Read Online The Heretic's Apprentice by Ellis Peters - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Ellis Peters
Ads: Link
gift to its hiding-place. Aldwin said sourly: âThereâll be aplenty will fancy her for wife, if they get wind she has goods to bring with her. Sheâll have need of your good counsel, Mistress.â
Conan had said nothing at all. He had never been a talker. His eyes followed the box until the door of the press closed on it, but all he had to say throughout was said at the last, when Elave rose to take his leave. The shepherd rose with him.
âIâll be off, then, and take the pony, and see if I can find where the master is. But whether or not, Iâll be back by nightfall.â
*
They were all dispersing to their various occupations when Margaret drew Elave back by the sleeve, delaying him until the rest had gone.
âYouâll understand, Iâm sure, how it is,â she said confidingly. âI wouldnât say anything but just to you, Elave. You were always a good lad with the accounts, and worked hard, and to tell the honest truth, Aldwin is no match for you, though he does his best, and can manage well enough all thatâs required of him. But heâs getting older, and has no home or folks of his own, and what would he do if we parted with him now? Youâre young, thereâs many a merchant would be glad to hire you, with your knowledge of the world. You wonât take it amiss...â
Elave had caught her drift long before this, and broke in hastily to reassure her. âNo, no, never think of it! I never expected to have my old place back. I wouldnât for the world put Aldwinâs nose out of joint. Iâm glad he should be secure the rest of his life. Never trouble for me, I shall look about me and find work to do. And as for bearing any grudge that Iâm not asked back, I never so much as thought of it. Nothing but good have I had from this house, and I shanât forget it. No, Aldwin can go on with his labours with all my goodwill.â
âThatâs like the lad I remember!â she said with hearty relief. âI knew youâd take it as itâs meant. I hope you may get good service with some travelling merchant, one that trades oversea, that would suit you, after all youâve seen and done. But you will come up with us tomorrow after Uncle Williamâs burial, and take meat with us?â
He promised readily, glad to have their relationship established and understood. To tell the truth, he thought he might have felt confined and restricted here now, dealing with the buying of stock and paying of wages, the weighing and marketing of wool, and the small profits and expenses of a good but limited business. He was not yet sure what he did want, he could afford to spend a little while looking round before committing himself. Going out at the hall door he came shoulder to shoulder with Conan, on his way out to the stable, and dropped back to let Margaretâs messenger go first.
A young woman with a basket on her arm had just emerged from the narrow entry that led to the street, and was crossing the yard towards them. She was not over-tall, but looked tall by reason of her erect bearing and long, free step, light and springy from the ground like the gait of a mettlesome colt. Her plain grey gown swayed with the lissome movement of a trim body, and the well-poised head on her long neck was crowned with a great coiled braid of dark hair lit with shadowy gleams of red. Halfway across the yard towards them she halted abruptly, gazing open-mouthed and wide-eyed, and suddenly she laughed aloud, a joyous, silver sound of pleasurable amazement.
âYou!â she said, in a soft, delighted cry. âIs it truth? I am not dreaming?â
She stopped them both on the instant, brought up short by the warmth of her greeting, Elave gaping like an idiot at this unknown girl who yet appeared not only to recognise him, but to take pleasure in the recognition, Conan fallen warily silent beside him, his face expressionless, his eyes roving from one
Conan had said nothing at all. He had never been a talker. His eyes followed the box until the door of the press closed on it, but all he had to say throughout was said at the last, when Elave rose to take his leave. The shepherd rose with him.
âIâll be off, then, and take the pony, and see if I can find where the master is. But whether or not, Iâll be back by nightfall.â
*
They were all dispersing to their various occupations when Margaret drew Elave back by the sleeve, delaying him until the rest had gone.
âYouâll understand, Iâm sure, how it is,â she said confidingly. âI wouldnât say anything but just to you, Elave. You were always a good lad with the accounts, and worked hard, and to tell the honest truth, Aldwin is no match for you, though he does his best, and can manage well enough all thatâs required of him. But heâs getting older, and has no home or folks of his own, and what would he do if we parted with him now? Youâre young, thereâs many a merchant would be glad to hire you, with your knowledge of the world. You wonât take it amiss...â
Elave had caught her drift long before this, and broke in hastily to reassure her. âNo, no, never think of it! I never expected to have my old place back. I wouldnât for the world put Aldwinâs nose out of joint. Iâm glad he should be secure the rest of his life. Never trouble for me, I shall look about me and find work to do. And as for bearing any grudge that Iâm not asked back, I never so much as thought of it. Nothing but good have I had from this house, and I shanât forget it. No, Aldwin can go on with his labours with all my goodwill.â
âThatâs like the lad I remember!â she said with hearty relief. âI knew youâd take it as itâs meant. I hope you may get good service with some travelling merchant, one that trades oversea, that would suit you, after all youâve seen and done. But you will come up with us tomorrow after Uncle Williamâs burial, and take meat with us?â
He promised readily, glad to have their relationship established and understood. To tell the truth, he thought he might have felt confined and restricted here now, dealing with the buying of stock and paying of wages, the weighing and marketing of wool, and the small profits and expenses of a good but limited business. He was not yet sure what he did want, he could afford to spend a little while looking round before committing himself. Going out at the hall door he came shoulder to shoulder with Conan, on his way out to the stable, and dropped back to let Margaretâs messenger go first.
A young woman with a basket on her arm had just emerged from the narrow entry that led to the street, and was crossing the yard towards them. She was not over-tall, but looked tall by reason of her erect bearing and long, free step, light and springy from the ground like the gait of a mettlesome colt. Her plain grey gown swayed with the lissome movement of a trim body, and the well-poised head on her long neck was crowned with a great coiled braid of dark hair lit with shadowy gleams of red. Halfway across the yard towards them she halted abruptly, gazing open-mouthed and wide-eyed, and suddenly she laughed aloud, a joyous, silver sound of pleasurable amazement.
âYou!â she said, in a soft, delighted cry. âIs it truth? I am not dreaming?â
She stopped them both on the instant, brought up short by the warmth of her greeting, Elave gaping like an idiot at this unknown girl who yet appeared not only to recognise him, but to take pleasure in the recognition, Conan fallen warily silent beside him, his face expressionless, his eyes roving from one
Similar Books
