From the Sketchbook:Scene 2

This chapter of Courting Trouble tells us why the people of Wessex do not like their King. A power hungry and resentful prince sets his warriors against the legitimate king, killing him while he is visiting his mistress. All who are eligible and of age to take the king's place are killed in the skirmish. The mistress is burned for infidelity, and her husband remarries a very young girl. Wessex's enemy, Mercia, takes over the kingdom by installing the puppet king Beorhtric.

Elfwinne, a Lady of the Court

Elfwine is a lady at King Beorhtric's court in the novel Courting Trouble. She is a friend of the queen, Odburh. In the following passage, the novel's heroine, Cynetrith, is introduced to Elfwinne, who entertains her friends with a riddle.

“This is my friend Elfwinne,” [Prince Athelstan] said.

“Nice to meet you,” I said, smiling warmly.

“You have the greatest smile,” said Athelstan. The young man accompanying Elfwinne grimaced.

“And this,” said Athelstan, indicating the youth, “is my best friend Yurmin.”

“Hello, Yurmin,” I said. He seemed to be far away.

“I just heard this one today,” said Elfwinne. “ ‘Outside I’m ornamented. Inside I’m dark. A lady takes care of me and, when her lord is feeling valiant, takes me to him. He upends me and puts a hairy thing in me. It’s a tight fit. Soon he’ll be thrusting. What am I?’”

We all looked at each other and giggled.

Meet the Troubled Court: King Beorhtric

Meet the characters who populate Courting Trouble. Today we'll feature His Majesty King Beorhtric (pronounced (BEE OR Trick), with an excerpt from the book that describes the heroine's first glimpse of the drunkard king.

I entered the chamber. The light was dim and the first thing I noticed was the smell. The sour breath of the sleeping monarch hung in the air like the still fog of a summer morning. I set down the pitcher and turned to look at Beorhtric. He was lying on his back on the bed, his legs apart. His tunic had worked its way up above his waist, and his penis was practically lost in a great mass of gray and black pubic hair made even more eye-catching by the pale white of his skin. A linen sheet, intricately embroidered along one end with colorful interlocking beasts, covered only his chest and then trailed onto the floor. There was a pillow under his neck, and his head fell back, diminishing the effect of the great wattles of flesh beneath his chin. His mouth was open. He snored loudly and with great inventiveness.