The Law of Angels Read Online Free PDF Page B

one corner with a motif of blue borage flowers. Miraculously both seemed undamaged by the smoke. If she possessed anything precious it was here. She rewrapped the missal in the cloth and briefly pressed her lips to the bundle before clawing her way through the smoke. Outside she gasped in great gulps of fresh air.
    Agnetha gave her a sharp reproof. “That was foolhardy of you—” She, alone of the others, would know why Hildegard had risked entering the burning house.
    Avoiding her glance, Hildegard cast a bleak eye over the ruins. Shame stung her. What had happened was her own fault. In her pride she had assumed she could protect her little community. But she had failed. Hubert de Courcy had been right all along. He had objected to her wish to establish a grange in the wilds, and had only given in because she had been so insistent. But she was wrong, wrong, wrong. She couldn’t protect anyone. Tears stung her eyes.
    Miserably she went over to the others. “Roger de Hutton will have to be told what has happened to his property. We had better return to Swyne. We’ll send a message to Castle Hutton when we reach the priory.”
    She felt dazed. A year’s work gone in minutes. It was difficult to know what to do next.
    “Why don’t we have another look to see what we can salvage?” she suggested. “We have a long walk ahead of us. We’ll need food and drink. I’ll go and fetch the girls. Maud has some explaining to do.”
    Grim-faced, she set off across the meadow.
    *   *   *
    She reached the bank overlooking the pool. There was no sign of the girls. Then she noticed a bush stir and scrambling down she found them huddled together in a hawthorn brake. When she called they emerged with white faces. Evidently they had risked having a look to see what was going on by climbing to the top of the bank. Now they were both staring with frightened expressions at the burning grange.
    Hildegard put a hand on Maud’s shoulder. “So who were they, Maud?”
    The girl gave a little shriek and tried to break free, but Hildegard gripped her shoulder more firmly. “Do you know them?”
    “I didn’t do anything! I didn’t!”
    “It’s all right. Nobody blames you. But we need to know who they are.” Hildegard bent down but Maud gave a sharp cry and, swivelling on her heels, slithered back down the bank towards the stream in evident panic. Hildegard followed. She caught up with her on the edge of the falls.
    For a moment the girl struggled, her hood slipping back to reveal her frightened face beneath a tightly tied head scarf, but then she kicked out, giving Hildegard a blow on the shins. Almost breaking free, she teetered on the edge of the pool as if to throw herself in. Hildegard managed to grip the back of her kirtle and pull her from the brink.
    Raising her voice above the roar of the waters she asked, “Who are they? You must tell me!”
    “Let me go!” Maud shouted above the noise. “I hate everybody! I want to die!”
    “I’m sorry you hate us,” Hildegard panted, still gripping hold of the struggling girl, “we don’t hate you—”
    “You would if you knew!” she shouted, red-faced.
    “Knew what?” demanded Hildegard.
    “Nothing…” the girl mumbled, suddenly backing away, her eyes wide with fear.
    “What do you think’s going to happen to you? You can trust us.” Maintaining her grip, yet seeing the fear in the girl’s eyes, Hildegard spoke as gently as she could above the roar of the falls. “Tell me, Maud,” she insisted, her voice dropping further with compassion. “We have to know who they are and what they wanted you for, otherwise we can do nothing to help. Whatever it is you are surely forgiven.”
    At her tone Maud drew in her breath and when she realised that Hildegard was not going to loosen her grip she began to weaken. She stifled a sob. Soon harsh, dry sounds were being forced from her throat, but she did not speak even now and her eyes remained dry as if the depths of her