Edward Marston - The Owls of Gloucester

They sent the Archdeacon of St David’s to inflict even greater misery on us !’

‘Archdeacon Idwal?’ said the other in surprise. ‘You know him?’

‘To our cost!’

‘Idwal is a remarkable man.’

‘Yes,’ said Ralph. ‘Remarkably unlovable. If ever there was a worthy candidate for the assassin’s dagger, it is Idwal of St David’s!’ He turned on his heel and marched away. ‘Be quick about it, Gervase!’

‘Is that where the lord Ralph’s prejudice against the Welsh comes from?’ asked Abraham. ‘An unfortunate encounter with Idwal?’

‘Two unfortunate encounters.’

‘I have always found him so friendly.’

‘Leave him aside,’ said Gervase. ‘This matter must be resolved.

As for the lord Ralph’s attitude towards the Welsh, I have to point out that it has hardly been softened by the news you bring us of a Welsh plot against the King.’

‘It does not really deserve the name of a plot, Master Bret.’

‘Then what is it?’

‘A wild notion of hot-headed patriots.’

‘Patriots? So more than one person is involved?’

‘Yes and no.’

‘How many others?’

‘That is irrelevant.’

‘Not to me, Archdeacon. I’m glad you didn’t mention this to the lord Ralph or he would certainly have taken you with him to the castle. And not with overmuch ceremony, I fear. Tell me all,’ he urged, ‘for I can see that you are no assassin. You’re a devout Christian who abhors murder as the evil it is. That is why you rebelled against the idea. But you could only rebel against something you knew about and that makes you an accessory of sorts.’ He watched the Welshman carefully. ‘You told one or more friends about the King’s visit here. Were you asked to provide any additional information to them?’

Abraham lowered his head. ‘Yes, Master Bret.’

‘But your conscience refused to let you do it. I see how it was.

You unwittingly provided the spark which lit a fire and it flared up out of your control. But you refuse to gather more fuel for that fire. Is that it?’

‘You are very perceptive.’

‘May I counsel you, Archdeacon?’

‘Please do.’

‘The lord Ralph is right. It must be stopped at source and you are in the ideal position to do that. Go to this friend or friends.

Be completely open. Admit that you have alerted the castle to the danger. And impress upon this lone assassin,’ said Gervase with emphasis, ‘that a garrison of armed soldiers is now lying in wait for him. Force him to abandon what is a futile bid. That way, you will save his life for he will surely sacrifice it if he tries to get near the King. Do you agree?’

‘I’ll leave Gloucester immediately.’

‘In which direction?’

Abraham was enigmatic. ‘That is for me to know. You and the lord Ralph are on one mission of mercy. I depart on another.’

Golde could not decide why she disliked her so much. The lady Emma was a lively and intelligent woman, unfailingly courteous to her hostess at the castle and unceasingly polite to Golde herself. There was no hint of condescension in the visitor’s manner. She was relaxed and friendly.

‘I should not have called upon you at such a time,’ she apologised. ‘Had I know whom you were entertaining, my lady, I would not have dreamed of trespassing upon you.’

‘Nonsense!’ said Maud. ‘You are doubly welcome. It is true that the King’s visit has placed an extra burden on us but it does not really fall on me. How could it when I am scarcely allowed near him? Durand excludes me completely from matters of state.’

‘Is that why King William is here?’

‘So I understand.’

‘Has your husband given you no clearer indication?’

‘None,’ said Maud sourly. ‘Since the visitors arrived last night, I have hardly seen my husband. He expects me to know my place.

At the altar I swore to obey him, and that is what I will always do, but I will not pretend that I enjoy being kept on the outer fringes of his world. Is it so with the lord Hamelin?’

‘Far from it, my lady. He discusses everything with me.’

‘It is the same with Golde and the lord Ralph,’ said Maud, trying to bring her other guest into the conversation. ‘They do not keep secrets from each other. Well, most of the time, that is.’

Golde was reluctant to be drawn into a defence of Ralph at a point when she was feeling a distant sense of betrayal. When she studied the lady Emma’s lovely features and gorgeous attire, she was honest enough to admit to herself that she was faintly jealous of her, but that was not the only reason why she wished to detach herself. Evidently, the others were well acquainted with each other, having a fund of news to exchange and endless reminiscences to share. Golde was in the way. When she made her excuse and quit the room, she knew that they would have a much more enjoyable time without her.

Desiring some fresh air, she elected to go for a walk around the perimeter of the bailey so that she could reflect on the true cause of her resentment of the lady Emma. No sooner had she descended the steps from the keep, however, than she saw Ralph hurrying towards her.

‘Ah, there you are, my love!’ he said, arriving to give her a peck on the cheek. ‘I was looking for you.’

‘Why?’

‘To explain why I had to hop out of your bed with such indecent haste this morning. Hubert brought worrying news from the abbey.

One of the novices has been abducted.’

‘Oh,’ she replied. ‘It grieves me to hear that. I can see that Canon Hubert would be upset about it, but why did he need to involve you and Gervase? Surely, this is a problem for the abbey.’

‘It spills out far beyond that, Golde. I have no time to recount all the details. Suffice it to say that the abduction is linked to the murder. The man who seized that boy last night is, in all probability, the same person who killed Brother Nicholas. We have picked up his trial. I had to come back here on other business,’ he said, ‘so I thought I would tell you what is going on. Gervase and I may be away for some time.’

‘What of your duties in the shire hall?’

‘They must wait.’

‘I see,’ said Golde levelly, noting his eagerness to get away. ‘In that case, I’ll not hold you up. Thank you for warning me. I appreciate it.’

He peered at her. ‘What is wrong?’

‘Nothing, Ralph.’

‘Then why this strange coldness?’

‘Am I being cold?’ she said, contriving a warm smile. ‘I am sorry.

It was not intentional. Be on your way. Gervase will be waiting.’

‘Then he can wait,’ said Ralph, taking a step towards her. ‘You’re upset with me again, Golde. I can tell. Are you still harbouring a grudge because I forgot to mention the King’s arrival?’

‘You didn’t forget, Ralph. You chose not to remember.’

‘It amounts to the same thing.’

‘No, it doesn’t. Deliberation was involved.’

‘Ah, so that’s my crime. Deliberate deception.’

‘This has nothing to do with the King’s visit,’ she said. ‘Well, only indirectly. But my concerns are paltry beside yours. A boy’s life is in danger. Go in search of him at once.’

‘Not until you tell me why you are so fretful.’

‘Fretful?’

‘Yes,’ he said. ‘You accuse me of holding things back from you but now you are the one guilty of deception. What is going on?’

‘The lady Maud has a visitor.’

‘Is that what has put your nose out of joint?’

‘Lady Emma. The wife of Hamelin of Lisieux.’ She watched his reaction. ‘Yes, Ralph. You met her at the shire hall. She told me how much you impressed her. The lady Emma was sure that you would have mentioned her name to me.’