The Guilt of Innocents Read Online Free PDF Page B

Jasper glanced at Alisoun and sat up straighter when he found her eyes on him. ‘Unfortunately Master Nicholas had just approached Drogo when his wounds began to bleed. The crowd began murmuring that he was a murderer.’
    ‘Heaven help us,’ whispered Lucie. ‘Why him?’
    ‘Because he was there when they saw the blood,’ said Jasper. ‘By then everyone was cold and tired and ripe for trouble. They’d been pushed around and their feet had been stepped on and their stomachs were growling. Rumours spread that didn’tneed to make any sense once the people were ready to explode. So when they saw the blood I wasn’t surprised they cried out that Master Nicholas was a murderer even though Drogo’s still alive.’
    ‘My grammar master would never hurt anyone!’ Alisoun cried.
    ‘They’ve already hanged him in their hearts,’ said Bess, ‘especially Drogo’s fellow bargemen. They protect their own and they’re not gentle about it.’
    All at the table crossed themselves, and grew quiet.
    ‘I did hear some good news,’ said Jasper, smiling at Lucie. ‘Hubert’s father and his lord are safely home in Weston.’
    ‘God be praised,’ said Lucie.
    Later, after Edric and Jasper had returned to the shop and Alisoun had retired with the children, Bess said to Lucie, ‘I thought Jasper was for the monastery. Did his calling die with Brother Wulfstan?’
    ‘He still speaks of it, but now it is usually as a threat when he feels unappreciated.’ Lucie smiled, remembering how she’d mourned that such a handsome young man would close himself off from the world. ‘I have some doubt that he has a true vocation.’
    ‘Not with the way he looks at Alisoun,’ said Bess.
    Indeed. ‘This evening it appeared as if her heartlies elsewhere,’ said Lucie. ‘I am both relieved and sorry for that. Poor Jasper.’
    ‘Aye, but she would be a difficult partner, wilful and moody.’
    ‘He sees none of that. But what do you think of Edric’s behaviour? I didn’t notice his eyes lingering on her.’
    Bess shook her head. ‘No, they linger on his mistress. And don’t pretend to me that you’ve not seen that.’
    Of course Lucie had noticed, and God help her but in her clumsy stage of pregnancy she enjoyed the flattery, though she took care to discourage it and keep Edric focused on his work. ‘He is under my roof, in my protection. I do not allow myself to fret about it, and Owen is blind to it – at least he seems to be. Faith, he sees little of Edric, which is for the best.’ In fact it felt to Lucie that Owen saw little of her , which was not for the best. She did wish he were not away so often, that Thoresby did not rely on him so much. When Lucie had been pregnant with Gwenllian, their firstborn, Owen had taken pains to tell her how beautiful she looked, how she still stirred his desire, how excited he was about the life they had begun. Now he seemed merely worried about her health and relieved when she reassured him that she felt well.
    Smiling, Bess patted Lucie’s hand. ‘Owen would understand, I think. Edric is comely, but to his elders he’s coltish, young and awkward.’ She tidiedher cap. ‘Speaking of your handsome husband, I dare not linger until he returns. I’ve already stayed away from the tavern longer than is wise.’
    ‘God go with you, my friend. I pray the tavern is quiet.’
    Bess chuckled. ‘If I thought it would be quiet I’d feel free to bide with you a while longer. The customers will be eager to recount what they saw and heard at the staithe and the abbey gate over and over, and it will take several tankards for most of them.’
    Lucie walked Bess to the door and watched her turn towards St Helen’s Square. She felt restless now, not at all in the proper temper to work on the accounts. In the kitchen, she found Kate drowsing beside the hearth. She thought of her apprentices working into the evening. Jasper’s day had been long already, and Edric had been alone in the shop for long