Aethelflaed had a loveless marriage with Aethelred, both of them aware from this. It didn’t stop him from taking several mistresses on the side, seemingly to make Aethelflaed jealous.

One woman in particular, Aethelred had decided to keep around. Aethelflaed had to admit she was a beautiful woman, she understood the appeal, though the woman looked as miserable as Aethelflaed had when she first wed Aethelred. She felt almost sympathetic for her, but couldn’t shake the unrelenting bitterness.