#vbb23

Emma stood in the late morning sun, as birds chirped and a soft breeze sent flags dancing. The sounds of bustling London carried on beyond the walls of the castle; merchants hollered, children giggled and screeched with joy and the clatter of horses and wagons echoed as they made their way through the narrow streets, their drivers yelling for people to move from their path. It was, by all accounts, another business day for the people.

From her perch above the courtyard Emma watched, but it was not the mingling household staff or her husband’s soldiers that kept her attention, but the activity at the stable doors.

Grooms came and went, horses too, as men came and returned from their patrols, but it was for a woman that Emma kept her eye out for. Brigida was due back any moment and the information she would bring with her held in the balance the fate of some of London’s nobility.

With Canute on the throne and England’s access to trade increased thanks to the King’s influence, not only in Denmark but also with his relations in Constantinople, England should have seen their coffers overflowing and yet, the ledgers said otherwise.

Cynehard of Kent appeared to have the largest fall in incomes, the revenues showing an alarming decrease over the previous months despite more than one elaborate gathering at his residence. And it did not fail to pass Emma’s notice that each time she saw his wife, she seemed to be adorned in  luxury that bordered on obnoxious. The notes and financial information she had gathered in regard to their incomes was vast, and though it would take some convincing, she believed there was enough that her husband could initiate an official inquiry.

But it was not just Kent that Emma worried about. There had been a growing concern about Oswick of East Anglia as well and it was a relation of his that Emma waited on word from. She did not know what could be obtained, but she hoped it would be enough to attach to what she already planned to bring to Canute.

A rowdy cry from a group of men entering the courtyard drew Emma’s attention and that is when she caught sight of Brigida, the bottom of her cloak caked in mud. Her cheeks were red from the wind, and she stuck close to the back wall, doing her best to blend with the rest of the household staff.

After the events with Aelfwynn, Emma had been at a loss for who to allow into her inner circle and it had only been at the behest of her husband that she opened the invitation to the woman from Norway.

She had not known much about Brigida at the time of her appointment, only that her father had earned the Earldom in Northumbria as a show of gratitude from Canute and that her mother was of Swedish royalty, but the woman’s lack of connection to England had been the most appealing to the queen. Though it only furthered her lack of favor amongst the English nobility, Emma had slept easier at night knowing there was one amongst her inner circle that did not have a history with the English court.

Quickly, the lady’s maid cut across the open courtyard and headed towards the back entrance of the kitchen, but before she could disappear without a trace, Agnarr appeared from a shadowed doorway and halted her in her tracks. Dread pooled in Emma’s stomach, not sure how Brigida would manage to outmaneuver her husband’s man.

She could not hear what was being said, but based on the look the Viking was giving her lady’s maid, he had caught on to her activities earlier this morning and was not at all amused by her attempt to sneak back into the castle. To Brigida’s credit, her face remained impassive, and she seemed to make a few gestures to her person, opening her cloak as if to invite Agnarr to inspect what she had disclosed beneath it.

Agnarr had proven himself quite diligent in his responsibilities and had become a reoccurring obstacle that Emma had needed to outmaneuver. Despite his loyalty and her trust in him, she had used his skills and knowledge enough in regard to Godwin that she did not want to impose another such request so soon after. It also benefited Emma to keep Canute unaware of all that she was digging through until she had amassed indisputable proof and had Agnarr been involved, he would have been obligated to alert the King.

Emma turned away from the scene below, intent on rescuing her lady’s maid from Agnarr’s questions, but the corners of her mouth lifted despite the frustrating delay. The young woman may have been raised with noble manners, but it took someone of Viking blood to take on the likes of Agnarr and Emma found herself relieved that it had been Brigida that she had entrusted to send outside the walls of London.

The ladies that were left within her circle she trusted, some having been with her for many years, but most of them would not have been equipped for such a request, though she imagined they would have done their best to fulfill her wishes. Vikings were made of something that was not often found in the noble line of England and having some of that on her side could prove to be imperative should things take a turn.  

As she veered towards the heart of the castle, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed against the stone corridor and it was not long before Brigida, face still flushed with a sour set of her lips, came into view. She pulled up short when she realized Emma was but a few steps in front of her.

