luxury or other would be missing from their dishes, but decided that they probably wouldn’t. Richard the cook had apparently almost had apoplexy when he’d heard that the noble guests had arrived a day early, but somehow he’d managed to produce a meal which would be stupendous, if the smells were anything to judge by. Edwin wondered how the man had fared who had been sent back by Hamo without the sugar. He had a look round in case he could spot him anywhere, but he couldn’t – of course, the kitchen staff themselves wouldn’t be in here; they’d have a bite to eat while everyone was at the meal, and then prepare themselves for the return of the dirty dishes and the preparations for tomorrow. Anyway, Edwin was profoundly glad that he hadn’t been the one entrusted with that message.
Brother William was speaking to him, so he dragged his mind back and paid heed. The monk was asking him about the people who were at the high table with the earl. Edwin was some help but not much: he was able to point out the Lady Isabelle and the knights Sir Gilbert, Sir Geoffrey and Sir Roger, and also to note that the earl had two other sisters who were both married with children, but he didn’t know which was which. The girls sitting with Mistress Joanna were presumably companions of the noble ladies, but again he didn’t really know who they were. Brother William didn’t seem to mind, though – Edwin got the feeling that he’d just been asking in order to pass the time while he waited for his meal. Once the dishes for the noble table had gone past them and made Edwin’s mouth water, the fare for the cramped lower tables was brought out, and huge quantities of pie, pottage, bread and ale were placed before them. Richard Cook’s concentration on the noble dishes evidently hadn’t extended to the food for everyone else, and it didn’t quite taste up to the usual standard. But Brother William tucked in as though he hadn’t eaten for some time, and Edwin wondered what the monks ate at the abbey. Whatever it was, Edwin was fairly sure they wouldn’t shovel in quite so much and quite so fast as Brother William was doing now.
As Edwin applied himself to his pie he saw Hamo near him at the back of the hall, flitting around the door to the service area and fussing over the serving men going in and out. He didn’t seem to be achieving much except getting in everyone’s way, but still he kept buzzing around like a fly on a carcass. Edwin felt a little bit guilty sitting there eating while Hamo wasn’t. The man giving out trenchers asked him whether he wanted a place setting anywhere, and Hamo snipped something back at him, presumably indicating that he’d have something later. As Edwin watched, Hamo waved the man away and continued his pacing, but then he stopped, very suddenly, causing a man carrying a tray of pies to swerve around him. One pie dropped to the floor, to be snatched up immediately by someone’s dog, which retreated under the table with its prize. Hamo stood completely still, all the colour draining from his face, as he stared at Edwin. Edwin half stood out of his seat, wondering what in the Lord’s name he could have said or done which would cause Hamo to look at him in such shock; he thought he’d better go and ask, but before he could move, Hamo turned and disappeared back into the service room. Bemused, but deciding that now wasn’t the time to make a scene, Edwin sat down again and continued eating.
The meal went on for a very long time, the hall getting hotter and hotter as time passed. Edwin had eaten his fill but as everyone else around him was still supping and talking he thought it might be seen as uncivil to leave. But then there was a stir of anticipation, and Edwin saw that the minstrel was stepping forward; he decided he couldn’t leave now or it might draw attention to himself. Besides, it wasn’t every day, or even every month, that such entertainment was to be had. He tried to settle
Brother William was speaking to him, so he dragged his mind back and paid heed. The monk was asking him about the people who were at the high table with the earl. Edwin was some help but not much: he was able to point out the Lady Isabelle and the knights Sir Gilbert, Sir Geoffrey and Sir Roger, and also to note that the earl had two other sisters who were both married with children, but he didn’t know which was which. The girls sitting with Mistress Joanna were presumably companions of the noble ladies, but again he didn’t really know who they were. Brother William didn’t seem to mind, though – Edwin got the feeling that he’d just been asking in order to pass the time while he waited for his meal. Once the dishes for the noble table had gone past them and made Edwin’s mouth water, the fare for the cramped lower tables was brought out, and huge quantities of pie, pottage, bread and ale were placed before them. Richard Cook’s concentration on the noble dishes evidently hadn’t extended to the food for everyone else, and it didn’t quite taste up to the usual standard. But Brother William tucked in as though he hadn’t eaten for some time, and Edwin wondered what the monks ate at the abbey. Whatever it was, Edwin was fairly sure they wouldn’t shovel in quite so much and quite so fast as Brother William was doing now.
As Edwin applied himself to his pie he saw Hamo near him at the back of the hall, flitting around the door to the service area and fussing over the serving men going in and out. He didn’t seem to be achieving much except getting in everyone’s way, but still he kept buzzing around like a fly on a carcass. Edwin felt a little bit guilty sitting there eating while Hamo wasn’t. The man giving out trenchers asked him whether he wanted a place setting anywhere, and Hamo snipped something back at him, presumably indicating that he’d have something later. As Edwin watched, Hamo waved the man away and continued his pacing, but then he stopped, very suddenly, causing a man carrying a tray of pies to swerve around him. One pie dropped to the floor, to be snatched up immediately by someone’s dog, which retreated under the table with its prize. Hamo stood completely still, all the colour draining from his face, as he stared at Edwin. Edwin half stood out of his seat, wondering what in the Lord’s name he could have said or done which would cause Hamo to look at him in such shock; he thought he’d better go and ask, but before he could move, Hamo turned and disappeared back into the service room. Bemused, but deciding that now wasn’t the time to make a scene, Edwin sat down again and continued eating.
The meal went on for a very long time, the hall getting hotter and hotter as time passed. Edwin had eaten his fill but as everyone else around him was still supping and talking he thought it might be seen as uncivil to leave. But then there was a stir of anticipation, and Edwin saw that the minstrel was stepping forward; he decided he couldn’t leave now or it might draw attention to himself. Besides, it wasn’t every day, or even every month, that such entertainment was to be had. He tried to settle
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