World Without End Page 0,406

spring that village was obliged to provide its lord with twenty-four hoggets, year-old sheep. They could be driven to Shiring market and sold, and they should raise enough cash to pay for a palfrey, if not a hunter. "All right," Ralph said to Alan. "Let's see if the bailiff of Wigleigh is here."

They went into the hall. This was a feminine zone, and Ralph's spirits dropped immediately. Tilly was sitting by the fire, nursing their three-month-old son, Gerry. Mother and baby were in vigorous good health, despite Tilly's youth. Her slight, girlish body had changed drastically: she now had swollen breasts with large, leathery nipples at which the baby sucked greedily. Her belly sagged loosely like that of an old woman. Ralph had not lain with her for many months and he probably never would again.

Nearby sat the grandfather after whom the baby was named, Sir Gerald, with Lady Maud. Ralph's parents were now old and frail, but every morning they walked from their house in the village to the manor house to see their grandson. Maud said the baby looked like Ralph, but he could not see the resemblance.

Ralph was pleased to see that Nate was also in the hall.

The hunchbacked bailiff sprang up from his bench. "Good day to you, Sir Ralph," he said.

He had a hangdog look about him, Ralph observed. "What's the matter with you, Nate?" he said. "Have you brought my hoggets?"

"No, sir."

"Why the devil not?"

"We've got none, sir. There are no sheep left in Wigleigh, except for a few old ewes."

Ralph was shocked. "Has someone stolen them?"

"No, but some have been given to you already, as heriot when their owners died, and then we couldn't find a tenant to take over Jack Shepherd's land, and many sheep died over the winter. Then there was no one to look to the early lambs this spring, so we lost most of those, and some of the mothers."

"But this is impossible!" Ralph said angrily. "How are noblemen to live if their serfs let the livestock perish?"

"We thought perhaps the plague was over, when it died down in January and February, but now it seems to be coming back."

Ralph repressed a shudder of terror. Like everyone else, he had been thanking God that he had escaped the plague. Surely it could not return?

Nate went on: "Perkin died this week, and his wife, Peg, and his son, Rob, and his son-in-law, Billy Howard. That's left Annet with all those acres to manage, which she can't possibly do."

"Well, there must be a heriot due on that property, then."

"There will be, when I can find a tenant to take it over."

Parliament was in the process of passing new legislation to stop labourers flitting about the country demanding even higher wages. As soon as the ordinance became law, Ralph would enforce it and get his workers back. Even then, he now realized, he would be desperate to find tenants.

Nate said: "I expect you've heard of the death of the earl."

"No!" Ralph was shocked again.

"What's that?" Sir Gerald said. "Earl William is dead?"

"Of the plague," Nate explained.

Tilly said: "Poor Uncle William!"

The baby sensed her mood and wailed.

Ralph spoke over the noise. "When did this happen?"

"Only three days ago," Nate replied.

Tilly gave the baby the nipple again, and he shut up.

"So William's elder son is the new earl," Ralph mused. "He can't be more than twenty."

Nate shook his head. "Rollo also died of the plague."

"Then the younger son-"

"Dead too."

"Both sons!" Ralph's heart leaped. It had always been his dream to become the earl of Shiring. Now the plague had given him the opportunity. And the plague had also improved his chances, for many likely candidates for the title had been wiped out.

He caught his father's eye. The same thought had occurred to Sir Gerald.

Tilly said: "Rollo and Rick dead - it's so awful." She began to cry.

Ralph ignored her and tried to think through the possibilities. "Let's see, what surviving relatives are there?"

Gerald said to Nate: "I presume the countess died too?"

"No, sir. Lady Philippa lives. So does her daughter, Odila."

"Ah!" said Gerald. "So, whoever the king chooses will have to marry Philippa in order to become earl."

Ralph was thunderstruck. Since he was a lad he had dreamed of marrying Lady Philippa. Now there was an opportunity to achieve both his ambitions at one stroke.

But he was already married.

Gerald said: "That's it, then." He sat back in his chair, his excitement gone as quickly as it had come.

Ralph looked at Tilly, suckling