The Shattered Rose (18 page)

He had not taken the time to remove his armor or clean himself, and when Hubert came to say the monk had arrived, it was too late. So he walked out into the hall knowing he looked unkempt and stank of blood.

All in all, it might be a good thing.

Hubert certainly eyed him with concern. "It would bother me mightily to offend the representative of Christ here, Galeran."

Galeran didn't think Bishop Flambard deserved that elevation, but he knew Hubert was devout. "With God's blessing, that won't be necessary." He went to the big hall doors and saw three tonsured clerics on mules trot into the bailey, followed by five sturdy men-at-arms.

He wished Hubert had been as cautious as Jehanne and made the soldiers stay outside the castle, but Hubert had too much respect for men of God.

Despite the simple robes, Galeran had no doubt that one monk at least was a man of some importance. There was intelligence written on his smooth face, and he bore himself like someone who knows his worth.

Brother Forthred, no doubt.

Hubert went forward. "Greeting, Brother. Welcome to Burstock."

"Blessings upon this place, Lord Hubert," said the monk smoothly as he dismounted. "We have come from Heywood, since the Lady Jehanne was called away, apparently to visit her family here. We have business with her. Business of the bishop."

Galeran stepped forward. "Then you have business with me, Brother. I am Galeran of Heywood."

It was only an extra blink, but Galeran knew he had surprised the monk, which was useful.

"Greetings, my lord. I am Brother Forthred, dean to the bishop. My companions are Brother Aiden and Brother Nils. On behalf of Bishop Flambard, may I congratulate you on your blessed journey to the Holy Land, and on your safe return."

"My thanks to his lordship. I have some items from Jerusalem at Heywood. If circumstances permit, you must take one back with you for the bishop."

The monk absorbed the hint of bribery. "He will be most grateful, I assure you, my lord. If circumstances permit."

But despite the proviso, Galeran guessed that even haughty Brother Forthred wasn't above awe of crusaders. In fact, he was looking more uncomfortable by the moment.

"You said you had business with my wife? If Lord Hubert permits, perhaps we could go into the hall and discuss it in comfort."

"By all means, Galeran," Hubert declared, and shepherded them into the hall, where Galeran found Aline busy laying out wine and sweet cakes, assisted—improbably—by Raoul.

Jehanne was out of sight, as he had directed.

As he passed close to Raoul—a sweet-smelling Raoul in relatively clean clothes—Galeran murmured, "How is it that you
always
get a bath before me?"

"Charm. Sheer charm! What do you make of this business? Should I put my armor on again?"

"We cant take up arms against a bishop. Let's see how much
my
charm can accomplish."

Galeran moved on to where Brother Forthred was seated on a bench, sipping the wine. His two assistants stood uneasily close by, one holding a wax tablet ready to write an account of the proceedings.

"So," said Galeran, taking a seat nearby, "what business calls you to these parts, Brother? As you know, I have only just returned to England, but if in my absence some tithes have been neglected, or if my people have offended the Church in any way, you can be sure it will be set right."

A tinge of color entered the monk's lean cheeks, and he actually looked lost for words. But he soon gathered himself. "My lord, there has indeed been offense. Word has come to the bishop of a grievous irregularity in your household, one which might cause discord among some of our greatest men. He has sent me to investigate it."

"I see. And what investigations have you made?"

The monk cast a harried glance around the busy hall. "Perhaps we should continue this in private, my lord . . ."

"Not at all," said Galeran, smiling amiably. "It is always instructive for simple people to see matters put aright."

Brother Aiden, looking as if he was concerned for his neck, carved rapid marks into the wax.

Forthred put down his wine and sat straighter. "Has the bishop been misinformed, my lord? To be blunt, he was told your wife has played the harlot and borne a bastard."

"That is blunt," said Galeran coolly. "It is true that my wife has borne a child who is not mine. I would not take kindly, however, to anyone—in or out of Holy Orders—who called her a harlot."

Forthred blanched and Aiden dropped his stylus.

"Indeed, my lord . . ." stammered Forthred. "Perhaps in that we were . . . but still"—he gathered his dignity—"the Lady Jehanne has clearly sinned!"

