Read Online Whiter than the Lily by Alys Clare - Free Book Online Page B

her maidservant coming to escort her home. But the maidservant did not appear. In any case, even had she arrived as early as her mistress began looking out for her, Galiena could not have left with her there and then. The second potion was not yet ready.
    It was Sister Tiphaine’s fault, if indeed there was a fault. Careful to the point of obsession over her remedies, she had insisted that the last ingredient could not be picked until the planets were in the correct alignment and this had not happened until just before dawn of that day. Then, even having picked, prepared and added the final herb, the mixture had to steep for a certain time. Helewise, sensing Galiena’s impatience like an itch on her skin, had sent word to the herbalist suggesting that the remedy might steep even as Galiena bore it back to Ryemarsh. No, my ladyAbbess, came the polite but firm reply. The potion will lose its power if not allowed perfect stillness whilst it matures.
    It appeared that the earliest Galiena might set out – assuming either that her woman-servant had arrived or that she would accept Brother Augustus as escort – was midway through the afternoon.
    And with that Helewise knew she – and Galiena – must be satisfied. Sister Tiphaine knew what she was doing and it was useless to argue.
    Helewise was left with the distinct impression that she herself had received the unwelcome tidings rather better than Galiena. The girl had apparently taken herself off for a walk in the woods. Warned by the well-meaning Sister Anne not to venture off the track that led around the skirts of the Great Forest, Galiena had, according to witnesses, given a flounce of her wide skirts, twitched her veil into place, muttered something that fortunately nobody could make out and marched off.
    It is understandable, Helewise kept telling herself. The girl is distraught, homesick, lonely. We – by which she actually meant I – shall just have be patient and kind for a few more hours, then we shall all have our wishes granted and she will be on her way home.
    In the late morning, Sister Ursel came hurrying to tell Helewise that there were travellers on the road approaching the Abbey gates.
    ‘Is it Galiena’s maidservant?’ Helewise asked, trying to keep the hope out of her voice.
    ‘I cannot say, my lady. It is a party of three and, as far as I can tell, consists of a man, well-dressed and well-mounted, a woman and a manservant.’
    Oh. It did not sound like a lone woman coming to fetch Galiena. ‘Find out who they are and what they wish of us,’ she said calmly to the porteress. ‘Then report back immediately to me, please.’
    Sister Ursel nodded a brief reverence and left.
    In the brief period of her absence Helewise did not even try to return to her books. Instead she sat staring at the wall and trying to think kind thoughts.
    Sister Ursel reappeared. ‘My lord of Ryemarsh is here, my lady,’ she said, and the avid curiosity in her eyes belied her deliberately bland tone. ‘He says he has come to meet his wife, as they arranged, and that he wishes to take the holy healing waters and pray with her here for a few days.’
    Helewise rose slowly to her feet. As they arranged? Why, then, had Galiena not mentioned that Ambrose would be joining her at Hawkenlye? And Galiena wanted to go home, didn’t she? It was surely not in her plans to remain at the Abbey, praying and partaking of the waters. Thinking swiftly, she said, ‘See to it that the lord Ryemarsh is escorted down to the Vale and ask Brother Firmin to look after him. I will find Galiena and bring her to him there.’
    The porteress nodded her understanding and hurried away. Helewise, moving with more deliberation, wondered just how she was going to accomplish her self-appointed mission. The forest was vast and if Galiena had not heeded the warning not to venturewithin its dark reaches, it was going to be no quick or easy task to locate her …
    Well, the sooner I start, the sooner I shall