World Without End Page 0,354

way from Florence.

"Did Libia have the plague?"

"Yes. She sneezed, felt hot and had spots, but a nun made her better."

"Tm very pleased. That means she's safe. Nobody gets it twice."

"You're safe, aren't you?"

"Yes." That seemed like a good note on which to end. "Go to sleep, now."

"Goodnight," she said.

He went to the door.

"Is Bessie safe?" she said.

"Go to sleep."

"I love Bessie."

"That's nice. Goodnight." He closed the door.

Downstairs, the parlour was empty. People were nervous about going to crowded places. Despite what Godwyn said, Caris's message had gone home.

He could smell a savoury soup. Following his nose, he went into the kitchen. Bessie was stirring a pot on the fire. "Bean soup with ham," she said.

Merthin sat at the table with her father, Paul, a big man now in his fifties. He helped himself to bread while Paul poured him a tankard of ale. Bessie served the soup.

Bessie and Lolla were becoming fond of one another, he realized. He had employed a nanny to take care of Lolla during the day, but Bessie often watched Lolla in the evening, and Lolla preferred her.

Merthin owned a house on Leper Island, but it was a small place, especially by comparison with the palagetto he had become used to in Florence. He was happy to let Jimmie go on living there. Merthin was comfortable here at the Bell. The place was warm and clean, and there was plenty of hearty food and good drink. He paid his bill every Saturday, but in other respects he was treated like a member of the family. He was in no hurry to move into a place of his own.

On the other hand, he could not live here for ever. And, when he did move out, Lolla might be upset to leave Bessie behind. Too many of the people in her life had left it. She needed stability. Perhaps he should move out now, before she became too attached to Bessie.

When they had eaten, Paul retired to bed. Bessie gave Merthin another cup of ale, and they sat by the fire. "How many people died in Florence?" she said.

"Thousands. Tens of thousands, probably. No one could keep count."

"I wonder who's next in Kingsbridge."

"I think about it all the time."

"It might be me."

"I'm afraid so."

"I'd like to lie with a man one more time, before I die."

Merthin smiled, but said nothing.

"I haven't been with a man since my Richard passed away, and that's more than a year."

"You miss him."

"How about you? How long is it since you had a woman?"

Merthin had not had sex since Silvia fell ill. Remembering her, he felt a stab of grief. He had been insufficiently grateful for her love. "About the same," he said.

"Your wife?"

"Yes, rest her soul."

"It's a long time to go without loving."

"Yes."

"But you're not the type to go with just anybody. You want someone to love."

"I suppose you're right."

"I'm the same. It's wonderful to lie with a man, the best thing in the world, but only if you love one another truly. I've only ever had one man, my husband. I never went with anyone else."

Merthin wondered if that was true. He could not be sure. Bessie seemed sincere. But it was the kind of thing a woman would say anyway.

"What about you?" she said. "How many women?"

"Three."

"Your wife, and before that Caris, and... who else? Oh, I remember - Griselda."

"I'm not saying who they were."

"Don't worry, everyone knows."

Merthin smiled ruefully. Of course, everyone did know. Perhaps they could not be sure, but they guessed, and they usually guessed right.

"How old is Griselda's little Merthin now - seven? Eight?"

"Ten."

"I've got fat knees," Bessie said. She pulled up the skirt of her dress to show him. "I've always hated my knees, but Richard used to like them."

Merthin looked. Her knees were plump and dimpled. He could see her white thighs.

"He would kiss my knees," she said. "He was a sweet man." She adjusted her dress, as if straightening it, but she lifted it, and for a moment he glimpsed the dark inviting patch of hair at her groin. "He would kiss me all over, sometimes, especially after bathing. I used to like that. I liked everything. A man can do what he likes to a woman who loves him. Don't you agree?"

This had gone far enough. Merthin stood up. "I think you're probably right, but this kind of talk leads only one way, so I'm going to bed before I commit a sin."

She gave him a sad smile.