My Lady de Burghs by Deborah Simmons

Author:Deborah Simmons [Simmons, Deborah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Medieval
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Once in the village, Robin returned to the alehouse where the owner had given him information before and found the old man just as voluble. Although he claimed not to know much of what went on at the nunnery, when Robin mentioned a village infant entering the school, the fellow scoffed.

"They don't take the likes of us there!" he said. "Why, all those students are from rich families who want to get rid of them.'Tis just like the nunnery itself, you have to buy your way in."

Robin frowned. "I'm puzzled then, for I learned that the novice, Sybil, was an orphan taken there by a village woman," he said.

The old fellow screwed up his wrinkled face. "Sybil. Ah, yes, I know her, but she's not related to anybody here. I'll swear to that."

Robin frowned. Could this business grow any more complicated? "What of a woman named Gwerful?''

The man shook his head. "There's never been anyone living in this area by that name. I would have remembered the like of that."

"But 'twas a long time ago—" Robin began, only to be cut off by the old man's snort.

"Doesn't matter. I know everyone, and I've never heard of her," he said with certainty that was hard to deny. Baffled, Robin tossed him a coin and left. He had every intention of returning to the nunnery, for he was beginning to think he was seeing shadows where there were none. So Sybil had arrived right after Vala; it could be nothing more than a coincidence. And yet, as a de Burgh, Robin had learned to trust his instincts, and a gut feeling made him turn his destrier away from Our Lady of All Sorrows, back the way he had once come on his journey from Wales, back toward Baddersly.

There, in the village that spread below the castle walls, he discovered those who had heard of Gwerful, for she was a merchant's wife. Well known for her skill with a needle, she often dyed the cloth that her husband sold. Her home was a small cottage, where she and her husband also did business. After his long journeys of the day, Robin was weary by the time he entered the place, where he was greeted by a small woman with white hair, yet still slender and youthful looking.

"Are you Gwerful?" Robin asked, without preamble.

The woman nodded. "Are you here for some cloth, my lord?" she asked, taking his measure by the cut of his garments.

"Nay, but I would speak with you," Robin said. "I am Robin de Burgh, lord of Baddersly in my brother's stead." She nodded, apparently aware of his identity, but her manner turned more cautious than friendly.

"Many years ago you delivered a child into the care of the nuns of Our Lady of All Sorrows. Where did the infant come from?" Robin asked.

At the mention of Our Lady of All Sorrows, the woman's eyes grew wide. Clearly frightened now, she shook her head and glanced this way and that, as if looking for some way to escape from the tiny house.

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