Remember Me by Penelope Wilcock

Author:Penelope Wilcock
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lion Hudson
Published: 2015-06-12T04:00:00+00:00

Slowly he rose to his feet, and slowly he moved into the space at the centre. He hated that yawning space at the centre of the chapter house. He looked as though he could hardly put one foot in front of the other, his body tense and hunched. His face was ghastly pale and beset with tics and twitches. Standing before them, John saw he was shaking. Everyone saw it. The room became very still; no one moved, except Theodore, who leaned forward in his seat, a look of concern on his face. William licked his lips. Shaking violently, he tried several times to speak, but no sound would come out. Desperately, he raised his eyes to his abbot, so John explained, in calm and neutral terms, what had happened. That years of living very frugally had brought them out of debt, leaving them with the fabric of the buildings in excellent order but with a serious shortage of materials for the work of their hands whereby they might consolidate future security. That an excellent opportunity had arisen to purchase everything they needed at low cost from a vessel nearly home—with a risk therefore, but a relatively low risk. That there had been no need to go into debt to make this transaction, but it had used up reserves entirely, thus creating the probability of necessary debt in the likely event of demands from the Church or the Crown. That the intention had been to create an invigoration of earnings, thus replacing the reserves, increasing reputation and future prosperity and stability. That unfortunately the vessel, almost home, had gone down with all still aboard off the treacherous territory of England’s southwest coast. That a great sum of money had therefore been lost, along with the goods implied. There was silence when John finished speaking. William looked as though he could barely stand.

“But… why… how… Father—why did you not consult me about this?” Old Brother Ambrose sounded hurt as well as amazed.

“Nor me!” exclaimed Father Chad. “I would never have endorsed such a suggestion! I do wish you had asked us, Father!”

John looked at him. “I didn’t know either,” he said quietly.

William bent his head. There are levels of silence. The silence of the community entered a new depth as they grasped what had happened.

Again William licked his lips and tried to say he was sorry, but not even a whisper would come out. Still shaking, he knelt, his face to the floor, in the centre of the room before them.

“So. What’s to be done?” asked Brother Cormac.

This was easier for Abbot John to say. He felt a relief of tension as he outlined the two options: raising corrodies on some farms and borrowing from wealthy benefactors, or simply accepting several very lean years.

Brother Thomas asked to speak. His abbot nodded.

“Father, I’m sorry to go back to Father Peregrine—I know it can’t feel easy for you—but I’m asking myself what he would have done. I’ve never had a great head for finance, and I didn’t always listen properly to what he said because I couldn’t take it in.

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