‘And Lord Lovell paying for their keep, of course, since they’re here in his service, not as our guests,“ Domina Elisabeth said.
Grudgingly Master Spencer agreed but added, “But I want Naylor’s-Master Naylor’s-elder son removed…” Master Naylor began a sharp movement toward him and Master Spencer finished hurriedly, “… from the priory and given into the keeping of our reeve in the village. As surety he’ll make no escape.”
That was clever of him, Frevisse granted. From everything Frevisse knew of Master Naylor, he was most unlikely ever to leave his family behind while seeing to his own safety. Domina Elisabeth looked to him and asked, “Would you trust your boy to this reeve?”
‘To Simon Perryn? Yes.“
Domina Elisabeth looked back to Master Spencer. “Then we accept your request.”
Master Spencer opened his mouth, probably to protest that it had been a demand, not a request, but seemingly thought better of it.
Domina Elisabeth smiled on him. “Is there aught else we need to deal with just now?”
‘I think not, madam,“ he answered stiffly.
‘We can speak more about it on the morrow if we find it necessary,“ she said and turned to Master Naylor. ”Perhaps you’d best go and see to your son being taken to Simon Perryn and settling who’ll be your guards this while.“
Master Naylor bowed his acceptance, his long, lined face unreadable, but Master Spencer, very readable with indignation and disbelief, burst out, “Madam, he can’t be allowed to choose his own guards!”
Domina Elisabeth’s smile at him was hard edged with waning patience. “This is hardly a time of year, with so much to be done, both before and for the harvest, that we can afford to waste men standing about doing nothing. Who but Master Naylor knows best which men can be spared and when and for how long from their work?”
‘But madam!“
Domina Elisabeth continued her smile at him. “You, of course, may arrange the matter of your own guards to your own satisfaction.”
‘But, madam!“
‘Yes?“ Her graciousness did not falter but, ever so slightly, her smile hardened, and Master Spencer pulled back from whatever else he had wanted to say. ”Then we’re finished for now, I think,“ Domina Elisabeth said pleasantly. ”I trust you’ll accept our hospitality for tonight?“ ”
Looking as if he would rather chew raw nettles but the day too far along to leave him other choice unless he and his men were going to sleep on the roadside, Master Spencer said, managing to somewhat match her graciousness, “Yes. Thank you, madam.”
‘And Master Naylor,“ she said, turning to him again.
‘My lady?“
‘Be assured we’ll pursue this matter to the end.“
Master Naylor bowed. “My lady.”
She dismissed them both with, “You may go,” and they went, Master Spencer making a final bow and “Madam” to her.
Frevisse, undismissed, went on standing where she had stood all this while, not far into the room, her head bowed again while she listened to their feet going down the stairs, the brief silence, and then the hinge-squeal and thudding shut of the door that told they had left the cloister.
Across the room, looking out the window and down at them as they crossed the courtyard toward the gateway, Domina Elisabeth said, annoyed and mocking, ‘
‘Madam.’ “ The graciousness she had wielded against Master Spencer was abruptly gone. She turned away from the window. ”Dame Frevisse, what do you make of this?“
One of the few things that made Frevisse uneasy with Domina Elisabeth was that the prioress was given to asking her opinion too often on things not strictly Frevisse’s concern. It came, Frevisse feared, from Domina Elisabeth knowing, by way of Abbot Gilberd, too much about her, but there was no way to refuse being drawn into her prioress’s confidence, and now she said cautiously, “I’ve never known Master Naylor to tell a lie or been given cause to think he’s other than he seems.”
‘What do you know of him besides his duties here?“
‘Nothing,“ Frevisse said in surprise. There had never been reason to know more of Master Naylor than that he did his work well.
‘Nor do I.“
‘I’d have him write down all there is to know of where he was born,“ Frevisse said slowly, considering the matter. ”Where and when and who are his family and who he thinks can confirm what he says.“
Domina Elisabeth nodded agreement and said, carrying the thought exactly where Frevisse had been taking it, “And send that to my brother so he can send someone to prove Master Naylor’s claims and bring us evidence enough to satisfy Lord Lovell so that maybe this won’t have to go to any court.” Which would be expensive. “That’s the most we can do there. The other part of this trouble will be yours, I’m afraid.”
Careful to keep wariness out of her voice, Frevisse asked, “The other part, my lady?”
Domina Elisabeth crossed her parlor to sit down in her high-backed chair. “I wanted you here for more than merely listening. I gathered from Lord Lovell’s letter before ever Master Spencer spoke that we were in some manner of trouble concerning Master Naylor. We’ve protected him as best we can for now, but I doubt he’ll be cleared of this foolishness so soon as we would like. Not soon enough with harvest so near, that’s certain, and that isn’t good, considering how many field and village matters have to be seen to in these next few weeks if they’re going to be worth seeing to at all. I want you to take his place.”
Under her vow of obedience, flat refusal was impossible, and while Frevisse marshalled all the reasons there were she could not possibly do this thing, Domina Elisabeth went on, “You’re already cellarer. Taking Master Naylor’s place follows readily from what you already do.”
Hiding desperation, Frevisse said, “Any one of the men who work under him will know better what’s to be done than I possibly can.”
‘Assuredly, but they don’t have the authority.“
‘Give it to them.“
‘I’d rather deal with you than with someone I don’t know as well as I know Master Naylor, and it will serve as notice that we don’t expect to be long without Master Naylor’s services.“
‘I don’t know enough,“ Frevisse insisted.
‘You’ll talk with Master Naylor whenever and however much you need to. Besides, I know you’re able to make decisions on your own and give needed orders without waste of time when there’s no time to waste.“
‘One of the other nuns,“ Frevisse tried, knowing that was the last and weakest of her hopes.
‘None of the others is as able as you are to deal between men. None of us has been as much in the world as you’ve been.“
‘I won’t be able to carry out my duties as cellarer and kitchener as fully as I should.“
‘Sister Johane can help you with the cellarer’s less demanding matters. Sister Emma can take over as kitchener.“
‘Sister Emma in the kitchen…“ Frevisse broke off, unsure which of Sister Emma’s many kitchen failures was best to tell.
Domina Elisabeth, not experienced yet in what could happen in a kitchen if Sister Emma was not closely watched, said with unruffled certainty, “She’ll learn best by doing.”
She hasn’t yet, Frevisse held back from saying.
The cloister bell began to ring Vespers’ prayers, calling the nuns from whatever they were doing, from wherever they were, to the church. The priory’s days were woven around the eight Offices of prayer, beginning with Matins and Lauds at midnight. Vespers marked the afternoon’s end, with supper following it, and an hour’s recreation before Compline’s prayers, then bed.
‘Of course you’ll be excused the Offices whenever necessary while this lasts,“ Domina Elisabeth said, rising and coming toward the door in answer to the bell’s summons.