Alys made her way to her bed, exhausted from the day's events. Maud had been a blessing in disguise. She had always seen her as a distant woman, clinging closely to her family and the Bookers. But the past days she had proven herself to be friendly and helpful. She had had several children and was an experienced midwife. This was happy news to Alys' ears.
Maud's problem was less easily placated. Alys recalled the times at the farm when an animal had bugs that bit and led to rot, even if Morrys did not. It meant washing and paste making. Extra combing, and crushing the bugs between fingers. It made Alys want to run to the privy again, but she forced the feeling down. She didn't want to alert her mother in law that she needed to use the privy again.
Alys once liked Matilda Drayton. She had often agreed with Alys when they spoke, but lately she had become overbearing. Constantly demanding grandchildren, and touching Alys' belly. She would berate Tobias for not being a proper husband, and once threw a bird carving into the hearth. Tobias would shrink under her gaze and avoided her when he could. However the man loved his mother, and tried to be a good son.
That made it easy for Alys to bring him to bed each day, because she wanted a child. But the two rarely spoke, and Alys hadn't brought up the subject of children in some time. She loved her husband, but he was a strange man. Once upon a time she had enjoyed that she could tell him what to do, and he would do so, but now it felt dull. Maybe weak. Sometime she wished for a stronger willed man.
Alys once liked Matilda Drayton. She had often agreed with Alys when they spoke, but lately she had become overbearing. Constantly demanding grandchildren, and touching Alys' belly. She would berate Tobias for not being a proper husband, and once threw a bird carving into the hearth. Tobias would shrink under her gaze and avoided her when he could. However the man loved his mother, and tried to be a good son.
That made it easy for Alys to bring him to bed each day, because she wanted a child. But the two rarely spoke, and Alys hadn't brought up the subject of children in some time. She loved her husband, but he was a strange man. Once upon a time she had enjoyed that she could tell him what to do, and he would do so, but now it felt dull. Maybe weak. Sometime she wished for a stronger willed man.
Alys closed her eyes. Anyways, Matilda had been easy to reason with in regards to the bugs. Once she had confirmed that Alys was in fact pregnant with her first grandchild, she wanted everything to be perfect, and that included everything being clean.
Then came the ordeal of telling Frederick and his parents, those who were also needed to be convinced in order to actually clean the houses.
First, horrified looks when Maud had to shamefully tell them her daughter had bites. Then the argument about where they had come from had ensued. Anne, who was present had no ideas, except to say the forest in vague terms, but Maud brushed her suggestion off, saying that Medea had never ventured far beyond the clearings.
Then came the ordeal of telling Frederick and his parents, those who were also needed to be convinced in order to actually clean the houses.
First, horrified looks when Maud had to shamefully tell them her daughter had bites. Then the argument about where they had come from had ensued. Anne, who was present had no ideas, except to say the forest in vague terms, but Maud brushed her suggestion off, saying that Medea had never ventured far beyond the clearings.
Lilliane was helpful in noting that Dane had bagged a buck sometime ago, and that Medea was allowed to assist in the gruesome task of skinning and cutting it. It was determined that that was where the vermin had come from.
Alys couldn't care less. She itched a scratch near her rump. She just wanted to be clean. She touched her belly. Perhaps safe as well.
Alys couldn't care less. She itched a scratch near her rump. She just wanted to be clean. She touched her belly. Perhaps safe as well.