Godiva groaned, the foul taste in her mouth almost as bad as the pounding in her head. She put her arm over her eyes to shield out the morning light cutting in through the bedcurtains. The door of the chamber opened and she heard the soft footsteps of Astrid, bringing breakfast and from the smell, some mint tea. "Good mornin', milady... h-hope ye slept well," she said, nervously. Why was Astrid nervous? Godiva wondered. The curtains whisked open and when she could bear to open her eyes to the bright morning light, she saw the cause.
Standing at the foot of her bed, with his arms crossed and his jaw set was Sir Hulgar, who had obviously been standing there for some time. Godiva reached under her sleep veil and rubbed her eyes, then reached for the mint tea, sipping and swishing it around in her mouth before swallowing. "Will you be needin' the staff again, t'day, milady? I can bring it when I come back to help you dress," Astrid said, glancing frequently to where Sir Hulgar stood glaring at Godiva.
"No, thank you Astrid," she said, sipping more tea. "I'm feeling quite better. Hurry back. We'll be going to the market today, and Sir Hulgar and I won't be talking for long," she said, matching the fierce knight's gaze.
"Yes, milady," Astrid said, curtsying as she left the room.
"What shall we discuss this morning, Sir Hulgar?" she asked, refilling her cup. "Tea?" she offered.
Sir Hulgar's expression darkened. "No, my Lady. I'd be more interested in knowing what you had to drink last night that had Sir Leofric bringing you home at crack of dawn..." he said.
Godiva's eyes sparked, suspecting Sir Hulgar knew exactly what she had drunk... and where she was when she drank it. It was not the first time her knight protector had secretly arranged for a hasty unconscious departure for a potential suitor of hers, which was one of the reasons she had gone to Leofric's room last night. She would get rid of Leofric in her own way and in her own time.
"Not that it is any concern of yours, Sir Hulgar, but I held counsel with Sir Leofric at the Minxy Mare last night. I believe I drank some honeyed mead, though very little. Perhaps the drink was stronger than I anticipated," she said, as if she and Leofric had spent a perfectly proper evening together in the Minxy Mare's common room. "Are there any other ways you wish to question your mistress about her activities?" she asked, pointing out his impropriety.
"Forgive your humble servant, your Ladyship, but I am charged with your protection," Sir Hulgar said, grinding out a tone that in no way even approached humility. "Sir Leofric said he suspected the drink was tainted... that you might have been gravely ill or even dead if you had taken more of it," Hulgar said, still pressing the issue.
"Well then... I suppose we must be grateful that Sir Leofric is an honorable man, and saw me safely cared for whilst I was ill," Godiva responded. She would have laughed if the situation were different. She had forbidden Hulgar from interfering with her suitors, because after a mild dose of dwale, the last one had wandered and fallen into the broken well and was later rescued with a broken arm. Now, Hulgar could not accuse her of being improperly in Leofric's room without also admitting he had violated her orders by drugging Leofric's mead.
"It is also said that Sir Leofric briefly brought the Lady Godiva to jail last night," Sir Hulgar said, nearly shaking with the unsaid words inside him.
Godiva had long suspected Hulgar knew about her double life, but had not prevented it, as long as she carefully maintained her safety and the necessary secrecy for her life as the Lady Godgifu. Indeed, waking up in the jail cell had shaken her to her core. She knew that discovery of her activities could very well lead to a gruesome death at the hands of the townsfolk, much less at the King's hands. The people would do it not only out of outrage, but also out of fear of God's retribution. Hulgar was right to be furious with her about this. "Well... I guess we have even more reason to be grateful to Sir Leofric, then," she said quietly.
"One hopes the Lady Godiva has learned her lesson. Surely, after this, we will see no more of her skullduggery," Hulgar said, moving his eyes back to her at length.
Godiva looked down at her breakfast tray, feeling tears well in her eyes. The thought of never tasting the freedom of her other life again, of only living within the narrow constraints of Lady Godgifu's shroud... it didn't feel like a life at all. "One hopes..." she answered, wiping the tears off her cheeks.
Suddenly, Astrid rushed into the room, nearly beside herself with excitement, "Milady! Sir Leofric... the handsome one... he left, but he was here askin' after yer health!" she bubbled, bouncing in place. "And ye know what he's brought? Flowers!" she squealed.
Godiva sighed. "Very well, please ready a vase with water... unless you wished to press them, Sir Hulgar?" she asked, watching his eyes narrow even more at her.
"Milady...?" Astrid asked, confused, watching Sir Hulgar and her mistress glare at each other.
"Never mind Astrid, it seems Sir Hulgar doesn't want Sir Leofric's flowers. I will take them here, instead," Godiva said.
"Y-yes, milady," Astrid said, and after a final glare and short bow, Sir Hulgar followed.
Godiva slipped out of bed and went to the window that looked out over Coventry. It was becoming obvious that the people wanted her to marry again, the women did, at least. People always felt more secure with a man leading them, but was Leofric the right alliance for her? The wrong alliance would lead to more strife, more positioning, and possibly violent intervention from a new king that needed money and an army, since King Cnut had sent his own conquering forces home to Denmark, rather than continue to pay them. Many Lords had come to Coventry since her husband died, seeking to counsel her, romance her, and even rape her into a marriage. She was altogether too rich, too powerful and too female to be left to herself. She was a walking political opportunity for any ambitious man.
It was Sir Hulgar who had, in the early days, guided her to her present course of remaining a pious widow, loyal to her late husband, and devoted to and beloved by her people. It was not all a lie. She did love her people. She loved watching their children grow, making sure no one went uncared for, celebrating life with them, and even following their gossip and petty grudges. Still, it made her lonely. She was an inspiration to them, but not one of them. She couldn't be... because she couldn't risk them learning she was as human as they were. A woman couldn't be a human being and still lead them.
