11 - The Lammas Feast by Kate Sedley

Author:Kate Sedley [Sedley, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: tpl, rt
Publisher: Severn House Publishers
Published: 2012-12-03T05:00:00+00:00

Twelve

‘Well, when I say “some little time”,’ the baker amended, ushering me back into the parlour, ‘I mean for the last couple of days. Ever since we had our little discussion on Tuesday morning.’

‘In – in the Green Lattis?’ I queried, somewhat at a loss.

‘That’s right. You asked me about letting Jasper’s living quarters above the bakery, and I said I didn’t wish to be burdened with renting the place out any longer. I wanted to sell it. All of it. Do you remember?’

I nodded, wondering where this conversation was leading us.

I said, ‘You also suggested that if the bakehouse and shop were converted into living rooms, it would make a spacious town house. But we both agreed that I couldn’t possibly afford it.’

I had shed my pack again and Master Overbecks and I were now seated side by side on the settle.

‘That’s what I’ve been thinking about.’ The baker placed a hand on my arm and lowered his voice confidentially. ‘Forgive me asking this, Roger, but do you have any money at all put by? A few hard-earned savings, perhaps?’

I thought of my two gold pieces hidden under the cottage floor, and nodded once again, this time more warily. My heart was beginning to thump, and I moistened my lips with the tip of my tongue before I could bring myself to mention the amount.

‘Splendid! Splendid!’ John Overbecks squeezed my arm. ‘You need a bigger house with your growing family. Moreover, you’re a big, strong lad who could make the necessary alterations. So, what I suggest is this. We agree a price for the property. You make me a down payment of your gold pieces and whatever else you feel you can afford, and then you pay me the same amount each week that you now pay to the priory, only you won’t be renting from me. In five, six, seven years time – or however long it takes to complete the purchase – the place will be yours. Of course, it will all be done legally and above board. We’ll have my lawyer in Back Street draw up a document setting out the terms and conditions, which we’ll both then sign. I know you can read, so there won’t be any difficulty there. Now, you don’t need to give me your answer straight away. Go home and discuss it with Mistress Chapman first, if you want to. Of course, I’d like to have your decision as soon as possible.’

My mind was reeling with excitement, but I struggled to keep my wits about me.

‘Won’t there be interest?’ I croaked. ‘After all, what you’re proposing is as good as a loan. And suppose you were to . . . to die before I’d finished paying you, what then?’

‘In reply to your first question, there will be interest, naturally,’ the baker conceded, ‘but that will be taken into account in your weekly payment. Of course, it will probably add a year or two to the length of time it will take you to complete the purchase.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.