Threads of Treason by Mary Bale Read Free Book Online Page A

knight.
    If the shadows in the ruins, so impossible to follow, were those of two men, could there be more? These men spoke English in the manner of natives, so could they be another Anglo-Saxon gang? From their words they were not thieves, but they could easily be traitors to King William’s crown. Already she and the Abbess were flanked on either side. Therese looked around for others, and, suddenly, she felt very Norman.
 
 
 
 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 4
     
     
     
     
    Abbess Eleanor’s face brightened at the sight of her tall straight questioner, but this reaction was quickly followed by a hardening of her expression. Therese wondered why she should hide her liking for this man.
    ‘ Alfred,’ said the Abbess.
    ‘ Abbess,’ said the man dropping his head in recognition of her status.
    His cloak was of good quality cloth although his leggings and shirt were plain and of a serviceable nature. The brooch holding the cloak was ornate with a dragon formed into a silver roundel. There were no jewels or gold on it. She placed his occupation as that of reeve or merchant – he was certainly not Norman. His hands were broad but not rough enough for him to be presently involved in agriculture.
    ‘ You spy on us as if you do not trust us, Alfred,’ said Abbess Eleanor. ‘You even use this little man as your agent.’
    ‘ I do not trust your master,’ said Alfred.
    ‘ But you do not know who that is,’ countered the Abbess.
    ‘ I trust you, Abbess. So I see that you are alone with your novice before I approach you. But still I need to know who you answer to.’
    Abbess Eleanor’s face softened. ‘We all only have one true master, Alfred. I answer to Him.’
    ‘ My sister, Ursula…’
    ‘ I know about your sister, Alfred. I pray for her constantly.’
    ‘ No you don’t. You only know what has been said about her. None of it is true.’ Alfred frowned and caught Abbess Eleanor’s hand up in his. He looked at her ring and kissed it.
    ‘ It is not my ring of office,’ said the Abbess. Therese was amazed that her superior did not tell him the ring belonged to Bishop Odon. The older woman just gently lifted his hands from hers and asked Alfred, ‘Can you explain what has been going on at Saint Thomas’s?’
    ‘ Agid,’ he addressed the bent old man with the bandage about his head, ‘guard us from the rear.’ Turning to the Abbess he said, ‘I can take you to someone who can explain everything.’ Before any consent or otherwise could be given to this he turned and set off across the rubble. Abbess Eleanor followed.
    ‘ Is this not dangerous?’ Therese asked her.
    ‘ Extremely,’ said the Abbess producing one of her little shrugs, as if such things could be shrugged off.
    Behind her Agid followed in her footsteps.
    * * *
    The kitchener at St Augustine’s Abbey was arguing with the cellarer about the number of chickens needed for a feast, so he waved Therese, Abbess Eleanor and Alfred through to the great hall. Agid though was too filthy even for his distracted eye. He barred the door with his burly body and sent him out with, ‘I’ve seen cleaner things come out of a midden.’
    The Abbess accused Alfred with, ‘The gate keeper let you through with a nod and now you gain access to this place without question?’
    ‘ The abbey here has no notion that I am connected in any way to the scandal at St Thomas’s, most of which has been hushed up to protect the embroidery. The secrecy surrounding it is as great as any wall a mason could build.’
    ‘ You seem to know about it,’ said Abbess Eleanor sharply. ‘And these people show you exceptional trust.’ She looked directly into his eyes. Therese knew this look. The senior woman was testing his soul. It was as if she had an invisible probe that could check its purity. This look always made Therese uncomfortable but Alfred did not