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dependable Betty had attached
herself to the wild man of the town.
    The girl
tensed. 'I can feel baby, Sister. Do you think it's going to be all
right?'
    'You have a
strong, healthy child.'
    'But do you
think it's going to happen like it should?'
    'Be calm, my
child,' Alice stroked her forehead. 'Place yourself in the arms of
Mother Mary. Speak to her in your own words.'
    The girl started to mutter under her breath. Alice felt her
abdominal muscles relax. The baby was more relaxed too ... less
agitated and more amenable to manipulation. She coaxed it round and
listened to voices coming from outside. An almshouse servant was
telling someone that Sister was busy. A man replied and her heart missed a
beat.
    'It's alright,
Sarah. Betty can manage.'
    She cried out
and hurried to the door.
    'Sir Harald.
What a surprise.'
    He stared back
at her and began to stutter.
    'I … I came
…'
    'Is it for
William's stitches?' she prompted.
    'N … No.
Brother Arnold examined them in Dorchester. He said the wound has
healed well but the stitches should be left in a little
longer.'
    An awkward
silence followed. Words formed but failed to eventuate. Alice
reached for her rosary. She recognised it as an automatic reaction
to a stressed situation. When people don't know where to put their
hands they cling to something familiar. Harald reached for his
eyeglasses.
    Alice relaxed
a little.
    'How is
William's arm?'
    'He still
carries it in a sling.' Harald replied and this time the words
flowed easily. 'Brother Arnold says Luke set the bones as well as
he could himself. I thought it best that he should not accompany me
on my visit to Sherborne. The way is muddy and the risk of the
horse slipping seemed too great. However, I would be most grateful
if you would allow me to bring him to you in the not too distant
future.'
    'I hope the
weather will soon change, Sir Harald. William's stitches must be
removed soon and I will need to inspect them before then.'
    Harald plucked
up courage for another try.
    'The other
evening, when you were caring for William, you mentioned the
beautiful drawings in the Abbey Missal. Brother Mathew tells me
that some of the original sketches are still in the scriptorium. He
says he would be happy to show them. I wondered if you might join
me when I take up his invitation.'
    'That is a
kind thought.' Alice smiled. 'I am free from my duties in the
almshouse for a few hours each afternoon.
     
     

Chapter
9
    Matins
    Richard Vowell
pulled his hood over his ears and tried to stay awake. It was the
middle of the night and a brazier of glowing coals was burning in
All Hallows. Betty had put it there. She'd found a group of
homeless people, camping on the green, and taken pity on them.
    As assistant
suffragan, it was Richard's job to expel sleepers. But that duty
didn't begin until he'd unlocked the church in the morning.
Whatever the abbey might think, All Hallows was more than a chapel
of ease. In the absence of a community hall, it provided a variety
of social services and one was to care for the poor and needy.
    'I'm going
home now.' Betty gave him a kiss. 'I'll have a hot gruel waiting
for you when you get back.'
    She left and
Thomas Draper emerged from the shadows.
    Richard opened
an eye. What you got to report, squire?'
    'John Tucker
and Wat Paskuly are here and the monks have begun the matins
service. You can hear the holy sods droning away.'
    Richard
settled into a more comfortable position and theorised on the
different levels of sleep. There was deep sleep and shallow sleep.
Awakening from shallow sleep did little to jar the nerves. But, if
you were deeply asleep and a sudden noise disturbed your dreams,
that could be very bad for your constitution.
    Deep sleep
happened about half-an-hour after you put your head on the pillow.
Richard listened to the distant sound of chanting and followed the
service from the rise and fall of the monks' voices. He knew when
it was drawing to a close and formed a mental picture