come to sit down, bringing a big plate of extra cakes with her. She still baked enough for seven children even though there was only one left at home. The boys loved their mother’s baking and had tucked in ravenously, devouring the delicious little cakes in no time. When Sweyn had gone through the kitchen to use the privy in the back garden, Maizie had called out jokingly to keep his hands off Leveret’s breakfast lying under the cloth on the dresser. On more than one occasion in the past he’d eaten her cakes as well as his own, before she got the chance.
‘I wish you boys were taking part in the archery display,’ she’d said as they sat round the fire together.
‘Don’t like archery, Mother,’ mumbled Gefrin through a mouthful of cake.
‘I know, your father didn’t neither, nor Geoffrey and Gregory,’ she’d said. ‘Yul’s always loved it though.’
There was a silence at this. The fact that Yul had a different father had always been a sore point. Sweyn and Gefrin couldn’t stand the idea of a young and pretty Maizie catching Magus’ eye and being pregnant before she married their father. The mood in the cottage darkened and eventually Maizie had shooed them out, saying she and Leveret must be awake very early in the morning and needed their sleep. They’d stood up, grinning at their sister as Maizie went into the kitchen to stoke up the range for the night.
‘We’re so looking forward to your big day tomorrow,’ said Gefrin, his narrow face alive with mirth. ‘We’ll be there looking out for you as always.’
Sweyn had come over to her chair and she’d shrunk up trying to avoid any contact with him, scared he’d hurt her again. But he’d bent and ruffled her hair in a travesty of affection.
‘How’s the stomach, Hare-brain?’ he asked softly. ‘Still painful?’
She’d glared at him, despising him with all her heart.
‘Don’t look at me like that, Lev – it just makes me want to punch you again. Oh, I have a message for you from Jay. He said to remind you what an ugly little bitch you are and how he’ll laugh when he sees you dolled up in your stupid clothes tomorrow. And so will we – everyone will laugh, especially when you make a fool of yourself, as we know you will.’
‘Why are you always like this? Why can’t you …’
Maizie had come back in then.
‘Haven’t you boys gone yet?’
‘Just wishing Leveret good luck for tomorrow, Mother. We can’t wait to see her all dressed up.’
‘Oh, you’ll be amazed!’ beamed Maizie happily, kissing both boys soundly on their cheeks. ‘She looks so lovely in the Imbolc clothes and you’ll be really proud of her.’
‘We can’t wait, Mother.’
Then they’d gone, Sweyn making a flick gesture at Leveret behind their mother’s back. And that, Leveret had thought with a flash of insight, was the real problem. Maizie saw what she wanted to see and no more; it was no reflection on her kindness and love, it was just how she dealt with life. She’d eliminated all the bad things that had made her so unhappy in the past by focusing resolutely on the good things, such as family unity. Leveret couldn’t be the one to make her face the reality of Alwyn’s legacy to his two youngest sons. She couldn’t and wouldn’t break her mother’s heart by revealing their predisposition to cruelty and bullying that bolstered itself up by victimising the weak.
*
Leveret got out of bed as Maizie came in with a jug of hot water.
‘Ah, you’re awake my little Maiden. Bright blessings for Imbolc! Come here and let me kiss you.’
She hugged her mother, grimacing at the embrace as her stomach was still so sore. Maizie poured hot water into her earthenware bowl and started fiddling with the flannel and soap.
‘Mother, I can wash myself!’ Leveret smiled. ‘Stop fussing over me.’
Maizie left her bedroom whilst she quickly washed and pulled on the camisole and petticoat, but insisted on returning to help put on the special dress. When Leveret was laced up at the back she stood aside to admire her daughter.
‘’Tis perfect and fits a treat. You look so lovely in white.’
The dress was similar in style to the green one she’d worn at Yuletide, tight around the bodice and waist, with long pointed sleeves. The full skirts reached almost to the ground and ended in points, each one tipped with a green glass bead. Snowdrops were embroidered around the neck line,