A Fox in the Fold by Candace Robb

Author:Candace Robb [Robb, Candace]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severn House
Published: 2022-06-17T00:00:00+00:00

TWELVE

A Gift for the Bishop

Owen had not expected to find Jasper in the shop, hollow-eyed and limping as he tidied up after what must have been a large order. ‘Couldn’t sleep, so I thought I would be of some use.’

That was more like the thoughtful lad he had been before whatever had riled him of late, trying to emulate his mentor’s selflessness. Owen hoped his news would not bring back the temper. ‘Rhys will be lodging upstairs for now.’

‘Ma warned me.’ Said with no rancor. ‘If you feel he’s safe in the house, I have no objection. He helped me the other day when I made a fool of myself.’ Raking back his fair hair, Jasper looked Owen in the eye. ‘He’s no longer protecting his uncle and cousin?’

‘No. Thank you for accepting him back. And for keeping the shop open. Where is your mother?’

‘She’s dressing for the bishop. Gwen says she’s wearing the blue dress you like so much.’

News to brighten his day. Owen debated about asking Jasper whether Reynard might have slipped in while he was on watch on the roof. He risked implying that sleep had overtaken Jasper. But he must know. He took the opportunity in between customers to tell him of the missing pack.

Jasper cursed. ‘I heard a creak on the step when I went inside for a moment, but thought it was Bess. And back out on the roof I feared I might have fallen asleep for a moment. But it couldn’t have been long or I would have fallen.’

A good point. Reynard was ever quick-fingered and quiet. Who knew how often the man had slipped past Owen before he caught on to what he was. ‘You have saved me time trying to think of when else he might have found his way in by admitting to a lost moment. I’m grateful.’

‘I let you down.’

‘You chased him away before he could cause harm to innocent people. You did not let me down.’

‘But Trent’s pack is gone.’

‘Reynard now has coin to find lodgings, it’s true. But he might have stolen it elsewhere. We’ve saved others the grief, eh?’

A customer interrupted them.

‘If you remember anything else of consequence, tell me. I am going to the abbey infirmary to see whether Trent has recovered sufficiently to talk,’ Owen said quietly. ‘I will check with you when I return.’

Brother Henry waved away Owen’s apologies for foisting the man on him without warning. ‘He is in Bishop Wykeham’s company. I would not have turned him away. But you will get nothing out of him for a while. He is very weak with the loss of so much blood and sleeps the sleep of one on the ledge between this life and the next. God may choose to take him at any moment. He did seem to wake for a moment, thrashing about and crying that Bishop Ergham would be the death of him. He also seemed to curse his wife. Poor man.’

‘You are certain he said Bishop Ergham, not Wykeham?’

‘I am quite certain.

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