A Mortal Bane by Roberta Gellis Read Free Book Online Page B

wet—
    “Enough. Now tell me what you did last night.”
    Momentarily, tension again seized Magdalene, and then Ella’s little-girl voice, sounding rather doubtful, said, “Poppe was here from about Nones until near Vespers. I am not sure I remember everything we did, but first—”
    Magdalene breathed again, bit her lip again when Brother Paulinus shouted, “No, not that. I mean, what did you do after your ‘friend’ left you?”
    “Oh, that is easy. I ate my evening meal and then Magdalene sent me to bed. I fell asleep right away.”
    There had been one danger point. Ella might have remembered flirting with the dead man, but Magdalene hoped she had put it out of her mind because she had been scolded for it. Apparently she had. Now there was only the possibility that the sacristan would not believe her and would tell her that another man had been there and ask more specific questions. But their luck held. Brother Paulinus had had enough of questioning Ella. She heard him mutter, “Stupid bitch,” and then the swish of his staff. Ella cried out, and Magdalene leapt into the room and seized the staff as he raised it again.
    “Ella has done nothing to deserve being beaten,” she cried. “She answered your questions as well as she could. You cannot beat her because she did not say what you wished to hear.”
    Paulinus yanked at the staff, but Letice and Sabina had also laid hold of it, and the sacristan’s breath drew in sharply at the expressions on their faces. The mute began to twist the staff, the blind woman following her motion. With a gasp of mingled rage and fear, Brother Paulinus let it go before they tore it from his hand. He pushed past them, then past Dulcie, who was about to enter the room carrying a large, heavy pan with a long handle.
    “How dare you!” he shrieked, turning to glare at them. “Your bold evil-doing is a result of the prior’s leniency. But you cannot threaten me or escape punishment for your crime.” He strode on, then stopped at the door and turned, smiling this time. “You have undone yourselves.” His voice was replete with satisfaction. “I have a friend close to the Bishop of Winchester, who is here in Southwark. He will tell the bishop what you have done. Threats! Whoring! Murder! You are already damned. Now I will see you all hanged.”
     

Chapter Three
     
    20 April 1139
    Old Priory Guesthouse
     
    As the sacristan went out the door, all five women stood paralyzed, staring after him. When he slammed it behind him, Letice rushed to take Ella in her arms, brushing back her hair and kissing her.
    “Why?” Ella sobbed. “Why did he hit me? I did not lie to him. I did not!”
    “No, love,” Magdalene said. “You told the truth and you did not deserve to be hurt. You are a good girl, and he—despite being in holy orders—is a bad man. Do not cry, love. Come, wash your face and mouth and I will find a sweet for you to break your fast. Forget him.”
    She went and hugged Ella, too, and the girl blinked away her tears and smiled.
    “Are you all right now?” Magdalene asked. Ella nodded. “And can you wash and dress by yourself, or do you want Letice to help you?”
    “I can do it.”
    “Good, love. And when you are ready, go to Dulcie in the kitchen. She will give you a honey cake and milk.”
    Ella’s smile brightened even more and she nodded enthusiastically. They went out, Magdalene stopping Dulcie, who had turned away, to tell her about the milk and honey cake. Then she drew the other women into the front room.
    “You heard him,” she said. “He is determined to find us guilty—and I think it is not only because he deplores the whorehouse for being here, but because he wishes to use us to make trouble for the prior.”
    “I think you are right,” Sabina said. “And if he succeeds….” She shook her head.
    “If he succeeds, we will need to find a new house,” Magdalene said grimly. “I wish I knew who that friend is that he spoke of as being close