“No very convincing one. Who is the king going to choose? Deorman of Norwood is half blind. Thurstan of Lordsborough is a ditherer who could hardly lead a singsong, let alone an army. All the other thanes are little more than wealthy farmers. No one has your experience and connections.”
“So...”
Wynstan often felt exasperated that he had to explain things to Wigelm more than once, but on this occasion he was also gettingthe problem straight in his own mind. “We just need to keep her under control,” he said.
“How is that better than killing her? We could set it up so that someone else gets the blame, as we did with Wilf.”
Wynstan shook his head. “It’s possible, but it would be pushing our luck. Yes, we got away with it once, just about, even though plenty of people still don’t believe Carwen killed Wilf. However, a second convenient murder so soon after the first would be highly suspicious. Everyone would assume we were guilty.”
“King Ethelred might believe us.”
Wynstan laughed scornfully. “He wouldn’t even pretend to. We’re usurping his prerogatives in two ways. First, we’re forcing a choice of ealdorman on him. Second, we’re interfering with the fate of a widow.”
“Surely he’s more worried about raising his twenty-four thousand pounds?”
“For now, yes, but once he’s got the money he’ll do whatever he wants.”
“So we need to keep Ragna alive.”
“If at all possible, yes. Alive, but under control.” Wynstan looked up to see Agnes entering. “And here is the little mouse that will help us do that.” He saw that she was carrying a basket. “Have you been shopping, my mouse?”
“Supplies for a journey, my lord bishop.”
“Come here, sit on my lap.”
She looked surprised and embarrassed, but also thrilled. She put down her basket and sat on Wynstan’s knee, perching with a straight back.
He said: “Now, what journey is this?”
“Ragna wants to go to Dreng’s Ferry. It takes two days.”
“I know how long it takes. But why does she want to go there?”
“She thinks you might kill her when you realize she will never marry Wigelm.”
Wynstan looked at Wigelm. This was the kind of thing he had feared. A good thing he had found out in advance. How clever he had been to place a spy in Ragna’s house. “What brought this on?” he said.
“I’m not sure, but Edgar showed up with some money for her, and it was his idea. She will live in the nunnery and she thinks she will be safe from you there.”
She was probably right, Wynstan thought. He did not want to make all England his enemy. “When will she leave?”
“Tomorrow at sunrise.”
Wynstan ran his hand over Agnes’s breasts, and she shuddered with desire. “You’ve done well, my little mouse,” he said warmly. “This is important information.”
In a shaky voice she said: “I’m so glad to have pleased you.”
He winked at his brother then put his hand up her dress. “So wet, already!” he said. “I seem to have pleased you, too.”
She whispered: “Yes.”
Wigelm laughed.
Wynstan eased Agnes off his lap. “Kneel down, my little mouse,” he said. He lifted his tunic. “Do you know what to do with this?”
She bent her head over his lap.
“Ah, yes,” he sighed. “I see that you do.”
