‘Abbot Alfwold will be delighted to see you.’
‘I’ll not be able to stay long. My search will begin early.’
‘Where will you go?’
‘Everywhere.’
‘But the lord sheriff and his men have searched in vain so far.’
‘I know people and places that they may have overlooked.’
‘Those elephants of yours have brought us such joy,’ said the sacristan, eyes moist with sadness. ‘It’s remarkable that something so small can occupy so large a place in our hearts. It’s not their value as gold pieces. It’s what they represent.’
‘The penance of a sinful man.’
‘Your pilgrimage to Rome purified you, Jocelyn.’
‘Not completely,’ sighed the other, ‘but I have a second chance of redemption now. If I can recover those little elephants and return them to the abbey, I hope that God will forgive my past misdeeds and offer me His succour. This isn’t simply a search for missing property, Brother Joseph,’ he declared. ‘It’s a mission.’
It was a dry morning but dark clouds obscured the sun and held the threat of rain. As he rode through the outer edges of the estate, Ralph Delchard looked up at the sky.
‘I hope that we’re not in for bad weather,’ he sighed. ‘Gervase and Golde have a long ride ahead of them this morning. They’ll be soaked to the skin.’
‘It may hold off,’ said Eustace Coureton. ‘If it doesn’t, we’ll get wet as well. It would be a great pity if two royal commissioners turn up at the lady Adelaide’s door looking like a pair of drowned rats. She’d refuse to admit us.’
‘She’s far too gracious to turn us away, Eustace.’
‘How gracious will she be when she has heard what we have to say?’
Ralph grinned. ‘It’ll be interesting to find out.’
With four men by way of an escort, they rode at a brisk trot so that they could take stock of the land through which they were passing. Dispensing with their hauberks for such a relatively short journey, they wore bright tunics under their mantles. Verdant pasture stretched out to their left, dotted with hundreds of sheep who were in skittish mood. Harvesting was taking place in the fields to their right, the men so busy with their scythes and sickles that they did not even raise their heads to look at the passing riders.
The two commissioners continued on their way until the house finally came into view. Ralph emitted a whistle of admiration. ‘Now I can see what Golde meant when she said that it was magnificent.’
‘Yes,’ said Coureton. ‘Rather more so than the anchorite’s hut.’
‘That had a certain charm,’ observed Ralph with light sarcasm. ‘Not that it worked on me, I hasten to say.’
‘Doesn’t self-denial have any attraction for you?’
‘Only when it’s practised by someone else.’
‘I don’t think you’ll find the lady Adelaide is an example of it.’
‘I agree. At heart, I fancy that she’s something of a sybarite.’
When they got closer, servants come out to take charge of their horses while they went inside. Concealing her surprise at their sudden arrival, the lady Adelaide welcomed them into the parlour as if they were expected guests. They were offered seats and refreshment soon arrived. The conversation had a neutral tone to it at first.
The lady Adelaide occupied a chair that was built like a small throne. ‘I was so pleased that your wife could visit me yesterday, my lord,’ she said.
‘Yes,’ replied Ralph. ‘Golde had a very enjoyable time.’
‘I’m glad to hear that.’
‘She was impressed with your lovely house but even more impressed with you.’
‘Indeed?’ said the other with a self-deprecating laugh. ‘There was no reason.’
‘It was kind of you to invite her and Alys to call on you.’
‘I wanted to be able to speak to them both at leisure. It was a pleasure to get to know them a little better and, indirectly, to learn more about you and your colleague, my lord. You’re honoured guests in Norwich.’
‘Even though we came at an awkward time?’ asked Coureton.
‘A grisly murder is hardly a cordial welcome,’ she agreed, quietly.
‘That’s what brought us here today,’ said Ralph, becoming serious. ‘The murder and the crime that preceded it. I understand that you were present in the lord Richard’s house when those gold elephants disappeared?’
‘Yes, my lord. It was a great shock to both of us.’
‘Did you know where the gift actually came from?’
‘Somewhere abroad,’ she said. ‘The lord Richard brought them back when he returned from Normandy. They were exquisite.’
‘So we’re given to understand.’
‘I’m surprised that anyone was ready to part with them.’
‘They weren’t, my lady,’ said Ralph, choosing his words. ‘The lord Richard was correct to say that they came from abroad. The objects were made in Venice and sold in Rome before being presented to the abbey of St Benet at Holme.’
She was astonished. ‘That can’t be true.’
‘I had the story from the abbot himself, my lady. Yesterday, we met the men who actually offered the elephants to the abbey as a gift. His name is Jocelyn Vavasour.’
‘The lord Jocelyn?’
‘He’s forfeited his lands and become an anchorite.’
‘I know. It caused us great amazement.’
‘Why was that?’
‘Jocelyn Vavasour was hardly the most devout Christian, my lord. He was only happy when he was fighting a battle or laying a siege. My husband and I entertained him here more than once. He was a strange, restless, uneasy guest. I heard tales about his going to Rome but I had no idea that he brought back a gift for the abbey.’ A thought made her sit up. ‘Is the lord Richard aware of this?’
‘He is now, my lady.’
‘I understood that he bought those elephants abroad.’
‘He may very well have done so,’ said Ralph, careful not to tell her too much. ‘He obviously didn’t realise that what he acquired in good faith was, in fact, stolen property.’
‘I see.’
She retained her composure but her mind was racing. Profound disappointment surged inside her. The gold elephants she coveted might never be hers now. If they were taken from the abbey, they would have to be returned there. Anger soon followed. The wedding gift that was dangled in front of her was no more than the booty from a monastic house and she sensed that her suitor must have known that. What remaining appeal the lord Richard still had now withered swiftly away. Curiosity soon took over. Mauger Livarot had given a pledge to recover the objects for her. Was he trying to buy her affection with stolen goods or was he unaware of their true origin? If ignorant, would he still continue his search when he knew the facts of the case? In the space of a few seconds, her attitude to both of her wooers underwent a transformation.
‘How well did you know the lord Richard’s steward?’ asked Ralph.
‘His steward?’ She came out of her reverie. ‘Quite well, my lord. It was Hermer who brought the wedding gift in on a platter.’ She pursed her lips and shook her head. ‘It was the last time that I saw him alive.’
‘How would you describe him?’
‘He was a conscientious man who did his job well. The lord Richard wouldn’t have employed him in the office otherwise. He had complete faith in Hermer.’
‘Until the man’s corpse turned up, that is,’ said Coureton. ‘He lost all faith in his steward then, my lady, and accused him of stealing the elephants from him. I think he’s learned that Hermer was innocent of that crime.’
‘If not, perhaps, of others,’ resumed Ralph. ‘What about his assistant, my lady?’
‘Starculf?’
‘I believe that you recommended him to the lord Richard.’
‘That’s true,’ she said, airily. ‘I’d no use for the man’s skills after my husband died. I don’t hunt myself and I knew that Richard de Fontenel was looking for a new falconer so I put in a word for Starculf.’
‘Was he a good man?’
‘My husband always found him so. Strong, reliable and intelligent.’