World Without End Page 0,203

a monk. What use have we for money?"

Godwyn recalled Philemon's old inclination to stealing. It was true that monks had no use for personal money, at least in theory, but that did not mean they were incorruptible. However, a visit from the prior's inspector would certainly put bailiffs on their toes. "It's a good idea," Godwyn said. "Would you like to be the inspector?"

"I'd be honoured."

"Then it's settled." Godwyn turned back to Simeon. "All the same, we still have a huge income."

"And huge costs," Simeon replied. "We pay a subvention to our bishop. We feed, clothe and house twenty-five monks, seven novices and nineteen pensioners of the priory. We employ thirty people as cleaners, cooks, stable boys and so on. We spend a fortune on candles. Monks' robes-"

"All right, I've grasped your point," Godwyn said impatiently. "But I still want to build a palace."

"Where will you go for the money, then?"

Godwyn sighed. "Where we always go, in the end. I'll ask Mother Cecilia."

He saw her a few minutes later. Normally he would have asked her to come to him, as a sign of the superiority of the male within the church; but on this occasion he thought it best to flatter her.

The prioress's house was an exact copy of the prior's, but it had a different feel. There were cushions and rugs, flowers in a bowl on the table, embroidered samplers on the wall illustrating Bible stories and texts, and a cat asleep in front of the fireplace. Cecilia was finishing a dinner of roast lamb and dark-red wine. She put on a veil when Godwyn arrived, in accordance with a rule Godwyn had introduced, for occasions when monks had to talk to nuns.

He found Cecilia difficult to read, veiled or not. She had formally welcomed his election as prior, and had gone along unprotestingly with his stricter rules about separation of monks and nuns, making only the occasional practical point about the efficient running of the hospital. She had never opposed him, and yet he felt she was not really on his side. It seemed he was no longer able to charm her. When he was younger he had been able to make her laugh like a girl. Now she was no longer susceptible - or perhaps he had lost the knack.

Small talk was difficult with a woman in a veil, so he plunged straight into his topic. "I think we should build two new houses for entertaining noble and high-ranking guests," he said. "One for men, one for women. They would be called the prior's house and the prioress's house, but their main purpose would be to accommodate visitors in the style to which they're accustomed."

"That's an interesting idea," Cecilia said. As ever, she was compliant without being enthusiastic.

"We should have impressive stone buildings," Godwyn went on. "After all, you have been prioress here for more than a decade - you are one of the most senior nuns in the kingdom."

"We want the guests to be impressed, not by our wealth, but by the holiness of the priory and the piety of the monks and nuns, of course," she said.

"Indeed - but the buildings should symbolize that, as the cathedral symbolizes the majesty of God."

"Where do you think the new buildings should be sited?"

This was good, Godwyn thought - she was already getting down to details. "Close to where the old houses are now."

"So, yours near the east end of the church, next to the chapter house, and mine down here by the fishpond."

It crossed Godwyn's mind that she might be mocking him. He could not see her expression. Imposing a veil on women had its disadvantages, he reflected. "You might prefer a new location," he said.

"Yes, I might."

There was a short silence. Godwyn was finding it hard to broach the subject of money. He was going to have to change the rule about veils - make an exception for the prioress, perhaps. It was just too difficult to negotiate like this.

He was forced to plunge again. "Unfortunately, I would not be able to make any contribution to the building costs. The monastery is very poor."

"To the cost of the prioress's house, you mean?" she said. "I wouldn't expect it."

"No, actually, I meant the cost of the prior's house."

"Oh. So you want the nunnery to pay for your new house as well as mine."

"I'm afraid I would have to ask you that, yes. I hope you don't mind."

"Well,