Edward Marston - The Hawks of Delamere

‘Why?’

‘Her marriage is a constant ordeal.’

‘What about yours?’

‘An endless joy.’

He bent forward to kiss her between the shoulder blades. ‘Do they ever sleep together?’ he mused.

‘I could hardly ask her such a question as that.’

‘What did your instinct tell you?’

‘That she is a long-suffering wife who has learned to live with her disappointments. Earl Hugh and she have little in common.

Now that she has provided him with children, they have no need to share a bed.’

‘Is that the only reason for making love?’

‘Yes,’ she said with a smile. ‘Procreation.’

‘Can it not be a pleasure in itself?’

‘Of course not, Ralph.’

‘Then I have been deluded all these years.’

‘It is expressly against the teaching of the Scriptures. Man and wife have a duty to bring forth children. Pleasure has no part whatsoever in it.’

‘You should have told me that before we came to bed.’

‘Would it have made the slightest difference?’

‘No.’

They shared a laugh and he kissed the back of her neck. Golde luxuriated in his touch for a few minutes before she spoke again.

Her voice was now dreamy, her thoughts floating.

‘The Lady Ermintrude made some strange comments.’

‘I thought that there was no room for anyone else in this bed.

If I am to sacrifice my old woman, you must throw out our hostess.’

‘But this might interest you.’

‘I already have someone to do that, Golde.’

‘It concerns this threatened uprising.’

Ralph’s curiosity took over. ‘Oh?’

‘But I will not spoil a beautiful moment like this.’

‘Please,’ he urged. ‘Just tell me what she said.’

‘In the morning.’

‘Now, Golde. This might be important.’

‘They were only casual remarks as I left her apartment.’

‘It must have been more than that for you to draw my attention to it.’ He tickled her under the arms and made her squeal a protest. ‘Tell me or I will do that again.’

‘Very well,’ she agreed. ‘The Lady Ermintrude said some things which made me think that she almost wished a battle was looming because it would take her husband away from the castle for a while. Earl Hugh is a soldier at heart and always will be.’

‘How odd!’

‘Is it so odd?’

‘I know of no other woman who welcomes a battle.’

‘You are not married to Earl Hugh,’ said Golde tartly. ‘If I put myself in her position, I have some sympathy with her point of view. I, too, would prefer to be the wife of someone in combat rather than to be tied to a roving lecher who betrayed his marital vows as if they were wholly meaningless.’

‘Does Ermintrude think that there will be war?’

‘She is certain of it.’

‘Then she gets that certainty from Earl Hugh. That is alarming.

He is set on armed conflict.’

‘I knew that you would be interested.’

‘Yes, my love.’

But something else caught his attention at that point and it made him prick up his ears. Ralph thought that he heard a noise outside the door of the apartment. Easing himself off Golde, he put a finger to his lips to warn her to be silent and crept across to the candle in the window recess.

One hand on the bolt, he stood close to the door and listened intently. Then, without warning, he pulled back the bolt, flung open the door and used the candle to illumine the narrow passageway outside. Ralph could see nobody but he was in time to hear the departing footsteps of the person who had been eavesdropping on them. He was furious.

Precious moments alone with his wife had been shared with a spy. How long had he been there and whom did he serve? They were disturbing thoughts and not even Golde’s comforting arms could drive them completely away.

*

*

*

Gervase Bret was up at dawn to attend the service in the chapel.

He was surprised to find it reasonably full and was startled to see Hugh d’Avranches and his wife kneeling side by side in prayer.

It was an incongruous sight and Gervase could not decide if the earl had come to the chapel to seek a blessing from above on his military expedition or absolution for his numerous sins.

Ermintrude’s presence suggested that her husband was in penitent mood, but he left the chapel so abruptly at the end of the service that Gervase had to revise his opinion. Earl Hugh was ready for battle.

Brother Gerold was glad that his friend lingered for a few words after the service. He came gliding down the nave towards Gervase with a smile of greeting. The two of them stepped out into the little porch.

‘It was pleasing to see you there, Gervase.’

‘Did you have any doubts that I would come?’

‘None at all.’

‘What about Earl Hugh?’

‘He came of his own volition.’

‘For what purpose, though?’

‘Only he and God know that.’

Gervase looked across the bailey at the soldiers who were being marshalled outside their quarters. Their numbers had been substantially swelled by the arrival of newcomers from estates all over Cheshire. It was an intimidating prospect for someone so wedded to the notion of peace as Gervase.

‘Earl Hugh’s mind is made up, then?’

‘I fear so, Gervase.’

‘Is there no way to dissuade him from riding out at the head of an army?’

‘None that I have been able to find. And I have tried.’

‘I am sure, Brother Gerold.’

‘In fairness to Earl Hugh, he did at least consider the plea from Bishop Robert and Archdeacon Frodo. They elected you to accompany that eccentric churchman from Wales down to the dungeons.’

‘So I have been told.’

‘Whether you and Archdeacon Idwal could achieve anything by talking with the prisoner, I do not know, but I certainly feel that it is worth a try. Your presence will make all the difference, Gervase.’

‘In what way?’

‘It will convince Earl Hugh that nothing underhand is taking place down there.’ Gerold gave a shrug of regret. ‘I was overly pessimistic when Idwal first raised the possibility of a visit to Gruffydd ap Cynan, and I am sorry that I was so dismissive.

Fortunately, Idwal is not easily shaken off and he has continued to press for the opportunity to speak with his countryman.’

‘I would be happy to escort him.’

‘Earl Hugh took that into account.’

‘What decision has he reached?’

‘It has not yet been confided in me.’

‘Please use what influence you have on our behalf.’

‘I will, Gervase.’

Brother Gerold was about to go back into the chapel when Gervase remembered something. He put a detaining hand on the other’s arm.

‘One moment, Brother Gerold.’

‘Yes?’

‘On an earlier visit to the chapel, you conducted me round it and took me into the vestry.’

‘I recall it well. Nobody else has ever shown such interest in our chapel and its contents. Is there something I omitted to show you?’

‘The contents of the reliquary.’

‘Ah, yes. Of course.’

‘What treasures does it contain?’

‘Nothing of outstanding value,’ replied the other. ‘We have a flask of holy water from Jerusalem and another that was blessed by the pontiff in Rome. For the rest, it is a case of minor relics of minor saints. Nothing that would really excite the interest of Archdeacon Idwal.’

‘Idwal?’

‘I presume that you are asking on his behalf?’

‘Well …’

‘Do not feel embarrassed about it, Gervase,’ said the other with a grin. ‘He has already questioned me in person about the reliquary but seemed unwilling to take my word for what it contained. Assure him that we have neither the toenail of St Dyfrig, the hair of St Deiniol nor the bones of St David here.