A Love For All Seasons (14 page)

"Nay," Rob hiccoughed in agony as he started on a third pie, "the other lads did. Or, maybe Arthur stepped on it as he made his escape. No matter how it broke, it’s ruined. What if because of this, Master Colin will keep me from the abbey? What if I must wait until your father returns?"

Johanna frowned in thought for a moment. "I could tell him that Edwin, the fuller's lad, said he'd not fight with you again." Aye, that was what she needed to do. "Edwin should be punished, not only for attacking you, but because he lied and said Katel had offered him something to fight with you," she said.

Beside her, Rob choked. When he'd finally swallowed the bite trapped in his throat, he turned on her, his eyes alight in angry certainty. "I thought it must be Katel who had arranged this," he cried, "else how would lads who knew nothing of me think to call me bastard?"

Shaking her head in denial, Johanna stared at Rob. This could not be. "Katel didn't do this. He is good and kind. All the lasses say so."

Rob's eyes narrowed in scorn. "What do girls like them know of men and their issues? Katel hates me simply because Master Walter cares for me. Katel wishes me dead. Twice now, he's set traps for me in the shop, trying to twist things so it seems I've made an error, when I haven't."

Johanna's stomach moved to her toes as she struggled to make sense of all this. When Rob reached for another pie, she handed him the bag. In her confusion her thoughts tumbled from her lips. "Helewise says a mistress's most important function is to protect those who live within her house. If I am the mistress, then I must protect you," she told him. "I will tell Papa when he returns."

"Nay!" Rob breathed in panicked horror. "You'll say nothing of this to anyone. If you do, Master Colin might be hurt."

Johanna's shoulders squared as she added Master Colin to those she, as mistress, must protect. A quiet moment passed then she frowned. "How can Katel hurt Master Colin, when he is a man full grown and Papa's friend?"

"You don't understand. Katel is your betrothed and, therefore, your father's heir. As such, he has Master Walter's ear. What if he told your father to be rid of Master Colin?" Conviction beamed from him. "He'd have to leave Stanrudde, that's what."

Although Johanna didn't think Papa would send away his friend, there was no doubt Rob believed this would happen. As she'd been wrong about Katel, thinking him kind when he was not, might she not also be wrong about this? Johanna opted for caution's course. "Then I vow to say nothing to Papa."

Rob nodded in relief, eagerly accepting her promise where the other lads had scorned her word. Johanna smiled at him, liking him all the more for doing so. Rob always treated her as if she was special, even more special to him than was Arthur.

A girl's laugh wafted around the warehouse's corner on the day's damp breeze, the sound of her amusement gay. This was followed by a man's muted voice.

Both Rob and Johanna shifted to peer through the willow branches in interest.

Johanna hoped it wasn't the apprentice and maid from last week returning. They'd come while Papa had been working in the warehouse just before his departure and Johanna had come back here to occupy herself. The two had tussled and rolled on the ground for what seemed the longest time. The lass's skirts had ended up bunched at her waist, then the apprentice had pulled his chausses down to his knees. Johanna had seen his shaft thrusting out before him, all swollen and red. He'd fallen on the maid once more, making her cry out as he squirmed atop her, his bare buttocks gleaming in the day's light. All in all, it had been a disquieting experience, leaving her with worrisome dreams.

The girl's long, dark plaits swung as she danced into the clearing. Johanna caught her breath. Emmalina! After her, came ... Katel!

"Do not fret so," Katel was saying. "There'll be no one in the warehouse. It's empty until Master Walter sends back his first purchases."

"I hope you're right." Emmalina didn't sound worried at all. Instead, she giggled and leaned against Johanna's betrothed, her head tilted up to him. Johanna narrowly eyed the maid. Katel was hers, and Emmalina had no right to trespass.

Katel leaned his head down to touch his mouth to the girl's lips. Johanna's stomach turned. She could tell by the way Emmalina grabbed at Katel that they were going to do that awful wrestling. Beside her, Rob shuddered as if he was thinking the same thing.

