If Helgha thought her words would prevent Lord Ædmunde seeking her out, she was mistaken. The winter days crawled by. Snow fell day after day, keeping people inside, doing tasks they could do indoors.
Helgha spun and dyed the wool they had bought from a neighbour who had a few sheep. Lord Ædmunde trudged from the Hall to her home each day. The weather was so bad, and the snow kept on falling, that Beatrix invited the young man in every time he came.
Helgha objected at first, but Beatrix said, “You don"t expect me to send the Thegn"s son away in this weather, do you?”
Since it was her house, Helgha could say nothing. Beatrix could invite whomever she pleased.
When he came, Beatrix found something to do at the other end of the one-roomed cottage and took Biorn with her.
Lord Ædmunde was
