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The Knotted Thread

Discussion in 'Watford' started by hornethologist a.k.a. theo, Jul 31, 2019.

  1. hornethologist a.k.a. theo

    hornethologist a.k.a. theo Well-Known Member

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    A brief taster and a link ( http://www.amazon.co.uk/1086102843 ) for those of you who read previous Winfrith novels.

    1
    Winfrith pulled open the worn leather bag she’d brought with her and carefully drew out the blue linen dress, spreading it out on the table. It looked almost too good to wear with its red tablet weave around the neck and the silk edging on each sleeve. Cuthbert had been right. She couldn’t act as attendant to the Queen of Wessex as she welcomed the two Welsh kings wearing a plain brown jerkin and skirt. That might do in the hall and kitchens of Easton but not here in the king’s Wintanceaster palace. It was exciting to be back in the town after so many years, despite the stink from the tanners’ yards, the ankle-deep mud outside the door and the constant hubbub of noise from men and animals alike. A few days here would make a welcome change from running about after Cuthbert’s servants and tramping across the wind-blown fields of his Easton estate.
    “Is that what you’re going to wear?” Aethelflaed asked, slipping between the two hanging blankets which separated her room from Winfrith’s and giving the dress a disapproving stare. Other twelve-year-old girls would have got a curt reply, but Winfrith avoided the temptation in Aethelflaed’s case. None of them were daughters of the King of Wessex. Besides, Winfrith had already grown quite fond of Aethelflaed despite their brief acquaintance. The girl had spirit. She’d kept up a stream of cheerful chatter almost all the way from Easton. She hadn’t complained once during the three hour walk, even when the horse she’d been promised went lame and then a heavy shower had soaked them through.
    “It is. Don’t you like it? Not that there’s much I can do if you don’t. It’s the only one I’ve brought apart from what I travelled in.”
    Aethelflaed crossed to the table and ran her hand over the dress. “The colours aren’t too bad,” she said. “It will look better on you than lying there flat. How much time do we have to get ready?”
    “Enough. Bishop Denewulf will send for us when your mother and the two kings have all arrived.”
    Aethelflaed sighed. “It’s going to be so dull. Lots of speeches and toasts and all of us pretending to like strangers we’ve never met. I don’t see why I had to come in the first place. And why should I be particularly polite to a man called Aethelred? My mother says I must and she never does anything without some reason of her own behind it. She’s probably got it into her head that one day he might offer to take me off her hands…if he doesn’t already have a wife by then.”
    “I wouldn’t know about that. I hadn’t given it much thought,” Winfrith said truthfully, though when she did consider it the idea seemed quite possible. After all Aethelred was Alfred’s under-king in Mercia and as far as she knew did lack a wife. He and Ealhswith might well think it a good match. Strengthening the bond between Wessex and Mercia would appeal to Alfred, uniting them further against their troublesome Welsh neighbours. They’d have to wait a year or two though, at least until the girl had lost some of her childish impetuosity. Winfrith smiled to herself. Even then, Aethelflaed would take some managing!
    “I don’t expect to like him anyway,” Aethelflaed said, taking a seat next to Winfrith. “Frideswide says no-one in Wintanceaster does, and even if they did there are lots of better looking men in the town than him.”
    “Who’s Frideswide?” Winfrith asked, thinking perhaps she hadn’t been keeping as close an eye on Aethelflaed as she ought to have been.
    “She lives next door, with her uncle, in the tanner’s house…her and her sister, Leoflaed. Not that she sees much of her sister who does nothing but stare out of the door hoping to catch a glimpse of Osbeorn.”
    “All these names,” Winfrith said, “and we’ve only just arrived here. First Frideswide, then Leoflaed, now Osbeorn. I can’t keep up. How have you managed to meet so many people without my knowing? I’ll have your mother on my back if she hears you’ve been wandering about chatting to strangers.”
    “I haven’t met them all…just Frideswide from next door.”
    “Who has an older sister called Leoflaed who likes a man called Osbeorn. Perhaps you should start with him. Who’s Osbeorn?”
    Aethelflaed looked up at the rafters and began speaking with exaggerated patience. “Osbeorn is Bishop Denewulf’s son and I’ve never seen him, let alone spoken to him. Even you must have heard of him. He’s in charge of building new defences here and getting the money to pay for it. Frideswide says a lot of men are refusing to pay and saying thegns and owners of land should find the money.”
    “She sounds to know a great deal, this friend of yours,” Winfrith said, smiling. “Why don’t you invite her to come here? I could do with learning a bit about what goes on in Wintanceaster too.”
    “Her uncle wouldn’t allow it. He likes to know where she and her sister are. Actually, I think she’s afraid of him.”
    “This uncle…he’s the tanner, Ealdwine, is he? The man who owns the house?”
    Aethelflaed nodded. “That’s him. I saw him leave the house just after we got here. Frideswide was watching from the door and we got talking. She’s lonely I think. The moment he returned she ran back inside. He ordered me to clear off so I told him I didn’t take orders from a tanner and that I was the daughter of the Queen of Wessex. You should have seen his face…suddenly all smiles and invitations to come inside and rejoin Frideswide.”
    “Not so bad being a queen’s daughter then, is it? Special treatment from all of us, despite your tender years.” Aethelflaed turned sharply and studied Winfrith’s face, apparently unsure how to take this. In the end she said nothing, leaving Winfrith free to continue. “So what else did you learn from your visit? Anything I should know before we meet Bishop Denewulf? Like the best way of keeping you from meeting his son Osbeorn for example?”
    Aethelflaed shot Winfrith a look of pure scorn. “It’s Frideswide’s sister who likes him, not me. I told you I haven’t even set eyes on him. Besides, he’s bound to prefer someone older… someone Leoflaed’s age.” A sly smile spread across her face. “Anyway, I’m not the only one here without a future husband lined up for her yet.”
    Winfrith pretended to look offended but almost as soon as she and Aethelflaed had begun trying to outstare each other, they both burst out laughing. “When I want one, I’ll be sure to come and ask your opinion,” Winfrith said, shaking her finger at Aethelflaed. “In the meantime, perhaps you should begin putting your mind towards getting yourself ready.”

    It's on Kindle too...only 99p! Reviews always welcome if you have a spare moment!
     
    #1
  2. andytoprankin

    andytoprankin Well-Known Member

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    I have that as a broken link, theo.
     
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  3. Tobes

    Tobes Warden
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    ‘Kin ‘ell <laugh>
     
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    yorkshirehornet and Munson. like this.
  4. Dr Van Helsing

    Dr Van Helsing Well-Known Member

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  5. hornethologist a.k.a. theo

    hornethologist a.k.a. theo Well-Known Member

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    #5
    andytoprankin likes this.
  6. hornethologist a.k.a. theo

    hornethologist a.k.a. theo Well-Known Member

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  7. Skylarker

    Skylarker PL High Commissioner

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    Excellent book.
     
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