Warbow (The Saga of Roland Inness Book 2) by Wayne Grant

Author:Wayne Grant [Grant, Wayne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-01-29T06:00:00+00:00

The Earl’s Backdoor

Millicent de Laval was frustrated. In Chester, weeks had turned into months as winter fixed its hold over the land. She had been unable to gather information that was of use to anyone. Father Malachy had not, to her knowledge, returned to inspect the city walls—but why would he? The walls were still crumbling in places and the blackberry brambles still filled the dry moat. That much he had already seen. Any endeavour to repair and strengthen the city’s defences would have been visible to anyone in Chester who was not blind, and no such effort was underway.

What she noticed was the priest’s growing closeness to Lady Constance. It had started as an hour of scripture reading in the evenings, but now extended to long walks through the castle grounds after morning prayers. She had watched them from afar when she could, and Malachy seemed to grow more animated in his conversations each time she saw them together.

From a distance, he appeared to be entreating her, but for what she could not know. That the lady had fallen under the influence of the priest would have caused her no concern if he were what he presumed to be. But she remained convinced that he was not. This was no simple travelling priest who had chanced upon their doorstep. What his game was she did not know, but she was determined to find out.

Lady Catherine arrived for market day a few weeks past Christ’s Mass and listened to her daughter’s account of her stay at Chester and her suspicions of the priest.

“I do not think this rises to the level that calls for a report to the Queen, but I agree that the priest bears watching. Trust your instincts, daughter, and keep your eye on him—but do not think even a churchman incapable of violence. I beg you to be careful, Millie.”

“I’ll take precautions, Mother, I promise.”

But precautions would not help her find out what Malachy was up to, and her task was made more difficult by the man himself. The girl had the distinct feeling that while she was watching him, he was doing the same with her. It was nothing she could prove, but there were several instances when she saw him gazing in her direction across a hall. Had she given something away? Did the man know she was spying on him?

As winter began to give way to spring with no progress made on her suspicions, Millicent reluctantly reached the conclusion that poking about and passively observing the situation would simply not do. She needed help to get to the bottom of the priest’s intentions, and that help appeared in the form of a scullery maid who loved to gossip.

When not attending to her duties, Millicent spent as much time as possible cultivating the trust and friendship of the castle servants. And it was here that the solution to her problem was found. One afternoon, Prudence, known as Prudy to all in the kitchen, mentioned the young priest who was paying such devoted attention to their mistress.

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