![[Roger the Chapman 06] - The Wicked Winter](https://fs.ageofbook.com/617064/thumbs/152x264/roger-the-chapman-06-the-wicked-winter.jpg)
morning, when they can do so without.., inflicting any damage. Tomorrow, we must hope that Father Godyer will be able to rise from his sickbed and say the offices for the dead. Has anyone thought to inform him of what has happened?'
It seemed that no one had. The steward was summoned once again and given instructions not only to enlighten the chaplain, but also to see Friar Simeon and myself safely bestowed in some warm corner for the night. Tostig bowed and signalled for us to follow him, but before we could do so, Gerard Empryngham again stepped forward. He spoke loudly and clearly in a voice taut with anger.
'I wish to say that I am not deceived. I know what I know, and although I can prove nothing at this moment, I refuse to keep silent for much longer. We may have had different mothers, but Jeanette was still my sister. The ties of blood are strong.' And he rushed out of the hall.
Adela prepared to go after him, but first she laid a placatory hand on Sir Hugh's sleeve.
'You mustn't take too much notice of Gerard. He's very upset. He was fond of Jeanette from her babyhood onward. He never resented the fact that she was younger and legitimately born.'
Sir Hugh shook off her hand.
'My dear Adela, I am uninterested in your husband's posturings. He will enjoy playing the grief-stricken brother for a week or two, but I should warn you that I am unwilling to go on supporting the pair of you, now that Jeanette is dead. I've had enough of being bled white just because she believed it her Christian duty to provide for her bastard half-brother and his wife.'
Instead of taking offence at these words, as I had expected, Adela smiled and raised her chin.
'You will be doing us both a favour, Hugh. As you are very well aware, I have long maintained that Gerard should get away from here and stand on his own two feet. We should never have left Gloucestershire and come south with Jeanette when you and she were married. He understands sheep, as does everyone who grows up in that part of the country. He would have done better to have sunk his pride and found employment as a shepherd, however poor the wage, rather than live on charity in a house where it was begrudged him. You need not fear that we shall remain to plague you for very long after the funeral. Only until the weather improves, if that is not asking too much.'
She swung on her heel and marched out of the room, head held high, leaving Sir Hugh looking somewhat shamefaced.
Simeon and I followed in her wake with Tostig, just as Phillipa Talke arrived to conduct Mistress Lynom to the guest bedchamber.
As I had surmised, there was indeed a triangular courtyard between the great hall and the main part of the building, the well being sunk in the middle of it. It was bitterly cold and snowing steadily as we crossed to a door on the opposite side, causing us both to huddle deeper into our cloaks. We re-entered the house by a passage which led into the main one and separated buttery from pantry, the pantry lying next door to the kitchen.
'You'll be warm enough in here,' Tostig said, opening the kitchen door and ushering us through. 'Or there's a storeroom beyond, with plenty of empty sacks to use as bedding and full ones to protect you from the draughts.' He was plainly anxious to be gone about more important business. Nevertheless, his conscience suddenly smote him at using a holy man in so offhand a manner. 'I must apologise, Brother, but the men-servants' dormitory is no fit place for one of your calling, especially not tonight with the addition of Mistress Lynom's two grooms. You understand.'
'I understand that profanity and lewdness make up the general run of conversation when men are alone together,' Simeon replied austerely, 'and I deplore it. More, I condemn it outright!' He glanced around the now empty kitchen, where the smells of the afternoon's cooking still clung, and at the pile of dirty dishes cluttering the table. 'I shall be happy to sleep here with my friend,
It seemed that no one had. The steward was summoned once again and given instructions not only to enlighten the chaplain, but also to see Friar Simeon and myself safely bestowed in some warm corner for the night. Tostig bowed and signalled for us to follow him, but before we could do so, Gerard Empryngham again stepped forward. He spoke loudly and clearly in a voice taut with anger.
'I wish to say that I am not deceived. I know what I know, and although I can prove nothing at this moment, I refuse to keep silent for much longer. We may have had different mothers, but Jeanette was still my sister. The ties of blood are strong.' And he rushed out of the hall.
Adela prepared to go after him, but first she laid a placatory hand on Sir Hugh's sleeve.
'You mustn't take too much notice of Gerard. He's very upset. He was fond of Jeanette from her babyhood onward. He never resented the fact that she was younger and legitimately born.'
Sir Hugh shook off her hand.
'My dear Adela, I am uninterested in your husband's posturings. He will enjoy playing the grief-stricken brother for a week or two, but I should warn you that I am unwilling to go on supporting the pair of you, now that Jeanette is dead. I've had enough of being bled white just because she believed it her Christian duty to provide for her bastard half-brother and his wife.'
Instead of taking offence at these words, as I had expected, Adela smiled and raised her chin.
'You will be doing us both a favour, Hugh. As you are very well aware, I have long maintained that Gerard should get away from here and stand on his own two feet. We should never have left Gloucestershire and come south with Jeanette when you and she were married. He understands sheep, as does everyone who grows up in that part of the country. He would have done better to have sunk his pride and found employment as a shepherd, however poor the wage, rather than live on charity in a house where it was begrudged him. You need not fear that we shall remain to plague you for very long after the funeral. Only until the weather improves, if that is not asking too much.'
She swung on her heel and marched out of the room, head held high, leaving Sir Hugh looking somewhat shamefaced.
Simeon and I followed in her wake with Tostig, just as Phillipa Talke arrived to conduct Mistress Lynom to the guest bedchamber.
As I had surmised, there was indeed a triangular courtyard between the great hall and the main part of the building, the well being sunk in the middle of it. It was bitterly cold and snowing steadily as we crossed to a door on the opposite side, causing us both to huddle deeper into our cloaks. We re-entered the house by a passage which led into the main one and separated buttery from pantry, the pantry lying next door to the kitchen.
'You'll be warm enough in here,' Tostig said, opening the kitchen door and ushering us through. 'Or there's a storeroom beyond, with plenty of empty sacks to use as bedding and full ones to protect you from the draughts.' He was plainly anxious to be gone about more important business. Nevertheless, his conscience suddenly smote him at using a holy man in so offhand a manner. 'I must apologise, Brother, but the men-servants' dormitory is no fit place for one of your calling, especially not tonight with the addition of Mistress Lynom's two grooms. You understand.'
'I understand that profanity and lewdness make up the general run of conversation when men are alone together,' Simeon replied austerely, 'and I deplore it. More, I condemn it outright!' He glanced around the now empty kitchen, where the smells of the afternoon's cooking still clung, and at the pile of dirty dishes cluttering the table. 'I shall be happy to sleep here with my friend,
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