Dark Under the Cover of Night (The Kingdom of the East Angles Book 1) Read Free
Author: Jayne Castel
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Bold
especially for Raedwyn – the ealdorman’s honor and valor would make him a
worthy husband.
“He
certainly does not look like an old man,” Raedwyn reminded Eanfled, “and the
other servants say that older men make the best husbands!”
Eanfled
giggled. “You shouldn’t listen to those crones Raedwyn – it’s long time since
any of them had a man!”
“Stop it!”
Raedwyn laughed. “Not all of us have your good fortune.” She turned to Eanfled
then and gave her a wicked look.
“Not all
of us are about to marry Alric the Smith.”
Eanfled
blushed at that. She and Alric’s handfast ceremony was in two days – after
nearly a year’s betrothal. Raedwyn was happy for her maid, and only wished she
could attend. However, tomorrow she would leave Rendlaesham and journey south
with her new husband.
Raedwyn
shrugged off her gown and stepped out of it. Eager to set eyes upon her
betrothed again, she washed quickly while Eanfled hung up the dress and
retrieved the one that Raedwyn had chosen for this evening; a flowing white
dress with a gold embroidered neck and hemline that left her arms bare.
Eanfled
helped her into the dress and sighed at the sight of Raedwyn wearing it.
“You look
lovely,” she breathed. “I feel like such a drab in comparison.”
Raedwyn
raised an eyebrow and cast her gaze over Eanfled. Even in her simple attire,
Eanfled’s hazel eyes, creamy skin and long pale brown hair were of a gentle
beauty.
“Drab is
not a word I, Alric, or anyone in Rendlaesham would use to describe you
Eanfled,” Raedwyn replied archly.
Eanfled
blushed once more and handed Raedwyn two golden arm rings, one for each arm,
“I think
you should leave your hair loose tonight,” she told Raedwyn. “Men love it.”
Raedwyn
smiled at Eanfled’s knowing comment and slipped on the arm rings. The young
women were of the same age and had grown up together. They were close friends
more than noblewoman and servant.
“Are you
excited?” Eanfled asked as she combed Raedwyn’s hair. “You will be able to run
your own household. I know I’m looking forward to that.”
“I am,”
Raedwyn admitted, “and it’s about time. Eni says that if I wait much longer no
man will want me!”
At twenty
winters, Raedwyn was ripe for handfasting. However, her late marriage was due
to the whim of her father rather than lack of suitors. After Raegenhere’s death
– slain by her father’s archenemy, Aethelfrith of Northumbria – Raedwyn had
become his only solace. She was Raegenhere’s female counterpart, sharing her
brother’s sharp wit and exuberance. Her uncle, Eni, had pressured Raedwald to
find Raedwyn a husband, arguing that there were essential political and
military alliances to be made.
Cynric was
a good match, for he had a large portion of land to the south, near the Saxon
border. Cynric was loyal to the king and an important ally. However, these days
Raedwald did not seem to be interested in extending his kingdom or conquering
his enemies. He had become withdrawn and contemplative; even Queen Seaxwyn,
whom he loved deeply, had been unable to lift his depression. Only Raedwyn
brought a little sunlight into his days.
“It will
be a magnificent wedding tomorrow.” Eanfled arranged her mistress’s hair so
that it fell in heavy golden curls down her back. “I cannot believe you will
become a wife before me!”
“I’m sorry
that I will not be here for your wedding Eanfled,” Raedwyn replied. “It’s not
right that we cannot both wish each other well.”
Eanfled
made a dismissive sound but Raedwyn knew her friend had been upset to learn
that Raedwyn would not be in Rendlaesham for her and Alric’s handfast ceremony.
Outside
her bower, Raedwyn could hear raucous laughter. The mead was flowing freely
now. Taking a deep breath to still the nerves that had dulled her appetite,
despite her empty stomach, Raedwyn exchanged an excited grin with Eanfled, drew
back the tapestry and re-entered the
especially for Raedwyn – the ealdorman’s honor and valor would make him a
worthy husband.
“He
certainly does not look like an old man,” Raedwyn reminded Eanfled, “and the
other servants say that older men make the best husbands!”
Eanfled
giggled. “You shouldn’t listen to those crones Raedwyn – it’s long time since
any of them had a man!”
“Stop it!”
Raedwyn laughed. “Not all of us have your good fortune.” She turned to Eanfled
then and gave her a wicked look.
“Not all
of us are about to marry Alric the Smith.”
Eanfled
blushed at that. She and Alric’s handfast ceremony was in two days – after
nearly a year’s betrothal. Raedwyn was happy for her maid, and only wished she
could attend. However, tomorrow she would leave Rendlaesham and journey south
with her new husband.
Raedwyn
shrugged off her gown and stepped out of it. Eager to set eyes upon her
betrothed again, she washed quickly while Eanfled hung up the dress and
retrieved the one that Raedwyn had chosen for this evening; a flowing white
dress with a gold embroidered neck and hemline that left her arms bare.
Eanfled
helped her into the dress and sighed at the sight of Raedwyn wearing it.
“You look
lovely,” she breathed. “I feel like such a drab in comparison.”
Raedwyn
raised an eyebrow and cast her gaze over Eanfled. Even in her simple attire,
Eanfled’s hazel eyes, creamy skin and long pale brown hair were of a gentle
beauty.
“Drab is
not a word I, Alric, or anyone in Rendlaesham would use to describe you
Eanfled,” Raedwyn replied archly.
Eanfled
blushed once more and handed Raedwyn two golden arm rings, one for each arm,
“I think
you should leave your hair loose tonight,” she told Raedwyn. “Men love it.”
Raedwyn
smiled at Eanfled’s knowing comment and slipped on the arm rings. The young
women were of the same age and had grown up together. They were close friends
more than noblewoman and servant.
“Are you
excited?” Eanfled asked as she combed Raedwyn’s hair. “You will be able to run
your own household. I know I’m looking forward to that.”
“I am,”
Raedwyn admitted, “and it’s about time. Eni says that if I wait much longer no
man will want me!”
At twenty
winters, Raedwyn was ripe for handfasting. However, her late marriage was due
to the whim of her father rather than lack of suitors. After Raegenhere’s death
– slain by her father’s archenemy, Aethelfrith of Northumbria – Raedwyn had
become his only solace. She was Raegenhere’s female counterpart, sharing her
brother’s sharp wit and exuberance. Her uncle, Eni, had pressured Raedwald to
find Raedwyn a husband, arguing that there were essential political and
military alliances to be made.
Cynric was
a good match, for he had a large portion of land to the south, near the Saxon
border. Cynric was loyal to the king and an important ally. However, these days
Raedwald did not seem to be interested in extending his kingdom or conquering
his enemies. He had become withdrawn and contemplative; even Queen Seaxwyn,
whom he loved deeply, had been unable to lift his depression. Only Raedwyn
brought a little sunlight into his days.
“It will
be a magnificent wedding tomorrow.” Eanfled arranged her mistress’s hair so
that it fell in heavy golden curls down her back. “I cannot believe you will
become a wife before me!”
“I’m sorry
that I will not be here for your wedding Eanfled,” Raedwyn replied. “It’s not
right that we cannot both wish each other well.”
Eanfled
made a dismissive sound but Raedwyn knew her friend had been upset to learn
that Raedwyn would not be in Rendlaesham for her and Alric’s handfast ceremony.
Outside
her bower, Raedwyn could hear raucous laughter. The mead was flowing freely
now. Taking a deep breath to still the nerves that had dulled her appetite,
despite her empty stomach, Raedwyn exchanged an excited grin with Eanfled, drew
back the tapestry and re-entered the