The Murderer's Tale Read Online Free PDF Page B

with my time.”
    “So we had best do simply what feels right as we go along,” Frevisse had said. “Then our consciences will be clear, no matter what she says of us.” Because they were never going to satisfy Domina Alys, no matter what they did or how they did it. And if they were “too long” about it, let Domina Alys take some of the blame herself. It was her doing that they were going well aside from their way, to Minster Lovell instead of straight to Oxford.
    To fulfill her vow, Dame Claire was supposed to walk the some thirty miles from the priory to St. Frideswide’s great monastery and shrine in Oxford town, there confess and receive absolution from the prior himself for her sins of pride and contumely against her prioress, and then pray at the shrine before returning home. But there was presently a property trouble in Prior Byfield, the village near the nunnery. Some of it was owned by the nunnery, some by Lord Lovell, and some of it was freehold. The nunnery’s and Lord Lovell’s stewards were usually able to resolve between themselves problems that arose, but there was a matter to hand now that the two men were not agreeing on as fast as Domina Alys was willing to tolerate so she had decided to send copies of what she thought were the relevant documents directly to Lord Lovell. That way he could see what a fool his man was being and decide in the nunnery’s favor. But messengers cost money, and since she had two nuns bound more or less in Lord Lovell’s direction, why pay the cost of a messenger when her nuns could do the task instead?
    Frevisse’s uncharitable thought had been that Domina Alys would receive double value for her choice because it would also keep her and Dame Claire that much longer away and give them that much farther to walk.
    She would have to confess and do penance for that thought against her prioress, but she did not much care. Away from Domina Alys was exactly where she wanted to be, and the longer away the better. Besides, the journey so far had been pleasurable, the April days warm under lightly clouded skies, the roads dry, with spring bird song and early flowers along the way and reasonably comfortable places to sleep at night. It was fortunate this was not supposed to be a pilgrimage of penance for her at least; she was finding far too much in it to enjoy, including being away from her prioress.
    But she was also ready to stop for their midday meal and rest and prayers, and sight of the tall oak’s top ahead of them had promised a goodly place for all of that. It had been a disappointment to find its shade already in use, and the best they could hope for now was, first, to be invited to share it and then that the travelers would shortly go on and leave them.
    Young John returned, to bow and say, “It’s a Lionel Knyvet and his folk and some others traveling with them. You’re asked to join them if you’d like.”
    “What did you think of them?” Dame Claire asked.
    “The man was mannerly. I think it would be right enough if you wish it. They seem honest.”
    Frevisse held back from saying, And it’s not as if we have much to offer thieves anyway. The nunnery’s imposed rule of silence had helped her learn to curb her tongue through the years but not always her thoughts, and she was finding now that she was away from the strong hold she had kept on them under Domina Alys’ sway, just how impatient and caustic they tended to be anymore, even when there was no present cause.
    Dame Claire was asking her with a look if they should accept the invitation. It was clear she was ready to, and behind them Father Henry, always ready for the chance of new talk with strangers, had nudged his horse closer to hear their choice. There was no real reason to decline so Frevisse nodded agreement.
    They were a mixed company. Aside from the servants, there were six men and a woman; but two of the men were clearly yeomen or less, and it was not the oldest of the other men who came to