Lord of the Abbey (2 page)

William slid into the sturdy oak chair and turned his attention to the steaming bowl of stew Esau Davitt set in front of him. He brought a spoonful to his mouth, and tasted the salty, savory meal.

There was still no sign of Lady Dulac’s man. A quarter of an hour passed and someone entered the public room.
It was one of the King’s men!
William forced himself to stay focused on his stew. He ate it slowly, wishing for Lady Dulac’s man to appear.

The King’s man took notice of him. He turned to speak to Esau Davitt. After he spoke in low tones, he once again regarded William.

“You, there, boy!”

“Yes, my Lord?” William felt his heart begin to pound frantically in his chest. He fought to control the fear and panic building inside him.
What ill-fated luck! The Good Lord save him! Was he found out?

“Why are you alone in the public room of this inn young man? Surely you do not travel alone?”

“I traveled with servants from Bath, sir.”

“Aye, he did, my Lord.” Esau Davitt spoke up. “This is young William Dulac. He has been brought from Bath. Lady Dulac requested the servants leave him here at the Pilgrim. I sent his trunk on, and her man should be here any minute to fetch him.”

“I find it odd that no one is here to meet someone of your station, young sir.” The King’s man walked back to stand before Esau. “Tell me why this boy, obviously the son of a gentleman, is treated with such disregard.”

Esau leaned closer to the King’s man and whispered, “There is a reason, my Lord. Young William is the son of the late Lord Dulac. William’s mother was not the late Lord’s wife. The boy is a by-blow, but now all that the Dowager Lady Dulac has left to call family. She wished to not call attention to his arrival at the Manor with a cart and servants. She intends for him to carry on the Dulac line.”

“Ah.” The Knight nodded with understanding. He was a bastard himself. “When should Lady Dulac’s man arrive?”

“I just sent the wagon and messenger not a quarter of an hour ago,” Esau provided. He scratched his balding head. “I imagine half an hour, maybe less.”

The King’s man, clothed in vibrant green and red, walked outside and said something to some of his compatriots, who now stood before the inn. William was far too busy staring down at his stew and trying to remain calm to make out what the knight told his fellows.
Stay calm. Speak and think well!
The Abbot depended upon him. He could not give himself away. Not now, when in a quarter of an hour he might be safe at the Manor.
And all the Abbey secrets with him.

The King’s man entered and approached William. “Stand, young William. I insist upon escorting you to the Dulac Manor, young sir. These are dangerous times. The Manor is located at Stonedown, I believe?”

William nodded. He stood, picked up his bag. He felt his knees nearly buckle from shock and tried not to outwardly tremble with his fear. But the memory of the kind face of the Abbot, kept him strong. Helped him to think straight and remember all the right words he should say. “Yes. Stonedown, sir. Thank you, my Lord. I am a stranger to this place.”

The Knight was a large, well-built man. He wore a scarlet doublet and green hose. He led William from the room and onto the High Street. “Here, up on my horse.” The man mounted, then stretched his arm down to grasp the lad’s hand.

William felt peculiar, sitting upon a fine horse, behind a man of the King. This was not planned by the Abbot! He gripped his bag tightly when the tall bay started down the High Street toward Chilkwell Street where they would turn to reach the lane at Stonedown, the location of the Dulac Manor.

William managed to answer all of the Kingsman’s questions.

The King’s man was quick to surmise from William’s short answers that he was indeed an illegitimate son of the house of Dulac. He did not press William overmuch for additional information.

William managed to chatter on in what he felt was a young gentleman’s fashion. At least what he thought a gentleman of ten years of age might speak of. He told the King’s man what a fine horse he rode. How it was his own wish to someday own such a fine animal. He mentioned how fine were Knights, and how glorious it must be to be a Knight of the King.

“Here we are young William. Your new home. I hear Lady Dulac is sometimes cross, but as she is alone now, I think she will be happy to have such a polite young man as you for her grandson. If, however, she is not kind to you, you may send word to me at the Abbey. My name is Sir John Darney from Wiltshire. I am told we will be at the Abbey for at least a fortnight, mayhap longer. Promise me you will send word to me if you are treated unkindly.” Sir John felt compassion for the young lad. He’d been a by-blow of an exalted Lord himself, brought to his father’s manor in his teens after the rightful heir died of a contagious fever. It had not been an easy road for him.

“Yes, my Lord, thank you for your kindness, sir.”

Having dismounted, they approached the gatehouse. William clung to his bag.

“
Open in the name of the King.” The tall, dark-haired man smiled down at William whilst waiting for the heavy gate to be opened. “I find it odd that you were left alone, William. Can you tell me how it is that there was no servant waiting upon you today at the Pilgrim’s Inn?”

William started to speak when the gate scraped on its hinges.

“I can tell you how he came to be without a servant at the Pilgrim,” came a harsh, waspish voice from the shadow beyond the open gate.

William watched as Lady Dulac stepped onto the lane, a tall, thin man following her. To William she always seemed kind. Yet, today, she looked stern and cross, her blue eyes glaring.

“
This boy is the illegitimate get of my late son. We kept him with a family in the country near Bath, in the event my son did not beget a proper male heir. While we fervently hoped my Richard would marry and sire a legitimate heir, he died six months ago, married, but without issue. Alas, his wife died of the same fever. This boy is all I have left of my son. I instructed the family to send servants to stay with William until he arrived at the Pilgrim then my man would wait upon him once he arrived there and that he should arrive tomorrow.”

