World Without End Page 0,411

priory and search through the nuns' documents... or the documents must come to you."

"The second of those two."

Ralph nodded. He was beginning to understand what Gregory wanted him to do.

Gregory said: "I have made some very discreet inquiries, and discovered that no one knows exactly where the nuns' treasury is."

"The nuns must know, or some of them."

"But they won't say. However, I understand you're an expert in... persuading people to reveal secrets."

So Gregory knew of the work Ralph had done in France. There was nothing spontaneous about this conversation, Ralph realized. Gregory must have planned it. In fact it was probably the real reason he had come to Kingsbridge. Ralph said: "I may be able to help the king's friends solve this problem..."

"Good."

"...if I were promised the earldom of Shiring as my reward."

Gregory frowned. "The new earl will have to marry the old countess."

Ralph decided to hide his eagerness. Instinct told him that Gregory would have less respect for a man who was driven, even just partly, by lust for a woman. "Lady Philippa is five years older than I am, but I have no objection to her."

Gregory looked askance. "She's a very beautiful woman," he said. "Whoever the king gives her to should think himself a lucky man."

Ralph realized he had gone too far. "I don't wish to appear indifferent," he said hastily. "She is indeed a beauty."

"But I thought you were already married," Gregory said. "Have I made a mistake?"

Ralph caught Alan's eye, and saw that he was keenly curious to hear what Ralph would say next.

Ralph sighed. "My wife is very ill," he said. "She hasn't long to live."

Gwenda lit the fire in the kitchen of the old house where Wulfric had lived since he was born. She found her cooking pots, filled one with water at the well and threw in some early onions, the first step in making a stew. Wulfric brought in more firewood. The boys happily went out to play with their old friends, unaware of the depth of the tragedy that had befallen their family.

Gwenda busied herself with household chores as the evening darkened outside. She was trying not to think. Everything that came into her mind just made her feel worse: the future, the past, her husband, herself. Wulfric sat and looked into the flames. Neither of them spoke.

Their neighbour, David Johns, appeared with a big jug of ale. His wife was dead of the plague, but his grown-up daughter, Joanna, followed him in. Gwenda was not happy to see them: she wanted to be miserable in private. But their intentions were kind, and it was impossible to spurn them. Gwenda glumly wiped the dust from some wooden cups, and David poured ale for everyone.

"We're sorry things worked out this way, but we're glad to see you," he said as they drank.

Wulfric emptied his cup with one huge swallow and held it out for more.

A little later Aaron Appletree and his wife Ulla came in. She carried a basket of small loaves. "I knew you wouldn't have any bread, so I made some," she said. She handed them around and the house filled with the mouth-watering smell. David Johns poured them some ale, and they sat down. "Where did you get the courage to run away?" Ulla asked admiringly. "I would have died of fright!"

Gwenda began to tell the story of their adventures. Jack and Eli Fuller arrived from the mill, bringing a dish of pears baked in honey. Wulfric ate plenty and drank deep. The atmosphere lightened, and Gwenda's mood lifted a little. More neighbours came, each bringing a gift. When Gwenda told how the villagers of Outhenby with their spades and hoes had faced down Ralph and Alan, everyone rocked with delighted laughter.

Then she came to the events of today, and she descended into despair again. "Everything was against us," she said bitterly. "Not just Ralph and his ruffians, but the king and the church. We had no chance."

The neighbours nodded gloomily.

"And then, when he put a rope around my Wulfric's neck..." She was filled with bleak despair. Her voice cracked, and she could not go on. She took a gulp of ale and tried again. "When he put a rope around Wulfric's neck - the strongest and bravest man I've ever known, any of us has ever known, led through the village like a beast, and that heartless, crass, bullying Ralph holding the rope - I just wanted the heavens to fall in and