“The servants can do that. Call Lambert.”
“He has refused. They all have. ‘Twould seem they are afraid of the height.”
Eirik’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Just where is this ladder?”
Eadyth pretended nonchalance, waving a hand airily. “Over there.”
Eirik looked toward the end of the hall where she had placed a specially made ladder, one that extended up two stories to the highest beams in the ceiling. No wonder none of his servants wanted to climb the rickety thing.
“Holy hell, Eadyth!” he exclaimed, squinting upward. “How could you even see that far to tell whether there are cobwebs or gold dust?”
She sniffed haughtily. “Does that mean you will not do me the favor?”
“It means you are out of your mind. Hell’s flames, this keep is so clean now it squeaks. Furthermore, you have bled my guilt dry these past three days. I consider our account paid in full. If you want favors from me, you had best start giving a few of your own. But, for now, go find some other lackwit to break his neck for you because I will not.”
He stormed off to the practice fields to work out his frustrations in military exercises with his men, thinking once again that it was time to go to Jorvik and spend some time with his mistress. He needed the comfort of Asa’s body and the peace of her undemanding silence.
Unfortunately, Eadyth soon intruded even into this all-male domain.
“M’lord, come quick,” Bertha called out from the edge of the field.
“What is it? Are we being attacked?” Eirik shouted, rushing to her side. “Why did the sentries not sound the alarm?”
“Nay, ’tis yer wife, Lady Eadyth.”
Eirik groaned.
“She be up a tree tryin’ ter ketch bees and Godric sez she be stuck.”
“Up a tree?”
Girta pushed her way through the crowd that was gathering. “I told Bertha not to bother you, m’lord. ‘Tis naught to concern you. My lady has done this many a time in the past. She knows what she is about, I tell you.”
“Is she stuck or not?”
“Yea,” said Bertha.
“Nay,” said Girta.
Girta explained with exaggerated patience, “Some bees left their hives and formed a new swarm in a nearby tree. My lady merely climbed the tree above the swarm. She is shaking the limb, and her beekeeper assistants will trap the swarm in a beecatcher box below her on the ground.” Girta folded her arms across her chest and clamped her mouth shut, shooting Bertha an I-told-you-so look.
Eirik heard the people around him snickering. Actually, he had noticed a great deal of nudging, rolling eyes and odd whispers from his men the last few days, especially when he was in Eadyth’s presence. No doubt, they considered him weak for allowing his new wife to order him about. Well, he had more than enough of her mannish ways. He would put her in her proper place this time.
Eirik pushed his way angrily through the crowd, stomping toward the orchard just beyond the ‘outer bailey, then turned abruptly to the muttering mob which was following closely on his heels. “God’s Bones! Have you naught else to do but mind my business? Go back to work. All of you.”
When he reached the orchard, Eirik stopped abruptly in stunned disbelief.
Eadyth, wearing her beekeeping veil, was straddling a limb high above the ground, shaking it vigorously. The cluster of bees clung tenaciously to the end of the limb while two of her veil-clad assistants stood on the ground, holding a large screened box.
“Eadyth, come down from that damn tree at once.”
Eadyth looked down, seeing him for the first time. “Eirik, I did not see you arrive. But do step back. You are only just recovering from your last encounter with my bees. We do not want a repeat performance.”
“How nice of you to be concerned,” he muttered, but moved away a short distance before informing her, “Eadyth, your behavior is unseemly beyond belief. I insist that you come down.”
“Do not be ridiculous. I just need to shake the bees loose.”
Her defiance angered Eirik. “Then I will bring you down.” He stepped toward the base of the tree, preparing to climb up and rescue his wife, and give her a tongue-lashing she would not soon forget when they got back to the keep.