swear chastity to God and then sink into the arms of a woman. When he had been a Knight Templar, he had taken the vows of poverty, obedience and chastity like other monks, and he never knowingly broke them until his Orderwas betrayed. Only many years afterwards had he been persuaded that his oath was redundant, and even then it had taken some while before he could face the thought of marriage. It felt like treason. Not that he could regret marrying Jeanne – he adored her.
But it was different for a priest who yet remained in Holy Orders. He wondered that the priest should be so blatant with his bastard. It was shocking.
Looking at Adam, it was surprising too. Baldwin wouldn’t have thought he had it in him. But there, the man was probably attractive to women with his slender features and pale complexion. The large eyes could be thought pleasant, he supposed, and the man’s gentle manner might appeal. To Baldwin’s eye, he looked rather effeminate.
‘Lordings, please be seated,’ Adam said hesitantly. He was aware of a sudden tension in the room, and he nervously ignored it, busying himself fetching stools. Soon there was a rattling sound, and he hurried to the buttery door. ‘Come in, Julia. Let me help you … Ah, that smells good.’
He took the heavy pitcher from her, grabbed the wobbling cups from her tray, and poured ale for them all. ‘Julia is looking after me. I am afraid I cannot cook to save my life, and it’s pleasant to have someone to talk to. Sir Baldwin? Here is your ale.’
Baldwin nodded ungraciously, and sat so that he couldn’t see the girl any more. He wanted to be out of here as soon as possible.
‘Where have you been?’ Adam asked innocently, and Baldwin groaned to himself. Sure enough, Simon instantly leaped into an explanation of their adventures, starting with the crazed monk of Gidleigh, and then leading on to the tale of their pilgrimage.
It was a whole four months or so since they had left their homes, he realised. Terrible to think that he had not seen his darling wife in such a long while.
‘Father!
Father!
’
Father Adam looked as though he was never an entirely calm man, to Simon’s mind. He had the thin, almost gaunt features of one who carried a community’s sins on his shoulders, and Simon saw that his nails were all bitten to the quick. Hearing the cry, he shot up, scattering drops of ale like seeds from the sower’s hand. ‘Gregory? What is it, in God’s name?’
The boy ran in, slipped on the rushes, and fell headlong. Before anyone could reach him, he sprang up again and gasped, ‘It’s Athelina! Oh, good God in Heaven, please come, Father!’
Chapter Six
Of course the odd thing was, as soon as he’d realised that Nicholas had snared the girl, Gervase had seen that she wasn’t the spotless virgin that Nicholas took her for. Nick, bless him, always wanted to see the best in people. It would lead him into trouble one of these days. Well, it already had, hadn’t it?
Thing was, Gervase was more worldly wise than his castellan. He had always enjoyed the company of women, had had plenty of dealings with them and knew their ways. Nothing wrong with that. Any man would bed all the women in the world if he had a chance, and Gervase had simply more chances than most. He knew how to compliment females, and he was genuinely interested in their thoughts and moods. It wasn’t all just so that he could pull up their skirts and get in there.
However, his experience with women had led him to see through their wiles. That was the problem with people like Nick. The silly devil believed in love at first sight, even at his age, and thought that Anne adored him too. There was no fool like an old, besotted one.
Baldwin and Simon left Ivo at the priest’s house. He appeared content to chat with Julia and waved them off like a lord indulgently granting permission to a child. It made Baldwin want to thrash the youth, but only fleetingly. Gregory’s face stilled any
But it was different for a priest who yet remained in Holy Orders. He wondered that the priest should be so blatant with his bastard. It was shocking.
Looking at Adam, it was surprising too. Baldwin wouldn’t have thought he had it in him. But there, the man was probably attractive to women with his slender features and pale complexion. The large eyes could be thought pleasant, he supposed, and the man’s gentle manner might appeal. To Baldwin’s eye, he looked rather effeminate.
‘Lordings, please be seated,’ Adam said hesitantly. He was aware of a sudden tension in the room, and he nervously ignored it, busying himself fetching stools. Soon there was a rattling sound, and he hurried to the buttery door. ‘Come in, Julia. Let me help you … Ah, that smells good.’
He took the heavy pitcher from her, grabbed the wobbling cups from her tray, and poured ale for them all. ‘Julia is looking after me. I am afraid I cannot cook to save my life, and it’s pleasant to have someone to talk to. Sir Baldwin? Here is your ale.’
Baldwin nodded ungraciously, and sat so that he couldn’t see the girl any more. He wanted to be out of here as soon as possible.
‘Where have you been?’ Adam asked innocently, and Baldwin groaned to himself. Sure enough, Simon instantly leaped into an explanation of their adventures, starting with the crazed monk of Gidleigh, and then leading on to the tale of their pilgrimage.
It was a whole four months or so since they had left their homes, he realised. Terrible to think that he had not seen his darling wife in such a long while.
‘Father!
Father!
’
Father Adam looked as though he was never an entirely calm man, to Simon’s mind. He had the thin, almost gaunt features of one who carried a community’s sins on his shoulders, and Simon saw that his nails were all bitten to the quick. Hearing the cry, he shot up, scattering drops of ale like seeds from the sower’s hand. ‘Gregory? What is it, in God’s name?’
The boy ran in, slipped on the rushes, and fell headlong. Before anyone could reach him, he sprang up again and gasped, ‘It’s Athelina! Oh, good God in Heaven, please come, Father!’
Chapter Six
Of course the odd thing was, as soon as he’d realised that Nicholas had snared the girl, Gervase had seen that she wasn’t the spotless virgin that Nicholas took her for. Nick, bless him, always wanted to see the best in people. It would lead him into trouble one of these days. Well, it already had, hadn’t it?
Thing was, Gervase was more worldly wise than his castellan. He had always enjoyed the company of women, had had plenty of dealings with them and knew their ways. Nothing wrong with that. Any man would bed all the women in the world if he had a chance, and Gervase had simply more chances than most. He knew how to compliment females, and he was genuinely interested in their thoughts and moods. It wasn’t all just so that he could pull up their skirts and get in there.
However, his experience with women had led him to see through their wiles. That was the problem with people like Nick. The silly devil believed in love at first sight, even at his age, and thought that Anne adored him too. There was no fool like an old, besotted one.
Baldwin and Simon left Ivo at the priest’s house. He appeared content to chat with Julia and waved them off like a lord indulgently granting permission to a child. It made Baldwin want to thrash the youth, but only fleetingly. Gregory’s face stilled any
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