lightly suggested out of a moment's folly. I have a business proposition to put to you concerning Benedict's future.'

'Oh?' Rolf folded his arms.

'What would you say if I offered for your daughter Gisele in marriage on his behalf?'

At first Rolf could only gape at Aubert in astonishment. He did not know what to say; then several things, all contradictory, crowded onto his tongue at once and rendered him incoherent, which was just as well since some of the comments would have irrevocably sundered the friendship between himself and Aubert.

'Gisele and Benedict,' he finally managed to croak out. 'You aim high indeed.'

'My son is never going to be more than a mediocre wine merchant; he has no interest in the trade, but it is as if he was born knowing horses. You have seen it yourself.'

Rolf rose to replenish his cup and remained standing, for Aubert's words had kindled his restlessness. His friend was wily; he would not have broached the subject without first considering it from all angles and weighing up the risks of rejection. 'I have noticed that Ben does have a talent that way,' Rolf said cautiously, 'but how far it will develop is a point of chance, nor is it a recommendation I can give to my wife. I have always promised Arlette that our daughter will make a great marriage. I cannot go to her and say that for the sake of friendship I have accepted the offer of a Rouen wine merchant.'

Aubert drew himself up. 'I do not ask you as a boon for friendship's sake. I know full well that you have the wealth and position to make a high marriage for Gisele. While I cannot match your rank, I can easily match your wealth, so I count the scales even. You were never one to stand on ceremony, Rolf.'

Rolf's eyes became dry with staring and he blinked rapidly several times.

Aubert hunched forward in his seat and eyed Rolf intently, his own gaze unwavering. 'You know that I have risked my neck for William both as Duke and King. After the great battle at Hastings, he rewarded me in coin and English booty and I bought land and houses in London and Rouen. People pay me rent and my wealth increases. I have two wine galleys, one trading out of London, the other out of Rouen, and a merchant vessel, the Draca, to be ready in the spring. Benedict will be very rich one day, but I would like him to be content too.' Aubert shrugged, and spread his hands. 'That is why I made you the offer. If you do not think that our differences are negotiable, I'll look elsewhere and take no offence.'