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Authors: Sharon Kay Penman
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custard or telling Edwin what a good hand he was with the horses."
Jonet betrayed herself with a deep blush, but fortunately for her, Ella was too accustomed to their bickering to pay it any heed. Glancing from face to face, Justin decided that Guy knew about Miles and Jonet. He doubted, though, that Thomas knew, for he was too self-absorbed to ferret out other people's secrets; his gibe had been a random shot that just happened to hit its target. Jonet had reached that same conclusion; her blush was fading. For a few moments, it seemed as if the remainder of the meal would be passed in a semblance of peace.
Guy was rubbing his aching temples, all the while regarding his nephew with unconcealed disapproval. "Well, Thomas? Just where were you this afternoon?"
Thomas set his wine cup down, looking first at his mother
Sharon Kay Penman
and then his uncle. "I was going to wait, but I think it best to tell you here and now. I went to Hyde Abbey to meet with Abbot John/'
Justin thought that, as excuses went, this was a good one, a much more respectable reason for playing truant than stopping off at the closest alehouse. He did not understand, therefore, why Ella and Guy looked so upset, Jonet so pleased.
'Thomas!' 7 Ella sounded stricken. "It was agreed that we'd talk no more of this—"
"You and Papa agreed, I did not! I have had a candid talk with Father Abbot and he has agreed to accept me as a novice in the Benedictine order, with the intent of taking holy vows once I have proved myself worthy."
"It was your father's dearest wish that you become a goldsmith!"
"What is Papa's wish when compared with God's Will?"
"You had no right to do this!"
"I am doing Almighty God's bidding, Uncle Guy! And I'll not let Mama and you thwart me as Papa did, that I swear by the Blessed Cross!"
Justin shoved his bench out. As rude as it would be to leave in the middle of the meal, it would be worse to remain, an unwilling eavesdropper to this family breach. "My horse picked up a pebble on the road ... I need to make sure the hoof is not bruised ..." Mumbling whatever came to mind, he backed away from the table.
His departure went unnoticed. By the time he reached the door, the hall was in utter turmoil: Guy and Thomas were trading heated accusations, Ella wiping away tears with a napkin, Guy's anxious wife wavering between her white-faced husband and the baby now wailing in her cradle, Berta and Edith drawn by the uproar. Only Jonet remained calm, elbows propped on the table, chin resting on her laced fingers, watching with alert interest and the faintest inkling of a smile.
The night sky was adrift in stars, but a gusting wind sent Justin hastening toward the shelter of the stable. Within, a wick floated
THE QUEEN'S MAN
in the oil oi a cresset lamp, sputtering fitfully. Copper and two bay rounceys stretched their necks over their stall doors, nickering. Edwin was sprawled on a blanket, an empty trencher beside him in the straw. "What brings you out here?" he asked in surprise.
"I'm in need of a safe haven. How would you like to show me your favorite alehouse?"
Edwin was already on his feet. "It is right up the road. And wait till you see Avis, the serving maid! But what are you fleeing from?"
"A family bloodletting. Thomas announced that he means to become a monk and they did not take it well."
"I was wondering when he'd spring that on them. I half expected him to do it at graveside as they were burying his father!"
"You knew, then, about this?"
"Me and half of Winchester!"
Out on the street, it was too cold to talk. The wind blew back the hoods of their mantles, soon set their teeth to chattering. Fortunately, Edwin had not exaggerated the alehouse's proximity, and they raced each other for that beckoning doorway. Inside, it was crowded and noisy and hazy with hearth smoke, and looked far more welcoming to Justin than the Fitz Randolphs' spacious great hall.
Much to Edwin's disappointment, Avis had gone home with a
Jonet betrayed herself with a deep blush, but fortunately for her, Ella was too accustomed to their bickering to pay it any heed. Glancing from face to face, Justin decided that Guy knew about Miles and Jonet. He doubted, though, that Thomas knew, for he was too self-absorbed to ferret out other people's secrets; his gibe had been a random shot that just happened to hit its target. Jonet had reached that same conclusion; her blush was fading. For a few moments, it seemed as if the remainder of the meal would be passed in a semblance of peace.
Guy was rubbing his aching temples, all the while regarding his nephew with unconcealed disapproval. "Well, Thomas? Just where were you this afternoon?"
Thomas set his wine cup down, looking first at his mother
Sharon Kay Penman
and then his uncle. "I was going to wait, but I think it best to tell you here and now. I went to Hyde Abbey to meet with Abbot John/'
Justin thought that, as excuses went, this was a good one, a much more respectable reason for playing truant than stopping off at the closest alehouse. He did not understand, therefore, why Ella and Guy looked so upset, Jonet so pleased.
'Thomas!' 7 Ella sounded stricken. "It was agreed that we'd talk no more of this—"
"You and Papa agreed, I did not! I have had a candid talk with Father Abbot and he has agreed to accept me as a novice in the Benedictine order, with the intent of taking holy vows once I have proved myself worthy."
"It was your father's dearest wish that you become a goldsmith!"
"What is Papa's wish when compared with God's Will?"
"You had no right to do this!"
"I am doing Almighty God's bidding, Uncle Guy! And I'll not let Mama and you thwart me as Papa did, that I swear by the Blessed Cross!"
Justin shoved his bench out. As rude as it would be to leave in the middle of the meal, it would be worse to remain, an unwilling eavesdropper to this family breach. "My horse picked up a pebble on the road ... I need to make sure the hoof is not bruised ..." Mumbling whatever came to mind, he backed away from the table.
His departure went unnoticed. By the time he reached the door, the hall was in utter turmoil: Guy and Thomas were trading heated accusations, Ella wiping away tears with a napkin, Guy's anxious wife wavering between her white-faced husband and the baby now wailing in her cradle, Berta and Edith drawn by the uproar. Only Jonet remained calm, elbows propped on the table, chin resting on her laced fingers, watching with alert interest and the faintest inkling of a smile.
The night sky was adrift in stars, but a gusting wind sent Justin hastening toward the shelter of the stable. Within, a wick floated
THE QUEEN'S MAN
in the oil oi a cresset lamp, sputtering fitfully. Copper and two bay rounceys stretched their necks over their stall doors, nickering. Edwin was sprawled on a blanket, an empty trencher beside him in the straw. "What brings you out here?" he asked in surprise.
"I'm in need of a safe haven. How would you like to show me your favorite alehouse?"
Edwin was already on his feet. "It is right up the road. And wait till you see Avis, the serving maid! But what are you fleeing from?"
"A family bloodletting. Thomas announced that he means to become a monk and they did not take it well."
"I was wondering when he'd spring that on them. I half expected him to do it at graveside as they were burying his father!"
"You knew, then, about this?"
"Me and half of Winchester!"
Out on the street, it was too cold to talk. The wind blew back the hoods of their mantles, soon set their teeth to chattering. Fortunately, Edwin had not exaggerated the alehouse's proximity, and they raced each other for that beckoning doorway. Inside, it was crowded and noisy and hazy with hearth smoke, and looked far more welcoming to Justin than the Fitz Randolphs' spacious great hall.
Much to Edwin's disappointment, Avis had gone home with a
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