Eadwyn learns how well he is
Eadwyn had thought he had a few minutes to be alone before dinner, but someone was knocking on the door even before he had a chance to stretch out on the bed.
“Who is it?”
“Eadwyn! It’s your father!”
“Oh!” Eadwyn winced. A visit from his father was the opposite of being alone. “Come in!”
His father came in, smiling strangely. “Eadwyn! How are you?”
“W-w – ” Eadwyn stopped and took a breath. Better to speak slowly than to stutter. “Well, thank you. How are you and my family?”
“Very well, Eadwyn. But I think you are better than you realize!” he chuckled.
“I am?”
His father turned to close the door and then sneaked back to his side, grinning with the sly self-importance of an eight-year-old with a secret.
“I came all this way to tell you, son,” he said softly. “I think Theobald is reconsidering his choice of husband for his niece!”
Eadwyn tried to smile in response to his father’s delight, which conveniently gave him an excuse to squint up his eyes. If his father was so happy about this development, it could only mean that the Baron was now considering Eadwyn’s older brother Ethelmer for Ana.
“Do you think?”
“I believe so! I believe my plan is working, Eadwyn.” His father danced a victorious step or two across the room.
“Your plan?”
“My plan! He’s a stubborn man, is Theobald.” His father rubbed his hands together in glee. “Every time I say a harsh word against you, he charges out to your defense. Whatever I say, he praises you twice as highly. When I – ”
“What?” Eadwyn gasped. “Every time… what?”
“Every time I say a word against you! If I say you’re dull, he says you’re thoughtful! If I say you’re too shy, he says you’re reserved and respectful. If I say – ”
“What?” Eadwyn panted. It was too much. This confusion… his father’s excitement… these insults against him… and Ana somewhere at the heart of something that he didn’t understand, but which was beginning to seem very ugly. And Ethelmer?
“What I said! The more I criticize you, the more he thinks you are the very ideal of manhood!”
“I?” Eadwyn cried. “What about Ethelmer?”
“Ethelmer!” His father laughed. “You don’t suppose Theobald would take me seriously if I called your brother shy or dull or ugly? And anyway, I did my best with Ethelmer, but Theobald seems to have some sort of grudge against him…”
“Why? Why? You call me d-d-d – ” Eadwyn stopped and took a shuddering breath.
His father clucked at him disapprovingly. “‘Why?’ he wants to know. ‘Why?’ Eadwyn! I thought this was what you wanted!”
“What was?”
“I thought you wanted to marry the girl! Don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind now! Oh, no! After all I’ve done for you!”
“What have you done for me? Insulted me so the Baron will feel sorry for me?”
“Not sorry for you, son! He’s stubborn, but one can’t make the man do anything he doesn’t secretly want to do. He likes you for some reason. I am simply reminding him of that every chance I get.”
“By insulting me!”
“Well…” his father shrugged. “I like to call it ‘criticize.’”
“I call it cruel!”
“Now, Eadwyn!” His father frowned. “Your own father! Don’t you suppose I want the best for you? Theobald thinks those things untrue, and that’s all that matters, isn’t it?”
“And what do you think?”
“Listen, boy. Windhlith is asking for a date, and Theobald has been stalling so far. I think he’s hesitating because he wishes he could give her to you. All it will take now is a little nudge in your direction! If you could simply ride up there and remind him what an ‘ideal of manhood’ you are…”
“A little nudge! And that pretty fruit falls right in your lap, father!”
“In yours, I hope! And a pretty little fruit it is!”
“D-d-d-don’t speak of her! No! How d-d-d – ” Eadwyn sobbed and yanked at his hair in anger at his father and frustration with himself.
“Calm yourself, calm yourself,” his father scolded. “Listen to yourself!”
“A nudge!” Eadwyn slammed his fist against one of the bedposts. “I shall ride up there directly! And tell him the truth! By God!”
“Eadwyn!”
“T-t-t-tell him what a snake and what a hypocrite you are!”
“Eadwyn! Would you say such things about your father? Eadwyn!”
