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Updated: June 20, 2025
"I do think thee true and worthy knight, Sir Jocelyn, and moreover " But of a sudden, Roger's voice reached them from without, hoarse with terror. "Master O master, beware! 'Tis the witch, lord O beware!" And with the cry, lo! a hurry of feet running swift and light, a rustle of flying garments, and there, flushed and panting, stood the witch the witch Mellent that was the lady Winfrida.
As he wandered slowly thus, his head bent and eyes a-dream, he came unto a certain shady arbour where fragrant herb and climbing blooms wrought a tender twilight apt to blissful musing. Now standing within this perfumed shade he heard of a sudden a light step behind him, and turning swift about, his eager arms closed upon a soft and yielding form, and behold it was Winfrida!
"Yet will it come. Ah, think you 'tis a portent? O would the gentle Angelo were here and yet, an he were come methinks I might wish him hence for that, loving thee so, yet am I a maid, and foolish ah, who is here not Angelo so soon? What, 'tis thou, Winfrida? Welcome bring hither the goblet."
To him all tender sweetness, yet to all others within the manor was she the Duchess, proud and stately; moreover, when she met the lady Winfrida in hall or bower, her slender brows would wrinkle faintly and her voice sound cold and distant, whereat the fair Winfrida would bow her meek head, and sighing, wring her shapely fingers.
But now as he stood staring after her beyond all thought amazed, a white hand parted the leafy screen and the Duchess stood before him. And behold! her slender brows were wrinkled faintly, and when she spake her voice was cold and distant. "Saw you the lady Winfrida, my lord?" "Why truly," stammered Beltane, "truly I she was here but now " "Here, my lord? Alone?"
Now being yet heavy with sleep, Beltane arose and followed her through an opening in the arras near by, and down a narrow stair, stumbling often as he went and walking as one in a dream. So by devious ways Winfrida brought him into a little chapel, where, upon the altar, was a crucifix with candles dim-burning in the gloom.
"Since when," quoth the Duchess, soft-voiced yet menacing, "since when doth Winfrida hold sly meeting with one that is enemy to me and to Mortain?" "Enemy? nay, whom mean you indeed I O Helen, in sooth 'twas but by chance " "Is this treason, my lady Winfrida, or only foolish amourette?" "Sweet lady 'twas but chance an you mean Duke Ivo he came I saw "
Anon she sighed and spake: "My lady Winfrida, on this my wedding night a new life dawns for Mortain and for me, wherein old harms shall be forgiven and forgot, so come kiss me, Winfrida." Then swiftly came the beauteous Winfrida to kneel at her lady's feet, to clasp her lady's slender hand, to kiss it oft and bathe it in her tears. "O sweet my lady, am I indeed forgiven?" "Aye, most truly."
Now, of a sudden, while yet Beltane frowned down upon her, came Sir Jocelyn, and kneeling beside Winfrida, spake with bent head: "Messire Beltane, thou seest before thee two that are one, henceforth. So do I beseech thee, forgive us our trespass against thee, an it may be so. But, if thy wrongs are beyond forgiveness, then will we die together."
So came Winfrida, and falling on her knee gave the goblet into her lady's hand, who, rising, turned to Beltane looking on him soft-eyed across the brimming chalice. "Lord and husband," she breathed "now do I drink to thy glory in arms, to our future, and to our abiding love!" So the Duchess raised the goblet to her lips.
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