5 The Boy's Tale by Frazer Margaret

Author:Frazer, Margaret [Frazer, Margaret]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: __Fixed, _BIG_FIXUP, Britain, Convent, England, Fiction, good quality scan, Great Britain, Henry VI; 1422-1461, Historical, History, Medieval, Mystery & Detective, Nuns, Traditional British, Women Sleuths
ISBN: 9780425148990
Google: QJHRrJt4mvwC
Amazon: 0425148998
Publisher: Dream Machine Productions
Published: 1995-10-15T04:00:00+00:00

“Won’t Dame Alys tell you that?”

“Things seem to go better the less Dame Alys and I talk together,” Frevisse said wryly.

With no hint of wryness in return. Master Naylor answered, “I could see how that might be.” He had not enjoyed his necessary dealings with Dame Alys when she had been cellarer, and matters had not improved now she was hosteler. “There’ve only been the usual sort of traveler. None who’ve stayed more than a night.” His gaze on her face sharpened. “And no one I’ve heard of asking questions out of the ordinary except you. What should I be looking for?”

“Anyone interested in the boys.”

“Why would someone be interested in the boys?”

His direct, sharp question and her worry nearly drew the answer out of her. But though it might help for him to know, he was in the long run of it safer in ignorance. He could not be held accountable if he truly did not know who the children were. So against her inclination Frevisse shook her head and only answered, “I can’t tell you. But there may be people who would think them … safer in their hands.”

“Dame Claire knows this? Knows what you’re about?”

“And Domina Edith.” Who knew far more than Dame Claire and had surely given Dame Claire direction to order Master Naylor to silence. Or had she confided more than that to Dame Claire? Frevisse suddenly wondered.

Distant beyond the gateway and courtyard and cloister walls, the bell began to ring for Nines.

“Oh no!” Frevisse said. “I didn’t know time had gone so far. The children have hardly been out at all. They’re not going to be happy being taken back so soon.”

“Leave them with me, if you like. Colwin and I will show them more. Between the two of us, we should manage well enough and bring them back to cloister.”

It was a tempting possibility. Master Naylor had children of his own, Frevisse knew; and Colwin was one of their own people. But it was memory of Lady Adela’s face, watching the doves soar away, that made up her mind. “Yes, that would be very good of you to do.”

Sister Amicia burst out of the stable doorway, flustered near to tears. “They won’t listen to me! They’ve climbed into the hay mow and it’s all filthy up there, they’re covered in dust and they won’t come down and we’re going to be late!”

“It’s all right,” Frevisse said. “Master Naylor and Colwin are going to see to them. We can go and we won’t be late.”

“Oh, Master Naylor, how kind of you. How very kind. Thank you, thank you so much. I promised they’d see the piglets. There are some piglets, aren’t there? They might come down for you if you mentioned the piglets? And lambs?”

Sister Alicia’s effusions backed Master Naylor away from her. Frevisse, not waiting for her to finish, simply walked away, forcing her to follow.

“There’s Father Henry,” Sister Amicia exclaimed, a little breathless in Frevisse’s wake, as they reentered the inner yard.

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