Iris Collier - Day of Wrath

He looked at her father. ‘Guard her well, Master Warrener. She’s very precious to me. See no one comes near her and tend her yourself. I shall come again soon and see how she is. If you need anything – anything at all – get Brother Benedict here to come and get me. But now I must see where the accident happened. Brother Benedict, would you show me the place.’

They went together to the parish church, where the Vicar was hovering anxiously at the front door, talking to a group of villagers who all fell silent and stared at Nicholas as he walked up the path.

He nodded to Hobbes, and went into the church with Brother Benedict, who led the way up into the gallery.

‘There it is. It’s still where it fell. We were standing here. Had Jane not moved just at that moment when the rock fell, she wouldn’t be with us now.’

Nicholas looked at the big lump of masonry. It was a large piece, with rough-cut edges, and the mortar still looked as fresh as the day it was put there by the old craftsmen. There was no sign of crumbling.

‘Let’s go up into the tower,’ he said when he’d finished examining the stone.

They climbed up the second flight of stairs and went out on to the bellringer’s platform. He looked up into the huge space above him where the bells hung, and he saw where the jackdaws had built their nests on the embrasures in the wall which let in the daylight. The platform was littered with twigs and droppings, but there was no evidence that the birds had dislodged any of the stonework, which seemed to be in a good condition as far as he could see.

Brother Benedict nudged him and pointed out a place in the wall, level with the top of their heads, where a piece of masonry was missing. Nicholas went over and took a good look. The other blocks of stone around the hole were all firmly in position, the mortar intact.

‘This was no accident, Brother Benedict,’ he said, grimly. ‘Someone prised that stone out of the wall and carried it to the edge of the platform and dropped it down. Now it couldn’t dislodge itself and it couldn’t make its own way down into the gallery. Someone was up here, Brother Benedict, when you and Jane started to rehearse. Someone chose his moment, but didn’t reckon on Jane moving at that precise moment. Thank God she did.’

Brother Benedict started at Nicholas disbelievingly. ‘Maybe one of the stonemasons removed it to replace the mortar and left it carelessly at the edge of the platform where it would only need a slight movement to dislodge it.’

‘And where did that slight movement come from? Your voices? I hardly think so. From the birds? Of course not. However, let’s take a look at the edge and see if there are any marks left by a piece of masonry being put down there.’

They went over and examined the edge of the platform. There were no marks. Just bits of twig and other rubbish jettisoned by the birds.

‘Well, we shall have to check with the Vicar – he’ll know if any stonemasons have been working on the tower recently. Did you see anyone up here when you came to rehearse with Jane? Think carefully now.’

Brother Benedict was staring at him with troubled eyes. ‘No, we saw no one. But Jane did say that the birds seemed noisier than usual, which would’ve been the case if anyone was on their territory. Lord Nicholas, what are you saying? Is it possible that someone wanted to kill Jane? I can’t believe that. What harm has she ever done?’

Nicholas looked thoughtfully at Brother Benedict. How much should he tell the young monk? How far could he trust him? He seemed genuinely upset over Jane’s accident. He couldn’t have been responsible. He was here with her, unless … No, he just couldn’t imagine Brother Benedict agreeing to be a decoy.

Brother Benedict seemed to sense his dilemma. ‘You must trust me, my Lord. You see, I love Jane as much as it’s possible for a monk to love anyone. She is a wonderful musician, a talented and intelligent girl, why should I want to harm her? If that’s what you’re thinking. Now take me into your confidence. Is it anything to do with Agnes Myles? I know Jane went to see her often and I guessed there was more to it than Christian duty towards an unfortunate old woman. Let me look after Agnes whilst Jane’s recovering. I’d be only too pleased to help – but I would like to know what’s going on.’

Nicholas deliberated for just a few seconds. He was going to need Brother Benedict now that Jane was out of action. He’d have to take the risk.

‘I’d be relieved if you would look after Agnes, Brother Benedict. Jane has the key to her room. We ought to go and get it.

‘Don’t worry about that. Father Hubert will have a spare key. I’ll get it off him.’

So there’s more than one key, he thought. If Ultor was one of the monks, he could have got at Agnes any time. But perhaps it would be too risky, or perhaps he was just biding his time. As long as Agnes’s mind remained confused, he was safe. But when her memory returned …

Again Brother Benedict seemed to read his thoughts. ‘I’ll have to ask the Prior’s permission first, of course. We’re not supposed to go into women’s rooms. Already I’ve broken the Rule once today by coming up here with Jane and going to Jane’s room at her home.’

‘But that was necessary. If you hadn’t come with me, Guy Warrener would never have let me go to see her. Now Brother Benedict, before we go and ask the Vicar about the stonemasons, I would like to ask you a few questions. What time were you up here with Jane?’

‘Four o’clock.’

‘Did you tell anyone you were coming?’

‘Yes, Brother Oswald. He’s the Precentor and likes to know what we’re doing.’

‘Anyone else?’

‘No, but Brother Oswald’s a bit of a chatterer. What’s this all leading up to, my Lord? You must take me into your confidence if I’m to help you.’

‘I’m hesitating because what I have to tell you is very serious. You see, Jane and I are working together to unmask a traitor who’s out to murder the King, who, as I’m sure you know, is coming to stay with me in a few days time. Now Jane is my assistant; and look what happened to her! Do you think I want to put another person’s life in danger? You could be taking a grave risk if anyone knows you’re working for me. Do you want to take that risk?’

‘Lord Nicholas, I want to – how do you say it – step into Jane’s shoes. If she was your assistant, then I should be proud to replace her until she recovers her strength. Now tell me as much as I need to know.’

* * *

Later, Nicholas went to see Alfred Hobbes, the Vicar. He said that no stonemasons had been employed by him that spring. If the churchwarden had asked for work to be done in the tower, then he couldn’t bring in stonemasons without consulting him first. Hobbes was worried and upset by Jane’s accident, especially as it had occurred in his church where nothing like that had ever happened before.

Nicholas left the parish church and walked across to the Prior’s house. He felt full of anxiety. Anxiety about Jane, and now Brother Benedict, who had so willingly agreed to look after Agnes, not fully understanding the risk he was taking. Nicholas knew that someone had been told that Jane and Brother Benedict would be up in the gallery at four o’clock, and that person had gone there with the intent to kill Jane. Thank God he hadn’t succeeded, but he felt sure he’d try again. The Prior would now have to help him. He had to know where all his monks were at four o’clock that afternoon. And the Prior wouldn’t like that at all; especially with Wagstaff and Laycock prowling around the premises. Supper was almost ready, but Prior Thomas took one look at Nicholas’s face and told Brother Cyril to delay the proceedings. He took Nicholas into the solarium and poured him out a generous glass of wine, which Nicholas accepted gratefully.