“I believe that the killer is still in the city,” he said. “Keep him in there long enough and we are bound to find him. One thing we can guarantee.”
“What is that?”
“He will not slip past the guards. They are too alert and too numerous. Even at night, the security is intense. Nobody could possibly breach it.”
“He did, Master Bret.”
“Who?”
“The man I saw sneak past the hospital last night. He came from the city because he lives and works there. You know him yourself. You met him at Bertha’s funeral.”
“Did I?”
“He conducted the burial service.”
“Reinbald the Priest?” said Gervase in amazement.
“Yes,” confirmed the leper. “He was as close to me as you are.
Even in the dark, I could not mistake him. What was he doing out at that time of night?”
Gervase could think of only one answer.
Reinbald the Priest spent an hour with Eadgyth and left her much comforted. The doctor’s potion seemed to be combatting the baby’s ear infection. When the child awoke, it did not instantly cry. The boy even permitted the priest to cradle him for a short while. When Reinbald quit the bedchamber, he left mother and child in a less fretful state. Osbern thanked him and showed him out.
Through the window of the solar, Ralph watched him leave.
After first looking in on his wife, Osbern the Reeve joined his guest, feeling both reassured and disturbed. Ralph saw the confusion in his face.
“What is the matter?” he said.
“Reinbald was able to offer much solace to her.”
“That is good news, surely?”
“Yes, my lord. But it comes with more awkward tidings.”
“Awkward?”
“Eadgyth is asking for your wife.”
“Has she not been told?”
“No, my lord,” said the reeve, “and nor has Reinbald. He could not tell her what he did not know himself. Eadgyth is under enough stress at the moment. I did not wish to put her under more strain by drawing her into this latest crisis.”
“Your memory is wondrous short, Osbert.”
“Short?”
“Yes,” said Ralph sharply. “You kept the truth about Bertha’s murder from your wife in order to spare her more pain and what happened? Will you repeat this madness? She has a right to know. Golde has been a friend to her.”
“That is why she would be so alarmed, my lord.”
“How much more alarmed will she be if she finds out that she has been deceived yet again? Are you intent on driving a wedge between yourself and your wife?”
“No, my lord! I love her.”
“Then stop treating her like a child.”
Osbern nodded. “You are right,” he said. “She ought to know.
The truth is that I could not find the words to tell her.”
“You will not need to,” said Ralph. “I will.”
“You, my lord?”
“Yes. Eadgyth must not be kept in the dark any longer. She may be able help me. At a time like this, I need a woman to talk to me about Golde.” When Osbern stepped forward, he held up a hand. “No. I wish to be alone with her.”
Ralph was in the bedchamber for some time. He broke the news gently and Eadgyth wept. She knew that something was amiss because Golde had not been to see her, but it had never crossed her mind that her friend might have been kidnapped.
Instead of needing consolation herself, Eadgyth offered it freely to Ralph, telling him how kind and unselfish Golde had been toward her and praising her many good qualities. It was a salutary reminder to him of just how much he would lose if his wife did not come back to him.
While each was helping the other, a visitor called at the house and was admitted to the solar. Ralph took his leave of Eadgyth, rocked the baby in his crib, then stole out of the room and closed the door behind him. Two voices came up the staircase toward him and he froze in his tracks. With the door of the solar only slightly ajar, it was possible to hear a conversation quite clearly from the landing. Sound was funnelled up the staircase with extraordinary clarity.
Ralph suddenly had the revelation that he needed. He went quickly down the stairs and into the solar. Canon Hubert rushed across to greet him.
“Forgive my delay, my lord,” he said breathlessly. “I came as soon as I heard. Archbishop Lanfranc and I were in conference this morning. It was only when the audience came to a close that Brother Simon was able to convey these frightful tidings.”
“Thank you, Canon Hubert,” said Ralph.
“Your men have called off their search, I hear.”
“They were forced to.”
“We are dealing with a Son of Satan here.”
“And with his confederates,” added Ralph. “No man could have done this without help from friends who live in the city. I think I know who one of them might be.”
“Pursue him, my lord. Bring him to justice.”
“In order to do that, I need your help.”
“It is yours for the asking. The safe return of your dear wife is a priority. I would do anything to assist you.”
“Anything? ” said Ralph.
The familiar twinkle was back in his eye.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The passage of time did not still Golde’s apprehension. She was still held captive when the cathedral bell rang out for Sext and was horrified to realise that she had been bound and gagged for over five hours. Cramp was attacking her muscles and the gag was chafing her lips. One sign of mercy had been shown to her.
Someone had removed her blindfold. Golde could still see nothing in the black void of the cellar but it was a small freedom. She was grateful.
He had frightened her. The man who came earlier had held up a candle to inspect her and made her feel like some dumb animal trussed up in a pen at market. His voice had been French and his manner politely gloating. Though he had not molested her in any way, Golde felt that he would not hesitate to do so when the mood took him. She guessed who he must be. From her fleeting contact with him, she knew that he would be an unpleasant person to meet in the best of circumstances. Since she was at his mercy, he was repulsive.
Yet his visits had given her some insight into her situation.
She now knew why she was held and by whom. Golde was taken hostage as a means to disable Ralph Delchard. Her survival depended entirely on his cooperation with the men who had abducted her. That was why she saw the removal of the blindfold as a positive sign. It suggested that her husband had agreed to whatever terms they had demanded.
She knew him well enough to be certain that he would do everything within his power to rescue her. While appearing to obey the dictates of her captors, Ralph would be working out where she was and how he could get to her. Her main fear was that he simply would not find her in time. Those who held her seemed to have honoured their contract so far. What if they decided to break it out of malice? Her thoughts became ever more feverish.
The bolt slid back from the trap door and it was lifted up. A rectangle of light dazzled her eyes for a few seconds before disappearing. Two men had come down into the cellar and closed the trap door behind them. One held a candle but kept it well away from their faces so that she could not see them. The other man carried food and drink on a wooden tray. They bent over her.
“We’ve come to feed you, my lady,” grunted one.
“Undo the gag,” ordered the other.
“I expect a kiss for doing this.”
The first man put his candle on the tray so that he could use both hands to untie the thick cloth which had been used to gag her. Holding her chin, he leaned over to plant a guzzling kiss on her lips but Golde reacted quickly. She bit him so hard that he jumped back with a howl of rage, then she let out a loud scream for help. The injured man slapped her viciously across the face and went to strike again.