“My Queen,” she managed a hasty curtsey. “I apologize for the delay, I-”

“I saw Agnarr stop you in the courtyard.” If she was being honest, Emma was amazed that Brigida had managed to detangle herself so quickly; she had thought based on the set of the man’s features, she would have had to pull rank to free her lady. And even then, she was not confident a report would not make it to her husband. Not wanting to draw attention to their conversation, Emma turned in the direction of her chambers. “I was headed in your direction in hopes of rescuing you from him, but it would seem you were not in need of my services.”

Brigida released a breath, her frustration with the man evident and Emma again found her lips twitching with amusement. The cat and mouse game Brigida and Agnarr found themselves in, while dangerous to Emma’s plans, was also a mild entertainment and strengthened her trust in her lady. She did not crumble beneath the Viking hard stare and seemed to take enjoyment in besting him where she could. But they were on borrowed time, and it would not be long before Agnarr gained the upper hand and Brigida’s carefully stacked tower of lies would come crumbling down, burying her and Emma in the rubble.

“He seems to be of the opinion I am up to nefarious deeds,” the young woman lamented as she followed closely. “One would think I was plotting against the Crown based on the amount of scrutiny he has me under.”

Much to Emma’s relief, her chambers were empty when they pushed through the doors. “While your deeds are in service to the Crown, I would not say they are wholly innocent.”

That earned a snort of amusement from Brigida.

If Agnarr had not noticed her lady’s maid’s comings and goings, Emma’s concerns would be far greater than just those of unpaid incomes. She knew the responsibility that weighed her husband’s most trusted man down and she appreciated all that he did for the crown. Agnarr was a good man and Emma appreciated his guidance and frankness when she sought it out, and had the situation been different perhaps it would have been him that was gathering information.

“I understand he is doing his duties, but I feel sorry for any young woman that simply wishes for a morning ride or a walk outside the city.”

“And your morning ride, what came of it?”

Unflustered by the briskness of the question, Brigida nodded and shut the door quickly behind her. “Confirmation of your suspicions, my Lady.” She rustled around beneath her cloak for a moment and came up with a small, neatly folded stack of parchment, secured in simple twine. “The daughter of the Ealdorman of Kent managed to pilfer a few pages from the Earls ledger.”

Dumbfounded, Emma took the ledger pages. She had sent Brigida on a simple message recovery and now she was being given something that would solidify everything she had known.

She stared at the figures, hastily written in the Earls own writing. Proof of large amounts of incomes that went to a coffer of his control, incomes that she knew England had no knowledge of. It would seem the Lord was keeping a separate ledger to present to the crown to ensure their contributions under the new tax law remained minimal.

Her thoughts jumped to the woman who had handed over the incriminating information. What must have happened for a daughter to set her father up for such a fall in front of the crown.

“Are you on friendly terms with this young woman?”

“We met at Court once, before I took your offered position. She is an awkward sort, but hospitable.”

“And you remained on good terms with her?”

If her recollection was correct, the young woman of Kent had been in consideration to take the position that Brigida now occupied, but Emma had been uneasy at the thought of someone with such close ties to Aethelred’s rule and in turn, she had opted for one with family ties that were loyal to Canute.

“It did not seem she had many to confide in,” Brigida admitted. “She is to be married in a fortnight to a wealthy family from the North. The match, while affable for her father, is not one she desires and she would prefer to remain at her home in Kent.”

A scorned daughter could be the fall of her family. She was not the first to make such a move and she would not be the last. Men failed to realize the control women within their household held; it could be at their behest that great fortune and power be bestowed upon family and they could also bring demise to all of those around them if they so choose.

Emma wondered, for a moment, if perhaps there was a deeper reason why Brigida had easily befriended the woman. Perhaps she herself felt as if she fit the role of a scorned daughter and knew the signs of a like wounded animal. It would make for an easy connection and allowed for trust to bloom with little effort.

“Is the young lady aware of who is looking into this?”

Brigida shook her head. “She is bright enough to know that handing over such proof could be the demise of her family, but she is still naive in the ways of things at court and, given my background, she does not believe I have close connections to those that could do harm with such information.”

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