The Rose Of The World Part 6

Tilly hurried off to fetch the food, and Gus prepared the wine. Josse took a deep draught he felt the warmth and the alcohol hit his empty belly and for a moment his head swam and he emitted a long, 'Aaaah,' of satisfaction. Presently, Tilly returned with a platter of mutton stew in rich gravy, with chunks of root vegetables and a generous hunk of bread, and Josse ate as if he hadn't seen food for days. It did not take him long to clear the platter and, putting it down, he said, 'I have some news. Not much, but I wish to keep you all informed. Gus, would you please fetch Will and Ella?'

While they waited, Josse wondered idly how many other knightly households included their servants in family discussions. He smiled wryly to himself. His no longer felt like a knightly household if, indeed, anywhere he had lived fitted that description, whatever it meant and he had never been entirely sure where kin ended and kith began.

Geoffroi got up and came to sit beside him on the bench. Josse put his arm round the boy, just as Gus had done to his own son. It felt good.

When Will and Ella had settled the diffident Ella so far to the back of the little group that Josse could hardly see her he told them everything that had happened since he had been summoned that morning by the sheriff's man, Tomas, and ridden off with him. His listeners made no comment beyond a few soft muttering among themselves, so Josse went on to outline Abbess Caliste's thoughts on what might have happened.

It was Gus who spoke first. 'It's either a falling out among the two people who slept in the camp, then, and in that case probably nothing to do with our Rosamund.' A frown creased his brow. 'It could be that the man who took her was challenged by someone, who he fought with and who was killed in the fight. Or else maybe it was the dead man that took her, and somebody objected to that and went to try to take her back.' His frown cleared. 'I reckon that's the most likely way of it.'

'Aye,' Josse said thoughtfully. 'Aye, it's possible.'

'This other man got the better of the abductor,' Gus went on, 'and as a result of a particularly good punch, the man fell backwards and crushed his skull.' He looked around the company. 'So, a.s.suming that if this other man attacked the dead man because he didn't hold with him taking a little girl, what did he do?'

Josse had been wondering the same thing. 'He might not know who she is and where she belongs,' he said slowly. 'He might even now be trying to take her back home, but unable to because he doesn't know where home is.'

'She'd tell him, surely?' It was Tilly's voice, and Josse looked at her in surprise. She had come a long way, he reflected absently, from the skinny, nervous, shy little tavern girl she once was . . . 'Rosamund's not slow to speak up, is she? When someone rescued her and asked where he ought to take her, she'd say, I live at New Winnowlands, and she'd be able to tell him where that was.'

'Even if she couldn't,' Geoffroi put in, 'and I could, and she's the same age as me, she'd have said something like I know them at the abbey so you can take me there.'

Josse nodded slowly. 'You'd think so, wouldn't you?' he said vaguely. Something was troubling him. It had begun earlier as a small, dark suspicion right on the edge of thought, and he had been able to push it away without too much effort. Now it was back, insistently demanding his attention. And it wasn't small any more.

Gus was looking at him. 'What is it?' he asked quietly. It was as if he already knew . . .

Josse let his eyes roam around the circle of faces lit by the flickering firelight. Will, and Ella crouched back in the shadows. Gus and Tilly, all three children now sitting close to their parents, as if they had been drawn there for security. Geoffroi, his round face turned up to Josse so full of trust.

Josse knew he had to tell them. 'I have been thinking,' he said heavily. 'There is one set of circ.u.mstances I can envisage that would explain everything.'

'What?' Tilly asked nervously. Gus dropped his eyes.

Josse took a deep breath, exhaled and then breathed in again. 'Let us suppose that, indeed, the person who caught up with Rosamund and her abductor by the trees above the river had gone to fetch her back. He challenges the man who has her. They fight. The abductor strikes his head and he dies. The man who has come to rescue Rosamund sees what he has done and knows he will be judged a murderer. He has struck and killed a man, and he will probably hang.' Josse's voice broke on the word, but he made himself go on.

'Who could this man be?' he demanded roughly, staring round at the others. 'Someone who cares about Rosamund, obviously, someone who will not sit by while evil is done to an innocent child. Someone who, having rescued her, cannot bring her back because he'll be arrested and charged with murder.'

'Is it Dominic?' asked a small voice beside him. 'You would kill a man who took me, Father, I know you would.'

Josse hugged his son to him. 'Aye, Geoffroi, I'd do so willingly if it was the only way I could get you back,' he agreed. 'But it can't be Dominic, can it? He was here earlier, you told me?' He looked enquiringly at Gus, who nodded.