"Have not we all? She has been forgiven."

He was aware of a distinct stir among those close enough to hear.

"By God?" demanded Forthred.

"That, you must ask of God. She has been forgiven by me."

"That is, indeed, noble of you, my lord."

Galeran met suspicious eyes. "I have recently walked in the footsteps of our Savior, Brother Forthred. Did he not say that only those without sin on their soul should cast stones at others? And I believe in that case the sinner was a woman taken in adultery."

"Very true, my lord. But in these troubled times we have to be more practical. . . ."

Galeran let his gaze wander to the smoky rafters. "Why do I feel that Christ Himself was pressured by those words?"

"My lord, this is no time for levity! Bishop Flambard is concerned that you might make this abuse of your marriage and your home excuse for acts of violence."

Galeran focused on him again. "You may assure his lordship that I won't—as long as it is not repeated."

"Moreover," said Forthred, clearly having arrived at his prepared text, "he feels that the presence of the evidence of sin might well stretch even the most tolerant man's forbearance. . . ."

"But, by God's grace, will not break it."

Forthred rose to his feet. "My lord, I have been instructed to take charge of the bastard child, and bring it with me to York, where it may be cared for until this matter is settled."

"What matter requires to be settled, Brother Forthred?"

"The ownership of the babe."

At that, Galeran rose too, pleased to still be in armor,

and bloodstained armor at that. "Who claims the child other than her mother?"

Forthred stepped back. "The father, of course."

"Who is?"

"You .. . you do not know?" Forthred was suddenly like a man who strides boldly along the road, only to sink into a quagmire.

"Why don't you tell me?"

The monk looked around uneasily, seeking wisdom of those around. He received none, though there were plenty of smirks.

He turned back to Galeran, narrow-eyed. "Sir Raymond of Lowick confesses to being the father of the babe, my lord. He admits his sin, but declares that both he and the Lady Jehanne believed you dead when the child was conceived. He rejoices in your safe return, and is truly repentant for the sin committed. As penance—recognizing the irritant his daughter must be in your household—he will take upon himself the burden of raising the child."

Galeran let a thoughtful silence run before saying, "I would think his penance should be somewhat more severe than that."

"My lord bishop has also fined him twenty shillings and imposed many prayers upon him."

Galeran nodded. "My wife already prays earnestly for God's mercy, but she certainly should pay the same fine. My Lord Hubert, could we borrow coin from you?"

"Why, yes," said Hubert, an alarmed look in his eyes. He sent a servant off with a message.

Galeran turned back to Forthred. "As to the babe, we insist on bearing the penance of raising it."

The monk paled, seeing the trap before him. "That is to place a burden on you, my lord, who carries no blame at all."

"Ah, but is that true? Did I not leave my wife unguided for many a long month? Even holy Pope Urban, who called for the crusade, had doubts as to whether married men should take part. As always, our Holy Father is wise in matters both spiritual and temporal."

"But any sin on your soul has been wiped out by the crusade, Lord Galeran."

"Then I'm sure Our Savior will grant me the strength to bear one small irritant in my household.",

Forthred's cheeks were mottled red. "My lord, the bishop insists that the child be given into his care until this matter is settled!"

Galeran rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. "Brother Forthred, the child cannot leave her mother, for she is at the breast."

"A wet nurse could be found. . . ."

"I do not believe in feeding a highborn child the milk of inferior women."

"Well, then . . ."

"Nor will I entertain the notion of my wife going off to Durham with the babe. I am just back from crusade and require my comforts."

Forthred's thin lips curled back in what was very close to a snarl, but his arguments seemed to be exhausted.

Galeran took the opportunity to summon Jehanne out of hiding. In moments she was at his side, head slightly bowed, a perfect picture of womanly demeanor. "You sent for me, my lord?"

"Yes, wife. It appears Raymond of Lowick has confessed his sin to the Bishop of Durham and been forgiven upon payment of twenty shillings and the promise to bear the penance of rearing little Donata. It seems only fair that you pay the same penalty."

