Read Online The Brothers of Glastonbury by Kate Sedley - Free Book Online Page B

this is where you are!’ Cicely’s voice accused me, and I turned to see her standing in the doorway. ‘I’ve been searching for you for ages.’
    ‘And now you’ve found me,’ I answered coolly, conscious of Mark’s suspicious glare. ‘What do want with me, Mistress?’
    She pouted at this formal mode of address, but merely said, ‘You’re all to come to dinner. Aunt Joan says we’re to eat together in the kitchen until more help can be found for Lyddie. She won’t have her overworked, carrying food upstairs to the solar.’
    Mark muttered something under his breath, but made no further protest. He and Rob took off their aprons, running their fingers through their hair in a vain attempt to be rid of the dust, and I copied them, with as little result.
    ‘What have you been doing?’ Cicely asked as we walked across the garden. It was now well past ten o’clock and the sun was already mounting the heavens. Only a few faint clouds stencilled the relentless blue vault of the sky, and the heat was merciless.
    ‘With Mark’s permission, I’ve been looking through your cousin Peter’s books.’
    ‘And what did you discover?’ She spoke a little breathlessly, abandoning her provocative manner.
    ‘Nothing that need disturb anyone. It’s a perfectly innocent collection, more respectable I should guess than the libraries of many an abbey. At Glastonbury, for example, some books are kept under lock and key, volumes thought too dangerous or too seditious to be viewed by any but the most senior, and therefore most incorruptible, of the monks.’
    She glanced sharply at me, as if suspecting me of irreverence towards the Holy Church and its officers, but I smiled blandly back and she was reassured.
    So was Dame Joan when I repeated what I had told her niece. ‘That is good news.’ She said a benediction and we began our meal, but she still needed a little reassurance. ‘You’re certain there’s nothing there that could implicate Peter in any form of magic?’
    ‘Quite certain. You may rest easy on that score.’
    ‘Then whatever can have happened to him?’ she asked. No one made answer and she looked again at me. ‘What do you plan to do now, Roger?’
    I wiped my mouth on the back of one hand. ‘I should like to ride to the Pennards’ farm and have a word with young Abel Fairchild. Would I meet with any opposition from your friends, do you think?’
    I had to wait several moments while Mark emptied his mouth of food, but eventually he replied with a shrug of his shoulders, ‘They’re not really friends, just people with whom we have commercial dealings. But they’re all of them pleasant enough, and would probably raise no objections to you speaking with Abel, provided you don’t keep him too long from his work. They must be as anxious as we are to resolve this business. After all, Peter’s disappearance happened on their land, and it may harm their reputation as well as ours if no solution’s found soon.’
    ‘I’ll ride with you,’ Cicely offered, hurrying to finish her dinner. ‘You’ll need someone to show you the way.’
    ‘I already know the way,’ I retorted firmly. ‘If you recall, we passed over Pennard land yesterday, and you pointed out the farmstead.’
    ‘You’ll stay here,’ Mark informed her roughly. ‘You can help Mother in the house.’ He turned back to me. ‘Will you ride the Duke’s horse?’
    ‘He was lent to me for my use,’ I answered. ‘Can you think of a good reason why I shouldn’t take him?’
    My host was only too anxious to endorse my claim, not wishing to put Dorabella to any further exertion for a while.
    Consequently, as soon as dinner was over, I set off in the direction of Northload Street and the stables. As I passed the north gatehouse of the abbey I heard my name called in such quavering accents that they were almost drowned out by the rattle of a passing wagon. Turning my head I saw the fragile, stooping form of Brother Hilarion, who had been