The Rose of the World by Alys Clare Read Free Book Online Page B

The little stream sang its bubbling song away to her right, and somewhere a blackbird protested at her presence. She wondered if she should venture out into the forest and start looking for the woman she sought, but quickly she dismissed the thought. They always knew when an outsider was in their domain. If Helewise was patient, by some mysterious method word would be passed and the one she was mentally summoning would come.
    â€˜Helewise.’
    She had no warning, and when the quiet voice spoke right in her ear, Helewise jerked round so violently that she felt a stab of pain in her neck.
    â€˜That’ll need a rub with some oil and some warming herbs,’ the voice went on. ‘You never have taken enough care of yourself, have you?’
    Helewise stared into the watchful eyes and studied the weather-beaten, deeply lined face. The newcomer opened her arms, and Helewise walked into her firm embrace. Then she took a step back, and she and Tiphaine, former herbalist of Hawkenlye Abbey, exchanged a warm and loving smile.
    It was neither woman’s habit to waste time, for years spent in an abbey had cured them of that. Tiphaine was first to speak. ‘I know why you are here,’ she said. ‘The little girl.’
    â€˜Yes, my granddaughter,’ Helewise agreed. ‘Her name is Rosamund and she’s—’
    â€˜I know,’ Tiphaine interrupted gently.
    Helewise wondered how she knew, but almost instantly answered her own unspoken question. ‘Meggie,’ she breathed.
    â€˜Meggie, aye,’ Tiphaine said. ‘She and the child were here together yesterday. She’s a pretty little thing, and she has a generous heart.’
    â€˜Yes, she—’ But Helewise’s eyes had filled with tears and she could not trust her voice.
    Tiphaine stepped closer. ‘She is alive and as yet she is unharmed,’ she murmured.
    Hope flared in Helewise’s heart. ‘You know this? You have seen her?’
    Tiphaine shook her head. ‘Not since she and Meggie left this place to return to the House in the Woods.’
    â€˜Then how can you be so sure she’s not—’ Helewise could not say the word dead. ‘How do you know she’s unharmed?’
    Tiphaine looked at her for a long moment. ‘Such a death would have been so far from the natural ways of the woodland that we would have felt it,’ she said. As Helewise opened her mouth to protest, Tiphaine stopped her. ‘Do not ask, Helewise. I cannot explain further. You will just have to believe me.’
    â€˜You do not know where she is,’ she said instead. She was sure Tiphaine had no such knowledge for, had she done, she would have acted upon it.
    â€˜No,’ Tiphaine agreed.
    â€˜I need to know if anyone inside the abbey mentions her,’ Helewise said. ‘People always gossip, and it’s possible some visitor to Hawkenlye has seen or heard something of her. I—’
    â€˜You want me to find out,’ Tiphaine finished for her.
    â€˜You should see Abbess Caliste and explain what I need to know.’
    â€˜She is already aware of what has happened. Selene has been to see her.’
    Selene. Caliste’s twin. Helewise had seen her once and believed she was Caliste. But that was long ago; with a shake of her head she brought herself back to the present. ‘I would dearly like to speak to Abbess Caliste, only I cannot—’
    â€˜You cannot go yourself. I understand.’ Tiphaine had turned and was already walking away.
    â€˜Where are you going?’ Helewise cried.
    Tiphaine stopped and looked at her over her shoulder. She smiled quickly. ‘Where do you think?’
    He did not know what to do.
    It was the day after he had taken her. At first it had been so easy; far, far easier than he had thought possible. Right from the start, once the audacious, brilliant plan had slipped into his head, events had played straight into his hands.
    He did not