'He's called in more than once in the course of the day,' Gus confirmed. 'I don't think he'd have let the rest of us go on searching and worrying if he knew the little la.s.s was safe.'

'I agree,' Josse said. 'So, who else could it be?' With the exception of Gus, they were all looking stunned. 'Gus?'

Gus shook his head. 'I don't want to say, sir. It's murder, in the eyes of the law. I no.'

Josse sighed. 'Very well. We have not seen Meggie since yesterday, although I do not for a moment think that, strong as she is, she could have inflicted those punches on the dead man's face. Who else is missing?'

They all looked round. On every face but Gus's, puzzlement slowly gave way to realization, and then to deep dismay.

Geoffroi whispered, 'Oh, no!'

Josse hugged him tightly. 'We do not know for sure, son,' he said. 'But I fear we must prepare ourselves to face the possibility that the man who fought the dead man is the one person who ought to be here and isn't. Who, if I'm right, none of us has seen since the evening we discovered that Rosamund was missing.'

He looked round at them all. In case anybody was still in doubt, he told them. Softly, he uttered the name: 'Ninian.'

SIX.

Gervase had almost run through the list of people he was summoning to the Hawkenlye infirmary to see if they knew the ident.i.ty of the dead man. None of the nuns recognized him, and Gervase had no more success with the monks from the vale. Brother Saul had helpfully brought a party of visiting pilgrims with him but, to a man, they had briefly gazed at the dead man's face and mutely shaken their heads.

The parties out searching for Rosamund were regularly reporting back to Gervase and the long succession of: 'Nothing yet, sir,' was becoming extremely frustrating and very worrying and he had paraded each and every one of his men past the body. n.o.body recognized him.

The victim was a man of some means; that was evident by his clothing and the fine leather of his boots. Studying him now, Gervase looked at the hands. They were well shaped, reasonably clean and nicely kept. The dead man was no peasant dressed up in stolen garments. Gervase looked at the neatly-cut hair. That, too, indicated a man with the money and the time to look after himself.

Who are you? Gervase asked him silently. What were you doing out there by the river? Did you abduct the missing girl? If so, who fought you, killed you and took her from you? Where were you taking her? Where has he gone with her?

So many questions. So many uncertainties. Suppressing the urge to punch something, Gervase left the recess and strode out of the infirmary.

He decided to ride down to Tonbridge to see if his deputy had anything to report. The day was drawing on towards evening, and the light was fading fast. He wanted to speak to his deputy before it became too dark to search and everyone went home for the night. Another day had pa.s.sed, he reflected anxiously, and Rosamund was still missing. And, always lurking behind all his pressing preoccupations, there was that other matter; he must not leave it too long before making the journey out to the House in the Woods to inspect Josse's valuables . . .

He was entering the abbey's stable block when he heard the sound of hooves. Turning, he saw Leofgar Warin riding towards him.

'What news?' Gervase demanded.

Leofgar held up a hand. 'None. I am sorry, that is not why I have sought you.'

Gervase felt himself sag. Just for a moment, he had hoped . . . He looked up at Leofgar and said, more sharply than he had intended, 'Why are you here, then?'

Leofgar's expression suggested that he understood Gervase's mood. 'I have to go home,' he said. 'I'm sorry, I wish with all my heart that I could get out there again now, sleep here tonight and return to the search in the morning. She's my niece, and I cannot imagine what my brother and Paradisa are going through. But I cannot stay. I have pressing concerns of my own.'

'What's more important than a missing child?' The question burst out of Gervase before he could stop it. 'I apologize,' he said instantly. 'I have no right to question your movements.'

'No, you haven't,' Leofgar agreed, with the ghost of a smile. 'But I'll explain anyway.' He slid off his horse and, coming to stand close beside Gervase, said quietly, 'My wife and I are expecting an important guest. The king is on his way back to his palace at Westminster, and he is to honour us with a visit as he progresses north.'

Gervase was stunned. 'You King John is to stay with you? At the Old Manor?'

Leofgar's smile held genuine amus.e.m.e.nt now. 'Don't sound so surprised,' he said mildly. 'We do have a bed or two to offer, and my household can rise to a grand occasion and turn out quite acceptable fare.'

'I did not mean to imply otherwise,' Gervase said stiffly.

'No, I know you didn't,' Leofgar replied. 'Between you and me,' he added, lowering his voice still further, 'I wish he was returning to London via a different road. I'm not looking forward in the least to entertaining a demanding king and however many hangers-on he happens to have with him. As my wife so perceptively remarked, it's nothing to be proud of as he's only staying with us because our house happens to be conveniently situated.'