She started to turn her back to them, hoping she'd never have to touch mouths with Katel, when yet another set of voices echoed around the warehouse's edge. Emmalina and Katel sprang apart. Johanna edged forward, drawn by the possibility of two couples battling over this stretch of riverbank.

It was Master Colin and Helewise who strode around the corner. Horror woke in Johanna at the thought that they might ever tussle then died in understanding. They'd not come to kiss and tug, but to find her and Rob.

Although Helewise stopped at the tiny clearing's edge the moment she caught sight of Katel and Emmalina, Master Colin's face darkened. The apothecary lengthened his stride to cross the riverbank then he grabbed Katel by the tunic front. "You worthless piece of ass dung," he roared, his voice thundering against the warehouse wall. "Arthur has returned, beaten and bloody while Rob has not come home at all!"

Johanna again looked at Rob. He was shaking his head at the apothecary as if to warn him, fear written in every line of his face. Johanna's heart quaked in worry for Master Colin. She liked him. He let her play in his workshop while the lads worked.

Her betrothed held himself still in the apothecary's grip as he glanced from Emmalina to Helewise. "Take the maid and yourself home where you belong," he commanded.

As she always did when being addressed by a man Helewise bowed her head. However, beneath the meek pose Johanna yet struggled to learn the housekeeper hid full blown outrage. Again, Johanna's spirits sank. Helewise disliked Katel. Every line of her tense form said as much. Why had she not seen this before now?

"I cannot return until I have found Mistress Johanna," Helewise replied, her quiet tones masking the fact that she'd just blatantly refused to obey Katel's command.

"Helewise, do as he says," Master Colin said, his voice strained and tight. "Johanna is seeking Rob. As soon as she finds him she'll bring him home with her. She'll be safe enough while she's at it."

Katel's breath hissed from him at the apothecary's words, his face tensing in hatred. "She's mine! I'll not have her spending time with that bastard!" he snarled.

Beside her, Rob stiffened at the slur. Johanna laid her hand on his arm to show him she didn't believe it. He smiled at her, gratitude in his gaze.

Johanna looked back at Helewise. Somehow, Katel's rage pleased the housekeeper; Johanna could almost feel Helewise's smile behind the shield of her headdress. As the tension left the housekeeper's shoulders, she folded her hands demurely before her.

"Aye, Master Colin," she said, holding herself still long enough to show Katel she accepted the apothecary's command where she had refused his. Raising her head only slightly, she glanced at the maid. "Emmalina, come."

This time there was an awful edge to her words. Johanna cringed for Emmalina. The maid was in terrible trouble, worse even than chamber pots. The maid knew it too, for she was awash in tears before she passed the men. Together, the two women rounded the warehouse's edge. There was the sound of a slap. Emmalina sobbed harder then the sound of her cries faded.

Of a sudden Johanna was certain she didn't want to hear what Master Colin was going to say to Katel. She looked at Rob in a plea to leave. Rob only shrugged in helplessness. There was no escape for them without revealing their presence.

"You'll let me go," Katel said with icy calm.

Master Colin gave the younger and more slender man a sharp shake. "You arranged to have Arthur and Rob beaten!"

His words not only thundered against the warehouse walls, they echoed into Johanna's heart. Edwin had not lied; even Master Colin knew Katel meant Rob harm.

"If Arthur says I set out to hurt them, he lies," Katel said, an undercurrent of scorn in his voice.

"I do not need a child to tell me what I can see for myself," Master Colin retorted, a new note of sadness in his voice. "Jesu, Katel! What has become of you? Your soul blackens before my eyes! Did you not come to Walter heartsore, much as Rob did? Yet, instead of reflecting the compassion your master has shown you, you set yourself to hating and hurting."

"You'll not chide me for what you believe lies in mine own heart," Katel snarled, a frantic edge to his voice. He shoved at the apothecary. "What do you know of how it feels to see your father give his affection to another, leaving you no crumb after? Because I was not adept enough at his trade, my sire threw me away, condemning me without a second thought to a life far less than what even his apprentices will own. Now you would ask compassion of me as I daily see that bastard steal from me what little I have left?"

