The Forgotten Princess by James Holden-White

Author:James Holden-White
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Welsh Princess, Gwenllian, Welsh history, Prince of Wales, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, Edward Plantagenet, Edward 1st, Medieval history, Gwynedd, Nuns, Prisoner, Priory, Sempringham, Revolt, Madog, Lincolnshire, Secret, Castle, Earl of Warwick Gilbertine Nationalism
ISBN: 9781785386497
Publisher: Andrews UK Limited 2016
Published: 2017-03-21T00:00:00+00:00

“But St Paul was taken to Rome,” Gwenllian replied, “I wish she could be.”

“I’m sure she would love to be summoned to the Pope’s side with her Gilbertine rhetoric!”

“Rowena, what did he mean by losing me would be a great loss to the priory?”

“Because he knows you are special, Darling,” Rowena smiled at her. “Just as I do,” but she pondered the question carefully.

***

They worked until Vespers, freezing in the snowfall, and after collation, through which the prioress scowled at Rowena so much she had to look away, she left the girls in the day room and stole over to the window house in hope that Edith would make their weekly appointment, put back to the end of the day.

Rowena had to wait in the snow, her sandaled feet aching with the stabbing cold, but no one was likely to see her because they were all sheltering and under the canopy of the window house she could at least keep dry.

Edith did not appear and she had begun to wonder whether perhaps Sister Alice, the weather or some other reason was preventing her when at last she heard footsteps crunching in the snow from the other side of the grating, and at last she heard Edith’s familiar and enthusiastic faceless voice.

“Anyone there?”

“Nearly turned into a snowman waiting for you, Edith dear, but here alright.”

“How are you?” She put her hands under the grating and Edith clasped them in her own.

“Bearing up. You?”

“Sister Alice is a tyrant, and she’s getting so fat I think I’m going to have to sew two habits together for her and reinforce her bed. Sister Ethel thinks she’ll soon be delivered of a pair of calves!”

“Does she still have it in for you?” Rowena laughed.

“All the time.”

“Well, we are getting the rough end of it this side of the wall as well,” Rowena confided, “the Gilbertine prioress is constantly meting out penances but the girls do alright, I watch over them. I’ve got them singing chants together in church.”

“I’ve heard them at Mass, you have them singing like angels, Rowena. I wish you could still be here with us, though. I miss you.”

“Come now, Edith, they need me, and where would I have been without your help in my first few weeks at Sempringham?”

“We must watch out for each other,” Edith replied.

“Yeah,” and Rowena had to resist all temptation to tell her friend of the prioress’s baldness and petitions to the prior for a tonsured scalp for fear any leak would be too easily traced because she knew how much Edith would revel in it. Then something else occurred to her. “Edith, you know it is only you who is aware I went into the Gilbertines to tutor the other girl, don’t you?” she asked quickly. “Only you within the lay brothers and sisters, I mean.”

“Yes, Rowena, and you told me not to speak a word of it.” Edith replied. “I’ve told no one, just as you said, though I don’t know why I...”

“Edith, it just has to stay quiet, that’s all.

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