'I am sure it is more than that,' Gervase said politely.

Leofgar looked at him, his mouth twisted in an ironic grin. 'You are?'

'I er, I-'

Leofgar waved a hand. 'It is of no matter.' He gathered up his horse's reins and put a foot in his stirrup, preparing to mount.

'Wait!' Gervase exclaimed, remembering. 'Can you spare me a moment longer before you leave?'

Leofgar glanced up at the twilight sky and nodded. 'Yes, if you're quick. What is it?'

'We have an unidentified body in the infirmary.'

Leofgar tethered his horse and, as the two men hurried over to the infirmary, Gervase explained how and where the dead man had been found. 'So n.o.body knows who he is?' Leofgar asked.

'No,' Gervase replied in a low voice, leading the way to the curtained recess. He stood back, letting the curtain fall behind him, and Leofgar approached the body.

After a moment he said, 'I do.' He turned and met Gervase's eyes. Very quietly he went on, 'His name is Hugh de Brionne. His father was close to the king's brother and very readily changed his allegiance to John as soon as Richard died. Josse, I believe, is acquainted with the father, although clearly he did not recognize the son.' He glanced back at the still face. 'This death will sorely grieve Felix de Brionne.'

'Hugh was his only son?'

'He Felix's wife bore him a daughter and two sons. This is the younger son.' He put a hand on the dead man's shoulder.

Something about Leofgar's manner did not seem right. 'What else?' Gervase asked in a whisper. 'What is it that you do not tell me?'

Leofgar shot him a glance, then looked away. 'Nothing,' he said firmly. 'It's gossip, no more, and I do not believe it is right to spread rumours.'

'Rumours?' Gervase demanded.

Leofgar expelled his breath in an angry sound. 'It is to do with the brother. It is said by those with nothing better to do than wag their idle tongues that he is not Felix's child.'

'Ah. I see,' Gervase murmured.

Leofgar spun round. 'Do you?' he hissed. He parted the curtains, looked out and, apparently finding that n.o.body could overhear, said urgently, 'I have met Felix de Brionne and his wife several times. Beatrice is a very lovely woman and she was only thirteen when she was wed. Felix was more than twenty years her senior. Her first child was a girl and Felix was not pleased.' He paused. 'I tell you this not because it satisfies me to discuss the intimate dealings of another man and his wife, but to make you understand,' he went on. 'If indeed Beatrice took another man to her bed and I am by no means convinced that she did then the affair was short-lived, for when later she bore Hugh, her second son, there was no doubt who had fathered him for he is the image of Felix.' He stopped, looking down at the body. 'He was,' he corrected himself. He sighed. 'Poor Felix. Poor Beatrice.'

'Where do they live?' Gervase asked. 'They should be informed that their son is dead.'

'Their manor is to the east of Tonbridge, on the slope of the North Downs,' Leofgar said heavily. 'Felix is old now and his comprehension comes and goes. He will not, I think, understand. It will be Beatrice on whom the blow falls most cruelly.'

Beatrice who has another son who is probably not the offspring of Felix, Gervase thought, in whom it is hoped she will take comfort. But he did not say it aloud.

Tiphaine was heading back to the hut deep in the woodland. She had observed the sheriff and Helewise's elder son speaking together by the stables and, unseen by either, she had slipped into the infirmary after them. She had heard Leofgar identify the dead man, although the name meant nothing to her. It might to Helewise, however. She increased her pace. Darkness was falling fast and she still had some way to go.

Helewise heard someone approach. She was outside fetching water from the stream, busy preparing vegetables and beans in a stew for supper. She had returned from the House in the Woods earlier with generous supplies of food, which Tilly had helped her carry. But she was not in the least hungry. The ongoing, gnawing anxiety had quite taken away her appet.i.te, but she knew she must force herself to eat. Besides, there were others to consider.

She looked up to see who was coming. It was probably Tiphaine, although she could not help hoping it might be Meggie. Or, even better, Josse . . .

Tiphaine stepped out from beneath the shadow of the trees and into the clearing. She gave Helewise the low, reverent bow that she had always performed before her superior and, approaching, said, 'Your son's given a name to the dead man. He was called Hugh de Brionne.'

Helewise repeated the name to herself. She did not think she had ever heard it before. 'Who is he?'

Tiphaine shrugged. 'Some lord's son. His old father's close to the king, or was when he had any wits left.'