"Ah, so you did plan Rob's beating," Master Colin said in bitter triumph.

Johanna watched as her betrothed went utterly still in the older man's grasp. In the next moment, Katel raised a cool brow. "You have incontrovertible proof of this?" Scorn lay heavy in his voice. "Without it, all you do is speculate." This time, when he thrust away from the apothecary, Master Colin released him. Silence lay as heavy and soft along the riverbank as the clouds in the sky. As Katel yanked his tunic back in place and straightened his hair, Master Colin stepped back and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Mayhap I cannot prove it outright," the apothecary said, "but, trust me, boy, I'll make certain Walter knows of this."

"Say what you like. You cannot hurt me," Katel replied, his voice now as smooth as silk. "For months I have praised the lad to my master, congratulating him for finding a lad so gifted." Katel paused to smile at Master Colin. "Who do you think Master Walter will believe the one who is his heir and sings the lad's praises or the man who is jealous of me, because he remains too poor to buy himself his own trade?"

"You dance a clever dance, lad," Master Colin snapped, looking not the least bit frightened by the threat. "Best you beware. One day you will tangle yourself in the webs you spin, bringing your own downfall upon you. I only pray I am there to witness it when you do." The apothecary whirled on his heel and stalked from the bank.

Katel waited until he was sure Master Colin was out of earshot. "Think so, old man?" he said to the empty space before him. "I think me you're wrong, and it won't be long before I prove it to you. Once I have the spice merchant's wealth behind me, you'll swiftly find yourself without trade or home." With that, he stormed from the riverbank and around the warehouse.

Johanna watched him go. Rob was right. Katel meant not only to hurt him, but Master Colin as well. When Papa returned from the fairs she'd tell him she wanted to wed Katel no longer.

Above them, the sky released a fine veil of mist. She looked at Rob. Tears touched his eyes, shed for Master Colin's sake. This time he didn't turn away from her. Instead, as if he both begged her aid and sought to share his pain with her, he laid his arm around her shoulders. Once again, her need to protect him rose. But what could she do if even Master Colin could not control Katel?

Trapped in mutual worry and depression, they clutched together in the hidey-hole. Only when the pasties were gone and the mist had turned to rain did they emerge from the bank and return in silence to her father's home.

Johanna woke with a start, yet breathing in panic against her dream. Although she knew it was only her fancy it had seemed oh-so-real. Lying still upon her cot, she let the images coalesce until she found the tale in it. Katel had attacked her, not the kind and caring man he'd been, but the new man she'd seen on the riverbank.

She breathed out the remains of what had frightened her. There was no need to fear Katel, at least not just now. Most likely, he wasn't even in the house. When he hadn't appeared for their evening meal, Johanna asked after him to Helewise. The housekeeper told her Katel had gone to soak his pride, whatever that meant. At any rate, Helewise thought Katel would be at it all night.

Now fully awake, Johanna let her gaze travel the room, finding comfort in its familiar nightly landscape. At the far wall, a thick night candle set on its tall iron stand flickered a friendly yellow greeting to her. Its meager light made Papa's nearby trunks, the ones containing his and her clothing, seem to shift into their corner like huge, shadowy cats, curled one into the other. This made Johanna reach down to touch Puss, who was curled between her legs. The cat offered her a brief purr then shifted to avoid her hand.

Johanna looked at the gaping emptiness where Papa's bed usually sat. Helewise always dismantled and stored the piece for safekeeping while he traveled. Of a sudden she longed for her father. Were he here, she could have told him all despite her vow to Rob. She could trust Papa to both keep her secret and advise her.

Her gaze moved to Helewise's cot near the door. The housekeeper was but a slight mound atop its surface. Johanna considered confiding in her, then rejected the idea. If Master Colin could do nothing to save Rob neither could Helewise, who was less powerful than he. Nay, only Papa could manage Katel.