When he'd mentioned Raymond raising the child, her color had come and gone with panic. But then she took in the rest of his speech, and her eyes widened. He saw her have to fight a wild impulse to laugh.

He had to control his own lips' tendency to twitch.

Hubert's steward arrived with a purse. He presented it to his master, but was waved over to Galeran. Galeran took the purse, but then dropped it in Jehanne's hands.

With a deep breath she turned
to
the monk and knelt "The bishop is wise and merciful, Brother Forthred. I willingly give this money for his holy works and beg his prayers and yours to aid in my petition for forgiveness from our almighty and merciful Father in heaven."

Once the dazed monk had taken the purse, Galeran raised Jehanne with all courtesy. "I, too, thank the bishop for acting as peacemaker between myself and Raymond of Lowick, who so heinously took advantage of my absence. In return, I promise that I will not raise my hand against Lowick unless he offends again. May we consider this matter closed, Brother?"

"I doubt it," snapped the monk, who then strode out of the hall followed by his two companions. Brother Aiden paused a moment to pack away his tablets and flash them a rather awe-filled smile. Galeran and Jehanne strolled after to watch the monks remount their mules and ride through the gate, trailed after by their armed guard.

"Galeran," Jehanne whispered, "how did you
do
that?" And she looked at him with perhaps the most undiluted admiration he'd received from her in his life.

He smiled, feeling as if he'd slain a mighty dragon. "Oh, just charm. I'm tempted to try my charm to get a bath and some unbloodied clothes, but I really think we should be safe back in Heywood before the next thunderbolt strikes."

Chapter 10

Galeran was pleased to have a large body of armed men to accompany them back to Heywood, for he remembered the bowman. If the first bolt had struck a finger-length lower, he could be beyond these earthly cares.

In a spiritual sense he should welcome death, but he shuddered to think what might happen to Jehanne if she were left unprotected. He wore coif, helmet, and shield, therefore, and took care to ride well away from Jehanne and the child in case of more projectiles.

So, who was responsible for the bowman? If he'd been following Galeran’s party for days, he could have found any number of chances to kill. More likely, he had come with Forthred, part of the same plan.

Flambard's plan.

Without Jehanne's swift action, Forthred might well have succeeded in taking charge of the child at Heywood. Without Galeran's presence, he would almost certainly have succeeded at Burstock. In that case, Jehanne would have felt impelled to accompany Donata.

At one stroke, Flambard would have the two pawns he wanted. If at the same time Galeran had been killed in the ambush, the whole affair would have been over before anyone could object. With the authority of the Church behind him, Lowick would have been married to Jehanne and installed in Heywood within days, and there would be little his father, or even the king, could do about it short of war.

In fact, the king would be more likely to support Flambard So if Galeran's father objected to Lowick's possession of Heywood, Rufus would have a reason to come north and break the powerful family of William of Brome.

Raoul rode up beside him. "Why the frown? You don't really think there'll be another attempt on your life, do you?"

"It's unlikely, but I don't discount it. For all I know, a healthy price has been put on my death, and it's easy enough to kill a man. That crossbowman was simply unlucky. But I'm not exactly quaking in the saddle."

"Then why the frown? You routed that cleric cleverly."

"It won't stop there." Galeran glanced at his friend. "I gather you've never heard of Bishop Flambard."

"Aline explained something of the case. An unpleasant creature, but under protection of the king."

"He's more than that. He’s the king's right-hand man. For years, he's been virtually running the country, and now that the king's raised him to the bishopric of Durham, he and my father are contestants for power here in the north."

"I'm still not sure why the bishop would think it worth supporting Lowick, though. Such a powerful person can't need such a weak ally."

Galeran shook his head. "Look at the situation here. The bishopric of Durham controls a sweep of the north from Carlisle to Durham itself. On the other hand, my father holds many estates, including Brome, the major barony in the area and with a castle that commands a crucial ford. Close by are the baronies of Heywood and Burstock, both closely allied to Brome, since I am married to Hubert of Burstock's niece, and another niece is my brother Will's wife. Did I mention that my mother's brother holds the coastal lands, including two important ports?"