Helewise thought about that. Then she said, 'Has his ident.i.ty had any bearing on the hunt for Rosamund?'

Tiphaine came to stand beside her, and Helewise was grateful for her solid, strong presence. Tiphaine was a woman who was very close to the earth, and strength emanated from her. 'I don't know, my lady,' she said gently. 'Reckon they're still thinking about that.'

Helewise studied the lean, weather-beaten face. Tiphaine looked tired. 'Come and eat,' she said, taking the older woman's arm. 'It's nothing special but at least now we've got enough for the next few days.'

With dismay, she heard what she had just said. The next few days. Dear G.o.d, was it going to be as long as that before they found Rosamund? The familiar guilt seared through her again.

They were stepping inside the little hut, and Tiphaine was watching her. 'She'll be found, my lady,' she said. 'I am quite sure of it. She's not dead.'

Helewise stared at her. 'How can you be so sure?' she cried sharply. 'She's only a girl, Tiphaine! She could be-' Horrible images flashed before her eyes, but with an effort she shut them off. Tiphaine was trying to comfort her, she realized, and she had just shouted at her. 'I'm sorry,' she whispered. 'It's just that I'm so desperate to accept she's all right but I don't know if I can believe you.'

Tiphaine went on looking at her. Then she said, 'You can, my lady,' and turned to set out the wooden bowls for supper.

They sat down close by the hearth to eat their supper. It had grown much colder once darkness had fallen, and the warmth was welcome. Helewise was quite pleased with her bean stew, which was greatly improved, she thought, by the addition of some of Meggie's dried herbs. She tried to eat slowly if she ate beans quickly her stomach tended to bloat but she was too hungry, and she wolfed down her bowlful. Beside her, Tiphaine ate her stew mechanically, her thoughts clearly elsewhere, occasionally emitting a grunt of satisfaction.

'I'd have thought we would have had a visit from Meggie before now,' Helewise ventured, trying to suppress a belch. Her pleasure in the taste of the herbs had brought the girl to mind.

'She'll return here when she's ready,' Tiphaine said calmly. Then, her eyes narrowing, she added softly, 'She'll be on the little girl's trail, like as not.'

Helewise spun round to look at her. 'How do you know that?' she demanded.

Tiphaine looked up from mopping her bowl with a piece of bread, her expression registering surprise at Helewise's sharp question. 'Stands to reason,' she replied, swallowing a mouthful. 'Joanna knew how to follow a person's footsteps across many miles. Meggie's her daughter. I expect Ninian can do it too, since he's her son. They've both inherited many of her gifts, so why would that not be one of them?'

Helewise was torn between a sudden glow, because she was sure Tiphaine was right, and a stab of pain.

Josse had loved and lost Joanna, and he did not often speak her name. To have Tiphaine refer to her so readily and easily, as if she had just stepped out of the hut and it was not ten years and more since she had gone, was a shock, and not entirely a pleasant one.

Helewise had to admit that she did not much care to hear Joanna's name.

She commanded herself not to be so selfish. What Tiphaine had just said was good. It gave them hope. 'You really think they can do it, Tiphaine? You believe that we'll get Rosamund safely back?'

Tiphaine reached for more bread and nodded. 'Aye.'

Her a.s.sent, Helewise reflected with a private smile, could have been to either of the questions. It was probably to both.

She bent down to pick up the jar of small beer that Tilly had lugged across the forest that morning and, filling two mugs, handed one to Tiphaine. Raising her own, she said, 'To Rosamund, wherever she is. May G.o.d keep her safe.'

There was a muttered Amen and the sound of Tiphaine slurping up her beer.

Helewise had hoped that Josse might have called in before nightfall and, even better, might have stayed in the hut overnight, but she had not really expected him to. As she lay up on the sleeping platform, drifting into sleep, she pictured Josse's face. In her imagination, he was standing on the edge of the clearing outside the hut and he turned to look at her. There was just sufficient light to see his face, and his expression as he met her eyes brought a smile to her face.

She would go to look for him in the morning, if he did not turn up at the hut first. She had to tell him that the ident.i.ty of the dead man was now known. It would, she reflected drowsily, give her a fine excuse to seek him out.

Ninian had gone to settle the horses for the night. The saddles and bridles were safely concealed back in the sleeping place, and he had fas.h.i.+oned rope head-collars and tethered the horses to the trunk of an alder. They would have hobbled them and set them to wander, but they were both afraid the animals might be seen.

That must not happen.

He checked once again to make sure the knots were firm and then dipped under the low branches of the pine trees where he and his sister were going to spend the night.