The Lady continued with a heavy sigh, “Due to the nature of his birth, I wished to keep all this quiet, as you can surely understand, sir. I did not want strange servants wagging their tongues and a cart coming down the High Street and stopping at my gate with the boy. I instructed in my letter that the servants, sent by the family keeping William these ten years past, were to deposit him at the Pilgrim and go on to Wells to take their rest. I wished to discourage loose-lipped servants from saying too much to the townspeople at the inn, the stables, or the taverns.”

Lady Dulac clucked her tongue, “I see the family was very happy to be rid of William once they received the sum I sent them and sent him on early. Their servants no less so. Thank goodness the innkeeper at the Pilgrim sent a messenger to me that William arrived this morning.”

Sir John nodded. “I see, my Lady.”

“
Come along William.” She motioned to the boy impatiently. “I am your grandmother. You must break your fast. You are assuredly tired after your travels. Go into the house with Moggers, young man. Cook is making a plate for you. Then you’ll be shown to your room.” Her instructions were cold, dictatorial, and without feeling.

“My Lady. I am happy for your sake that your grandson has safely arrived.” The King’s man bowed. He reached out to William. He patted the boy’s shoulder. “Good day to you, young William, I shall call on you soon, young sir.” He nodded to the Lady and smiled to William as he disappeared through the gate. Sir John Darney returned to his mount.

“Thank you for your help, Sir John.” William called out, stopping to peek his head around the gate as he did. He felt somewhat dazed by the events just taken place. Confused. Sir John, a man of the King, behaved kinder to him than had Lady Dulac.

“It was my pleasure to see you to your new home, young sir.”

“Thank you, Sir John, for bringing the boy to me.” Lady Dulac gave a curt nod to the knight and slowly took herself through the gate.

“Milady.” Sir John Darney nodded, then turned, mounted, and set his horse to a trot down the lane.

William blindly followed the stiff Moggers wondering his fate. It seemed the Lady didn’t want him? How could that be? The Abbot said she was very happy to have him. Worry and fear gripped his belly. Would she turn him in to the King? Sweat formed on his brow as he followed the slow, elderly servant. He felt suddenly ill. He trembled.

The Lady stood behind the gate, waiting until she no longer heard the hoof beats on the lane outside. Then in an instant she turned, lifted her skirts and quickly moved toward the house. “Where is the boy?” she called out once safely inside.

“I put him in the kitchen, my Lady.” Moggers informed her with a bow.

Lady Dulac hurried into the kitchen. She saw the pale, frightened boy seated at the table. His blue eyes were large and round. She saw the wary way he watched her. “Don’t be frightened of me, William. I had to act that way to the King’s man. We can’t take any chances, as I’m sure the Abbot told you. There wasn’t any other explanation for your arriving alone. And I certainly wasn’t expecting you to arrive with one of the King’s men.”

She sighed in relief. “Good heavens, I am so happy to have you here at Stonedown.” Lady Dulac smiled then, a very happy and genuine smile. Her blue eyes warmed with kind affection. “You must eat, William, you poor, dear boy, I’m quite certain you must be famished after your long night and enduring such trials this morning.” She patted his shoulder.

William witnessed the transformation of her demeanor. He watched the wrinkled face of the Lady light with a kindness that reminded him so much of the Abbot’s face. Realizing he was indeed safe with Lady Dulac, William exhaled loudly, felt all the fear he held inside for himself and his beloved Abbot rise up within him. Combined with the short but harrowing journey from the Abbey to the Dulac Manor, his emotions overtook him.

“
Have they come to kill the Abbot, my Lady?” The tears came first, a loud sob followed.

“My poor, brave boy. Do not worry, child. All will be well. We’ve a small chapel here at the Manor, William. After you eat we will go to pray together. We will light candles and pray for Abbot Whiting, that he be kept safe.”

Lady Dulac sat at the table and embraced the boy, held him to her while he cried. She felt love for this child at that moment, no less real to her than that she might possess for a true grandson, had she one. And at this moment, William was her true grandson. She would make certain no one ever knew differently. There was so much for her to live for now.

In the late afternoon, Lady Dulac entered William’s bedchamber. “Now promise me you will try and sleep a little, William. We prayed for Abbot Whiting. ‘Tis all we can do for him. We must leave the rest in the hands of God. You did not sleep last night. Retiring early will help you feel better.”

“My Lady?” William sat up in his bed as she turned to leave.

“Yes, William? And do try to remember to call me Grandmother.” She smiled, stooping a little. The day had proven hectic and weary after all.

“Did the Abbot tell you about the letters?”

Her eyes lit up as she did remember. “Yes.” She closed the door quietly. Her voice lowered to a whisper. “Where are they?”

“In my bag, my – Grandmother.”

“I forgot. I am so happy you remembered. Such a wise boy you are. It would not do for them to be found.” Lady Dulac made the sign of the cross. “Treasonous, they are. They must be hidden. There is a good place right in this room, as a matter of fact. Come and help me, my dear. And bring the candle with you. I need some extra light, for dusk is upon us.”

William rose from the bed, retrieved the candle and walked to the tall, narrow chest on the far wall of the large bedchamber where Lady Dulac waited.

“Position the candle where you can see behind the chest. That’s it. There is a lever beneath the middle square panel there, Can you see the panel, or at least feel that it is loose and it moves?”

“Yes, Grandmother.”

“Move the panel aside, that’s it. Pull the lever.”

William did as she bid. He felt movement beside him. Saw an opening now revealed. “A door, Grandmother?”

“Aye, William. A secret chamber. Only Moggers, myself and now you know of it. You must never tell a soul, do you promise?”