“We were in the dyer’s. The lady was berating the dyer because he was out of Opal’s dye. And you could see a patch on her head where another color grew in.”
Helena and I stared at each other. I had, in a fit of confession, told her the entirety of Isabeau’s warnings, not just that we should be all leery of Vinia because she used to be courted by my husband. Helena knew of his sponsorship of Isabeau and the possible parentage of Opal. I had been keeping my deadly bargain with my goddess to myself and confiding in her about Vinia felt like a recess from all of my secrets.
When Maureen rejoined Catrin and Mischa, Helena turned to me. “That is not his child.”
“You think she is Halsted’s then? As his sons have that streak in their hair?”
She nodded. “As does the lord, their father, father ofallthree children. That woman has manipulated your husband into forever being connected to her.”
I sighed. “He believes that girl is his. Do I tell him?”
Helena lifted her shoulders, eyes wide. “I advise against it. For now. Think on it.”
We dried off and broke our fast together in the dining hall, everyone chatting about what they would do with their day of rest preceding The Thawing. My mind was awhirl with Helena’s conjecture and the fact that this was my second to last breakfast. I tried to answer the questions that were directed at me. No, I did not know what Alric’s family would do for the holiday, but yes, I assumed we would join them.
Helena poured us tin cups of tea and we walked back towards the second level dormitories, waving goodbye to Mischa, Maureen and Catrin who were out to a day of shopping in Pikestully and to River and Quinn, off to spend time with fellow sea staff.
“Alric insists on training these poor boys all day,” I complained as we strolled towards the stairwell, walking slowly so as to not spill our tea.
“Oh they will be done by lunch,” Helena said confidently. “It will only be a half day.”
“And how do you know?”
She smirked and gently butted her hip against mine. “Because Caleb says that Alric is much easier to negotiate with now that his bed is warm.”
I let out a laugh, an edge of bitterness in it.
“I am happy that you are happy,” she said as we sat on the second landing.
“And I am about your happiness,” I said, leaning into her.
I felt her give pause next to me, thinking she was about to say her reason for our private meeting, but she asked me more about how much I thought Peregrine would propose to Catrin. We discussed this and whether or not I would be ordained as a priestess by The Rush of Flowers, in time to marry Quinn and River. And then, after hours of our easy intimacy, the intimacy of dearest friends, she came to it. “Edie, I need to tell you something. And I worry it will cause you pain. But you are also the first person I want to tell.”
There was a flip in my stomach. I knew it without her saying it. And before I could even have a chance to react, I did not let myself think on it. I chose to ask, “How far along?” And I painted celebration on my face.
Her eyes grew wet. “I think she will arrive in summer.”
“You know it to be a daughter?”
“I think so,” she said and put her face in her hands. “It is as it was with Maureen. I am overwhelmed. I am happy and fearful and I cannot believe it.”
“Why can you not believe it?” I asked, placing a hand on her back, grateful she could not see my face or anything it might reveal.
“Because Cyrus and I could not conceive after Maureen—”
“Then why are you fearful?”
“I am old,” she sighed, lifting her face from her hands. “It could be a difficult birth.”
“It could be an easy birth as well,” I countered. “This is a blessing. Maureen is going to have a sister. And Mischa and I —and Catrin and River and Quinn, for that matter— will have a niece. And don’t call yourself old. You know we are the same age. It’s insulting.” I said the last part with humor.
She turned fully to me. “You are not upset?”
“You ask this because of all our conversations about barrenness?”
She nodded. “I know you wanted a child.”
“I also wanted my husband to love me. Perhaps those two wishes were interlaced.”
