10 - The Goldsmith's Daughter Read Online Free PDF

congratulation, and of some self-importance, to the two women for quite a while after the newly-wed couple and their guests had vanished into Westminster Hall for the wedding feast. But I could see that Philip was unimpressed and shared my worry.
    ‘You want to make yourself scarce, my lad,’ he growled in my ear, as we made our way towards the cook shops, all of us hungry from the cold and ready for our dinner. ‘The Duke of Gloucester’s nothing but a source of trouble where you’re concerned.’
    I nodded. ‘The same idea has already occurred to me. But, on reflection, I believe we’re both being over-cautious. He has too much on his mind at this present to think up any commissions for me to do. Tomorrow’s trial of the Duke of Clarence must be weighing heavily on his mind. There can be no room in his thoughts for anything else.’
    ‘You won’t go to the trial, though, as you originally planned? You wouldn’t be so foolish as to tempt fate in that way, now would you?’ Philip urged.
    ‘Oh . . . I’ll make sure I’m not noticed,’ I answered evasively, loath to forgo my purpose. Philip sighed heavily. ‘In that case, I wash my hands of you,’ he said.
    We exchanged no further words on the subject, but my old friend’s disapproval was plain.
    We caught up with our wives at one of the many stalls selling hot meat pies and steaming ribs of beef, and Adela, now that we had a little extra money on account of the two gold coins I had managed to catch, wanted to try a dish of baked porpoise tongues, a delicacy that had not before come in her way. I dissuaded her, however.
    ‘They may not agree with the child,’ I suggested, patting her stomach.
    Reluctantly, she agreed, and settled for a meat pie instead. But then, against my advice – or, maybe, because of it – she insisted on drinking a cup of hot, spiced ale to warm her. I thought it a mistake, but was wise enough to make no further protest. Adela was too independent a woman to be driven in any direction she did not wish to go, and must be allowed to learn her lessons in her own way. I did venture to mention that the Westminster alemongers put a liberal sprinkling of pepper in their beer, but my comment was ignored.
    It was no great surprise to me, therefore, as the day wore on, and as we pushed and fought our way from stall to stall through the jostling holiday crowds, to note that Adela’s face was contorted every now and then in spasms of discomfort. Eventually, it became obvious that she had lost all interest in the hats and ribbons, laces, shoes and petticoats, and in the hundred and one other goods being offered for sale, wanting nothing so much as to lie down and be quiet.
    ‘I’m sorry,’ she confessed at last, ‘but I’ve the most terrible burning pain in my breast. It’s the child, of course. You were right, Roger. I should have listened to you and not touched that ale.’
    Jeanne Lamprey was immediately all concern, and she and Philip insisted on accompanying us nearly all the way to the Voyager in spite of our urging them to stay where they were.
    ‘There’s no good reason why we should spoil your holiday,’ Adela protested.
    But they would have none of it, persuading us, with, I believe, some truth, that they were tired and would be glad to return home.
    ‘There are too many thieves and pickpockets about on these occasions,’ Philip grumbled. ‘A man’s hard-earned money isn’t safe.’
    They went with us as far as the Great Conduit, where we parted company with mutual promises of seeing one another again within the next few days.
    ‘And take my advice,’ Philip whispered to me at parting. ‘Don’t go to Westminster Hall tomorrow.’
    I went to bed worried about Adela, and with the idea of following his advice. But when, the next day, my wife declared herself so much better, and only wishful of a morning in bed in order to recover fully from yesterday’s exertions, I found myself with time on my hands. The consequence was