"Lady Sanders, how are you getting on?"
Being a merchant woman, Honey Sanders knew Kenneth needn't address her so. But he'd been like that as long as she knew him. Some might say he was reaching. But Winifred had always thought him as good a peasant as ever there was. Winifred...
Sensing her grief Kenneth Woods grasped her hand.
Winifred never could pay him much, but Elle had made certain her husband was well cared for. When Winifred and Kenneth stood side by side one would hardly guess the Woods paid the Sanders rent.
Kenneth squeezed her hand gently. Not in a woman seeking way. It was a gesture of sympathy. And this gesture of sympathy made Honey realize she was forgetting something very important. She avoided his question for the moment.
"Your son, you must be so grieved."
"Indeed. Losing Dale pained me greatly."
"Will you be moving Chip back home?"
"We'll see. For now I'll leave him in the monastery. I'm sorry that Maid Goldilocks has lost her husband."
Winifred had arranged for their daughter Goldilocks to marry Dale. Winifred had valued his peasant much to give his daughter to his son like that. But Dale was a grown man upon his death. Goldilocks is still but a girl, and the 2 had never met. Goldilocks didn't miss him at all.
"Thank you Kenneth."
"Winifred was a good lord and a good man. He was a good friend when Elle died. It's only right to lend an ear to his wife now that he is buried."
For a moment Honey just looked at him.
"Just tell me how things are going now. Things fell apart when Elle left us."
"While the girls are getting their learning I hardly know what to do with myself."
Kenneth nodded.
She left out that Winifred had romanced her always. Whenever he was home he was squeezing her in a bear hug or flirting with her like they were courting. He even kissed her in front of the girls.
"And then there was the night-" Then she stopped.
"You needn't tell me that Lady Sanders. I understand how it is when your left without your mate."
"No it isn't that." Honey flushed a little, but went on. "I woke up and Goldilocks was out of her bed. She wasn't alone."
"I've been a little worried. A lady living alone with 2 little girls." Kenneth looked genuinely concerned. "Have any of you been hurt? Do you know who it was?"
"It was Winifred. Or the ghost of him anyway."
"He made a face at our little girl. She was so frightened she wet the floor."
"Now why would he do that?"
"Don't be thinking bad of your husband for it. Elle frightened Dale as well. There is something in our loved ones once they've passed, makes them want to reconnect from time to time. I think they don't know quite how to do it anymore."
Honey was a little surprised. She guessed she hadn't expected him to believe her.
"Just remember that not all of the dead come back. And if a body hasn't lost anyone they won't know what we do. If you're frightened you just call on me."
"Thank you Kenneth." She was indeed relieved. "I best get home to my girls. Take care now."
The 2 grieving souls parted ways. Honey to her girls, and Kenneth to his empty home.
Being a merchant woman, Honey Sanders knew Kenneth needn't address her so. But he'd been like that as long as she knew him. Some might say he was reaching. But Winifred had always thought him as good a peasant as ever there was. Winifred...
Sensing her grief Kenneth Woods grasped her hand.
Kenneth squeezed her hand gently. Not in a woman seeking way. It was a gesture of sympathy. And this gesture of sympathy made Honey realize she was forgetting something very important. She avoided his question for the moment.
"Your son, you must be so grieved."
"Indeed. Losing Dale pained me greatly."
"Will you be moving Chip back home?"
"We'll see. For now I'll leave him in the monastery. I'm sorry that Maid Goldilocks has lost her husband."
Winifred had arranged for their daughter Goldilocks to marry Dale. Winifred had valued his peasant much to give his daughter to his son like that. But Dale was a grown man upon his death. Goldilocks is still but a girl, and the 2 had never met. Goldilocks didn't miss him at all.
"Thank you Kenneth."
"Winifred was a good lord and a good man. He was a good friend when Elle died. It's only right to lend an ear to his wife now that he is buried."
"Just tell me how things are going now. Things fell apart when Elle left us."
"While the girls are getting their learning I hardly know what to do with myself."
She left out that Winifred had romanced her always. Whenever he was home he was squeezing her in a bear hug or flirting with her like they were courting. He even kissed her in front of the girls.
"And then there was the night-" Then she stopped.
"You needn't tell me that Lady Sanders. I understand how it is when your left without your mate."
"No it isn't that." Honey flushed a little, but went on. "I woke up and Goldilocks was out of her bed. She wasn't alone."
"I've been a little worried. A lady living alone with 2 little girls." Kenneth looked genuinely concerned. "Have any of you been hurt? Do you know who it was?"
"It was Winifred. Or the ghost of him anyway."
"Don't be thinking bad of your husband for it. Elle frightened Dale as well. There is something in our loved ones once they've passed, makes them want to reconnect from time to time. I think they don't know quite how to do it anymore."
Honey was a little surprised. She guessed she hadn't expected him to believe her.
"Just remember that not all of the dead come back. And if a body hasn't lost anyone they won't know what we do. If you're frightened you just call on me."
"Thank you Kenneth." She was indeed relieved. "I best get home to my girls. Take care now."
The 2 grieving souls parted ways. Honey to her girls, and Kenneth to his empty home.
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