The Cross-Legged Knight by Candace Robb

Author:Candace Robb [Robb, Candace]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severn House
Published: 2023-11-13T00:00:00+00:00

Despite Eudo’s frequent rebellion against his guild’s rules, his fellow tawyers had arranged for the mourners to dine in the hall of an alewife, with guild dues paying for the small feast. Cisotta’s sister, Eudo’s cousin, and their spouses, the master of the tawyers’ guild and several members, as well as some of Eudo’s neighbors accompanied the family to the house on Girdlergate. Lucie offered to take the children home, but at their looks of disappointment their aunt insisted they partake in the feast. “They deserve a reward for tolerating Father John’s unpleasant voice,” she said, “and what they have been eating for the past few days I do not care to think about.”

“A neighbor has been seeing to such things,” Lucie said.

“It is not for neighbors but for family to see to such things,” the cousin said.

Lucie had hoped to resume her conversation with Anna about the gloves Cisotta had hidden in the dresser. The information might be of use to Owen. She considered departing and returning later, but in the end she remained, honoring Cisotta’s memory. Anna stayed close to her, but it was not the place in which to talk of such matters, with too many curious ears.

At first the girl seemed reluctant to partake in the feast, but her brothers’ cries of delight soon stimulated her appetite. Lucie imagined the children had never had eel, pigeon, and venison in a single week, much less a single sitting. By the end of the meal Henry and Ned had fallen asleep with their heads on their aunt’s lap and Anna with hers in Lucie’s.

It was not until the family returned home that Lucie was able to talk to Anna. Eudo settled into a chair near the fire circle, with little Will on his lap, and picked up a tankard of ale to resume the drinking he’d begun at the meal.

Lucie and Anna sat well away from him, talking about the relatives and their promises of help. Anna expressed concern that help would translate to interfering, but Lucie reminded the already exhausted child that it was difficult even for an adult to run a household. Gradually Lucie led the conversation back to the gloves and the hides.

“I told you all I knew of it, Mistress Wilton. Ma didn’t say any more.”

“After your mother spoke with the stranger in the kitchen yard, how did she behave?”

Anna shrugged. “She was glad I had put away the things we’d brought from the market.”

“Did she seem excited? Upset?”

“She just went on with chores.”

“When she went out the evening of the fire, what did she take with her?”

“Her basket.”

“Did you see what she put into it?”

Anna shook her head. “Little Will was crying and Pa was shouting from the shop to keep him quiet because he had a customer.” She took a deep breath, blotted her eyes with her apron. “It would help if I could remember what she put in the basket, wouldn’t it?”

She was a remarkable child, both clever and courageous.

“It might.”

Anna faced the dresser, ran her hands slowly along the row of jars and bottles.

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