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hand hovering menacingly over the pommel of his sword.
    Edmund and Godwin fell to their knees. ‘My lord king,’ Godwin said, looking up at Sweyn Estrithson. Merchants stopped their business. They turned and bowed low in obeisance to their king. Thea and Gytha inclined their heads followed by their two ladies, Margaret and Gudrun. Godwin lifted his eyes and announced, ‘We have arrived from Flanders, my liege. I have brought my sister and grandmother with me. They seek your protection.’
    So this was Sweyn Estrithson, King of Denmark. He scanned their small company with sharp, piercing, blue eyes before speaking. ‘You have returned, Godwin Haroldson, and safely, I see. Well, back in Denmark safely. May God be praised! Informants gave me a sad report about the loss of your brother, Magnus. What was King Dairmaid of Dublin thinking of when he allowed that fledgling to fight before he had first broken in his sword?’ He waved a huge gloved hand at Thea’s two kneeling brothers. ‘Get up off your knees, cousins, obeisance in the offal and dirt does not become us. And you too,’ he called over to the kneeling merchants. ‘Get onto your feet and be about your own business.’
    As Godwin and Edmund scrambled up Sweyn Estrithson studied Countess Gytha, smiling from his aunt to Thea his cousin. ‘Now, who do we have here? By Christos, tis indeed Aunt Gytha, who looks as if she could do with a long rest in a soft bed.’
    Gytha inclined her head. ‘That can wait.’ With a jerk of her granddaughter’s mantle, she pulled Thea forward. ‘Nephew, I bring with me my granddaughter Thea and our two attendants. Our request is a simple one. We ask that we may join your court, for a time.’
    â€˜For a time?’ the Dane said stroking his beard and looking thoughtful. ‘What other plans do you have?’
    Gytha impatiently tapped her stick. Her voice was strong as ever as she said, ‘England will shake off the Norman pestilence and when that day comes we go back to whence we came, to our own lands.’
    Sweyn narrowed his eyes. ‘Let us pray then that it will be soon.’ He smiled, showing a set of strong though yellowed teeth. ‘Meantime, welcome, Aunt Gytha.’ He turned away from his aunt, reached out, lifted Thea’s tiny hand in his great bear-like paw and said, ‘Welcome, my lovely cousin.’ Thea felt his eyes slide up and down her person, as if he was already appraising her for a marriage market. Well, did she not want a husband? Yes, indeed she did, as long as he was a prince and handsome and kind and not one of Sweyn’s burly warriors who stood about watching, their eyes following their king’s as he greeted her.
    Humbly bowing her head, she wished that there had been time to change their travel-stained clothing. Perhaps then she would not feel so exposed. A gift too, perhaps, would make her feel as if they were not so dependent on this king’s goodwill.
    King Sweyn smiled broadly. ‘Well, now. There are many who have come from other places dwelling at my court, merchants and slaves from the Slav lands and we have your father’s disgruntled thanes …’ he looked hard at Thea, ‘… from England, too, all looking to make their fortunes in my country, but none as comely as my little cousin, Thea. We shall have to find you a husband.’ He was speculating. And, in that moment, she determined that she would have her say in what happened to her.
    He turned from Thea and gathered Grandmother Gytha into an embrace. Releasing her, he remarked that she was as delicate as a bird, adding, ‘So now we shall make room in our humble house for the courageous Godwin women.’ At this, Gytha’s tears flowed, a sight that Thea had not seen since her father and uncles were slaughtered at the Battle on Senlac Hill, not even in the worst days of the siege at Exeter. Gytha dabbed delicately at her eyes