Priscilla Royal - Chambers of Death

She turned her face from him, and in the feeble light he saw the profile of her hand pressed against her mouth as if to stop words from tumbling out.

“You must tell me what you know or have heard. Let me decide what information might best save your life and what can be forgotten here.”

“I am a servant to this family and owe them loyalty. To speak ill of any amongst them would be a betrayal.”

A most revealing response to his question, Thomas thought, considering what he had already learned about Mistress Luce. If the wife’s adultery was so well known, there was little reason to doubt that Master Stevyn was also aware of the cuckoldry and, like any husband, would be disinclined to ignore it. Who might she be trying to protect: master or lady? “If you distinguish what you know from what you have heard as rumor, there are few who would find fault with you. Most certainly not I.”

“What is my life worth if Master Stevyn casts me out because he learns what I have said? Even if I am found innocent of his groom’s murder, I shall suffer the shame of being condemned as a faithless servant while I starve.”

“Let God be the judge of your words. If your heart holds no malice and your testimony brings to light some relevant family sin, your act will have been a righteous one. He will surely protect you.” Yet how reasonable was that? Thomas asked himself, knowing full well she had cause enough for fear in a world ruled by mortals. He tried unsuccessfully to silence that blasphemous whisper from his soul.

Hilda closed her eyes and silently moved her lips as if praying that the burden of this moment be lifted from her shoulders. Tears glistened on her cheeks in the pale light, but she ignored them. “I lied in the courtyard, Brother. I was jealous. Tobye had other women, for cert, and I envied them even though I could never have bedded him even if he had truly wished it. I feared Hell too much. Why is it that we long for something that we fear with equal strength? Will God forgive me for that?”

“Did you ever harm his bedfellows in any way?”

“Only in my heart, Brother, but that alone must make the Devil leap high with joy.”

Sin enough perhaps, but he knew far graver ones than this woman could even imagine. “If Satan did, his prancing was short-lived. God is gentler with faults that never hurt another mortal.” He waited for her to continue.

“Isn’t confessing my lie about the jealousy enough?” Her voice wavered.

Thomas hoped she could see understanding and forgiveness in his smile despite the gloom. “He had other women. Who were they?”

Rubbing her hands together in tortured agony, Hilda groaned, then bent closer to him and whispered, “Mistress Luce. I know that. Once I saw her coupling with him against the wall like some common woman, but methinks there was another who came from the manor house that horrible night.”

Thomas tried to hide the surprise as he asked: “Who was she?” Doubt took residence in his heart. She had heard Ranulf’s claim that he had seen her in the stable. Was she now claiming that she had seen a woman too? To corroborate the testimony of the steward’s eldest son, and suggest that he had been wrong only in the identification of the woman, was a clever ploy. Nay, he thought, she was not possessed of such crafty wit.

“Who was this person?” he asked again, wondering how vague her answer would be.

“I was coming out of the privy and saw a woman’s shadow near the stable. Then she slipped inside. I saw only her shape, never her face.” She flinched and turned away. “Aye, Brother, once or twice I did spy on him, but my intent was never to betray his lovers even though my heart ached with envy. Maybe that pain was my penance for the wicked longing of my flesh?”

“Quite possibly,” he said gently, “but your sin is light enough. Tell me what else you saw or heard. You might find a readier forgiveness if the eavesdropping reveals a killer.”

“In truth, my sight was limited by the hour and weather. I knew it was a woman by the length of her heavy cloak, but I could not determine if she were young or old. When I slipped up to a window and pressed my ear as close as I dared, I was unable to recognize words. She spoke too low, but I thought she whined with piteous begging. Tobye must have grown angry, for I did hear him exclaim that his member withered at the very sight of her. Then I ran away out of shame for what I was doing.”

“Did her voice remind you of anyone?”

“Aye, Brother, but I would never swear it in God’s name.”

“But you can confide it to me in confidence, Hilda, and let me consider what is best to do next. I promise I will do nothing that will bring harm to you for a mere supposition.”

She bent to his ear.

The door creaked open, and a man stepped into the room.

“How does Hilda, Brother?” the steward asked.

“My lady!” the guard’s daughter cried out.

Eleanor and the child’s father immediately turned to discover what had caused her to shriek so. When they saw the reason, both laughed out of amusement as well as relief.

With both arms, the child was waving at an equally small girl standing inside the manor gate. The object of this enthusiasm now bounded toward them.

“Would you give my friend your blessing as well?” The child’s hazel eyes, round with anticipation, looked up at the prioress.

“With much pleasure, especially since you ask it,” Eleanor replied. Just beyond the gate, near the hut where the cook was confined, she also saw Brother Thomas in close conversation with Master Stevyn.

Although the two little girls must have played together often, they bounced and squealed with happiness as if they had been separated more years than they had been on earth.

The sight chased some of the darkness from the prioress’ heart, a sorrow that the violence of murder always brought her. If only we could keep that innocent joy of childhood and never be touched by cruelty, she thought, and smiled at the children who looked up at her with solemn faces, their hands dutifully folded. As she gave her blessing and felt God’s love flow through her to touch the girls when she kissed each on the cheek, Eleanor hoped that they would grow old together with that same delight in friendship and comfort in each other’s company.

“My lady, may I ask favor for myself?” Her guard shuffled and his face reddened as they walked into the courtyard.

From the corner of her eye, Eleanor saw a young woman and recognized her as the one he had been talking to when Hilda was arrested. She nodded, knowing quite well what his wish might be.

“I would take but a minute to greet the mother of my daughter’s friend. As you see, she is near, and I promise not to cease careful watch over you.”

The prioress now caught her monk’s eye. “With Master Stevyn just there and Brother Thomas on his way to my side,” she said to her guard, “I will be safe enough from any mortal ill. He and I shall remain here, for we must discuss some prayers we have promised.” She lowered her eyes with modesty. “You need not cut short your courtesy.”

With an appreciate word and grateful grin, the man walked over to see the lady whose obvious joy at his arrival betrayed her own delight in his company.

“My lady, you amaze me,” Thomas said, looking in the direction of the departing guard. “How did you manage to send him away?”

“Love is a most powerful emotion, whether it be for God or another mortal. In this case, I simply bowed to the great enticement of the latter.” She turned her eyes heavenward. “Let us speak in Latin,” she continued in the suggested language. “Have you learned anything of interest? We must be brief, lest someone convey to another that our conversation was longer than expected between monk and prioress.”