Candace Robb - The Riddle Of St Leonard's

His hands shook as he mixed the salve, smoothed it on the boils. ‘I must leave you now. I will be back. Or one of my brothers.’

‘You will not say the prayers over me and shrive me?’

‘I must rest. I promise you someone will come.’

‘You never meant to save me.’

‘God help me, John. I am ill.’

The man turned away from him.

Wulfstan managed to make his way to the ladder. As he descended, he could not grasp the ladder tight enough with the bag in his hand. He let it drop to the floor. The loss of the burden helped, but his knees threatened to buckle on each rung. By the time Wulfstan had struggled down, he had forgotten the bag. He pushed open the front door, took a step backward. The bright sunlight burned his eyes and made them water so badly he could not see. He withdrew, finding the dark interior comforting. He settled down against the wall. A nap might strengthen him.

Owen discovered the physician’s house locked, the windows on his ground floor boarded up. He had hoped to look at the house, see whether someone might have stayed there and spied on Walter de Hotter. But the boards were well fastened. He moved on to the hospital to speak to Honoria about the foul-smelling physick that Nate said Julian had been taking the day he died.

But the sight of the almoner playing gatekeeper put all else out of his mind for a moment. Owen was accustomed to seeing the canon going among the poor, not guarding the gate. ‘ Benedicte , Don Erkenwald. Where is Barker?’ In truth, the muscular, scarred almoner looked more at home in a gatehouse than among the poor.

‘He is assisting in the search,’ Erkenwald said with a grave nod.

Owen understood the nod as an invitation for questions. ‘You have found something?’

‘Nay. Lost. Two members of our community disappeared in the night.’ Erkenwald sank down on to a bench with a sigh, rested one elbow on his knees, his eyes level with Owen’s. A soldier’s pose, not a canon’s. ‘Matters have gone from bad to worse.’

‘Who has disappeared?’

‘Anneys, one of our lay sisters, and a child from the orphanage, Alisoun Ffulford. Did the boy not explain why Sir Richard sent for you?’

‘I must have been gone when he came. I had hoped to search the house of Master Saurian. But it is boarded up.’

Erkenwald sniffed. ‘And so it will be until the first frost. The physician fled the city.’

‘I had heard.’

‘I always counted him a coward.’

‘Some find it unbearable to work among the dying.’

Erkenwald looked at Owen askance. ‘A physician? Pah! I pray you, go to Sir Richard. He awaits you.’

As Owen crossed the yard, he wondered what new mischief was afoot. Had Alisoun’s lurker taken action? But what had Anneys to do with it?

A servant showed Owen into Ravenser’s parlour, where Owen was greeted by not only the master, but also Don Cuthbert, Dame Constance and Dame Beatrice. Ravenser rose to greet him, an unusual gesture. His expression echoed Owen’s anxiety. ‘We are guarding all gates to the hospital, and the lay brothers have begun a search with Barker in command. But I fear the man has fled with the child and the woman.’

‘Barker did not see them pass last night?’

Ravenser looked to Dame Constance.

‘Anneys lives in the lay sisters’ house in the city. Barker would have noted nothing unusual in her passing through, and he does not remember a child,’ Dame Constance said.

‘You have found no sign of the man?’

Don Cuthbert shook his head. ‘They have been searching since matins and have found no strangers amongst us.’

‘Tell me how you discovered they were missing, Dame Constance.’

‘Alisoun was not in her bed this morning, nor anywhere a child might roam. And when the lay sisters arrived they were without Anneys. Not that she is always prompt.’

‘You have searched for Anneys?’

‘We do not know where to begin.’

Nor do I , Owen thought. But it was not the sort of thing he cared to admit aloud.

Ravenser dismissed Don Cuthbert, Dame Constance and Dame Beatrice. When the others had departed, the master drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair. ‘The situation is worse than it was when you began, Captain Archer. Why is that?’ At that moment he looked more like his uncle than usual.

And had the same effect on Owen. ‘Have I kept aught from you, Sir Richard?’

‘Not to my knowledge.’

‘Have you kept aught from me? What of your argument with William Savage. Should I know the details?’

Ravenser’s colour heightened; his uncle knew no blushes. ‘You presume-’ He shook his head. ‘No. You are quite right. I attacked you for no reason.’

‘And William Savage?’

A sudden interest in arranging the items on the table. ‘Savage. It is quite simple. I refused his wife’s mother as a corrodian, though the terms promised to be generous. The discussion grew heated, we both said things we should not have.’

‘Such as?’

Ravenser paused in his fussing, frowned up at Owen. ‘You truly think it important.’

‘As you say, the situation grows worse. I am obviously missing vital pieces of the puzzle.’

A nod. ‘Savage mentioned the rumours of our financial straits, the corrodians dying conveniently, and then crowned it all with a new rumour, that Honoria de Staines was sleeping with corrodians of the hospital.’

‘A rumour? Or a fact, I wonder. With whom did he say she was sleeping?’

Ravenser looked alarmed. ‘It is of some import, then?’

‘It might be,’ Owen said.

‘He would not say. Hence I believed it was a bluff.’

‘Why was Savage so angry?’

‘I accused him of fearing his wife’s mother would take over his household. She is known to be most unpleasant.’

‘Sweet Jesu . His Grace could hardly be more tactless.’

‘My uncle would not have put himself in this situation, Captain.’

True enough. ‘Is there aught else you have not told me?’

‘I have bared my soul to you. Now make something of it.’

Owen rose. ‘Patience, Sir Richard.’

‘I am impatient only because I have been called south. The Queen is failing rapidly. But I do not like to leave until I know that the reputation of St Leonard’s is saved.’

‘Then pray that my day is fruitful.’

As Owen crossed the yard he met Don Erkenwald. Hands on hips, he looked militant despite his robes and sandals. ‘They have searched most of the area, Captain. No strangers.’

‘It tells us nothing. He would have been a fool to stay.’

‘The lay sisters mentioned a deserted house next to them, one that has seen trouble.’

‘Aye. And many another house emptied by the Death.’

‘Quite right. Where will you look?’

‘First I must speak with Honoria de Staines. Where might I find her?’

‘At the Barnhous. She is watching the sick infants. Then what?’

‘If I learn nothing from her, I have a mind to travel to a farm.’

‘Would that I had an excuse to accompany you.’

‘How are you with a shovel?’

Erkenwald grinned. ‘Very good. But that is not a unique skill.’

‘I might also need you to take up a weapon.’

‘What of your men?’

‘They will be busy searching the city. I would welcome your help.’

Erkenwald nodded. ‘Come for me when you are ready.’

Wulfstan woke once to feel someone brush by him. Then a child’s voice cried out, ‘Here. Is this the one we seek?’

A woman leaned close. ‘You have saved my son. I shall do what I can for you.’

‘Sweet Mary, pray for me,’ Wulfstan whispered.