World Without End (96 page)

Ralph slowly turned his head until his eyes were on her again. She had overstepped the bounds of courtesy by going into his kitchen and giving orders.

She knew it, and reddened. 'I didn't know what time you would get here,' she said.

Ralph said nothing. She would not apologize, but he was content in having forced her to explain herself - a climb-down for a woman as proud as she.

For a short while there had been the noise of horses outside, and now Ralph's parents came in. He had not seen them for some years, and he hurried to embrace them.

They were both in their fifties, but his mother had aged faster, it seemed to him. Her hair was white and her face was lined. She had the slight stoop of elderly women. His father seemed more vigorous. It was partly the excitement of the moment: he was flushed with pride, and shook Ralph's hand as if pumping water from a well. But there was no gray in his red beard, and his slim figure still appeared spry. They were both wearing new clothes - Ralph had sent the money. Sir Gerald had a heavy wool surcoat and Lady Maud a fur cloak.

Ralph snapped his fingers at Daniel. 'Bring wine,' he said. For an instant, the bailiff looked as though he might protest at being treated like a maidservant; then he swallowed his pride and hurried off to the kitchen.

Ralph said: 'Earl William, Lady Philippa, may I present my father, Sir Gerald, and my mother, Lady Maud.'

He was afraid that William and Philippa would look down their noses at his parents, but they acknowledged them courteously enough.

Gerald said to William: 'I was a comrade-in-arms of your father, may he rest in peace. In fact, Earl William, I knew you as a boy, though you won't remember me.'

Ralph wished his father would not call attention to his glorious past. It only emphasized how far he had fallen.

But William seemed not to notice. 'Well, d'you know, I think I do remember,' he said. He was probably just being kind, but Gerald was pleased. 'Of course,' William added, 'I recall you as a giant at least seven feet tall.'

Gerald, who was short in stature, laughed delightedly.

Maud looked around and said: 'My, this is a fine house, Ralph.'

'I wanted to decorate it with all the treasures I've brought back from France,' he said. 'But I've only just got here.'

A kitchen girl brought a jug of wine and goblets on a tray, and they all took some refreshment. The wine was good Bordeaux, Ralph noticed, clear and sweet. Due credit to Daniel for keeping the house well supplied, he thought at first; then he reflected that for many years no one had been here to drink it - except, of course, Daniel.

He said to his mother: 'Any news of my brother, Merthin?'

'He's doing very well,' she said proudly. 'Married with a daughter, and rich. He's building a palace for the family of Buonaventura Caroli.'

'But they haven't made him a
conte
yet, I suppose?' Ralph pretended to be joking, but he was pointing out that Merthin, for all his success, had not gained a noble title; and that it was he, Ralph, who had fulfilled their father's hopes by taking the family back into the nobility.

'Not yet,' said his father gaily, as if it were a real possibility that Merthin might become an Italian count; which annoyed Ralph, but only momentarily.

His mother said: 'Could we see our rooms?'

Ralph hesitated. What did she mean by 'our rooms'? The dreadful thought crossed his mind that his parents might think they were going to live here. He could not have that: they would be a constant reminder of the family's years of shame. Besides, they would cramp his style. On the other hand, he now realized, it was also shameful for a nobleman to let his parents live in a one-room house as pensioners of a priory.

He would have to think more about that. For now he said: 'I haven't had a chance to look at the private quarters myself yet. I hope I can make you comfortable for a few nights.'

'A few nights?' his mother said quickly. 'Are you going to send us back to our hovel in Kingsbridge?'

Ralph was mortified that she should mention that in front of William and Philippa. 'I don't think there's room for you to live here.'

'How do you know, if you haven't yet looked at the chambers?'

Daniel interrupted. 'There's a villager here from Wigleigh, Sir Ralph - name of Perkin. Wants to pay his respects and discuss an urgent matter.'

Ralph would normally have told the man off for butting into a conversation, but on this occasion he was grateful for the diversion. 'Have a look at the rooms, Mother,' he said. 'I'll deal with this peasant.'

William and Philippa went off with his parents to inspect the domestic quarters, and Daniel brought Perkin to the table. Perkin was as obsequious as ever. 'So happy to see your lordship safe and whole after the French wars,' he said.

Ralph looked at his left hand, with three fingers missing. 'Well, almost whole,' he said.

'All the people of Wigleigh are sorry for your wounds, lord, but the rewards! A knighthood, and three more villages, and Lady Matilda to wed!'

'Thank you for your felicitations, but what was the urgent matter you needed to discuss?'

'Lord, it doesn't take long to tell. Alfred Shorthouse died without a natural heir to his ten acres, and I offered to take on the land, even though times have been very hard, after this year's thunderstorms in August - '

'Never mind the weather.'

'Of course. In brief, Nathan Reeve made a decision that I feel you would not approve.'

Ralph felt impatient. He really did not care which peasant farmed Alfred's ten acres. 'Whatever Nathan decided - '

'He gave the land to Wulfric.'

'Ah.'

'Some of the villagers said Wulfric deserved it, as he had no land; but he can't pay the entry fee, and anyway - '

'You don't need to convince me,' Ralph said. 'I will not allow that troublemaker to hold land in my territory.'

'Thank you, lord. Shall I tell Nathan Reeve that you wish me to have the ten acres?'

'Yes,' Ralph said. He saw the earl and countess emerge from the private quarters, with his parents in tow. 'I'll be there to confirm it in person within the next two weeks.' He dismissed Perkin with a wave.

At that moment, Lady Matilda arrived.

She entered the hall with a nun on either side of her. One was Merthin's old girlfriend, Caris, who had tried to tell the king that Tilly was too young to marry. On the other side was the nun who had traveled to Crécy with Caris, an angel-faced woman whose name Ralph did not know. Behind them, presumably acting as their bodyguard, was the one-armed monk who had captured Ralph so cleverly nine years ago, Brother Thomas.

And in the center was Tilly. Ralph saw immediately why the nuns wanted to protect her from marriage. Her face had a look of childish innocence. She had freckles on her nose and a gap between her two front teeth. She stared about her with frightened eyes. Caris had heightened the childish look by dressing her in a plain white nun's robe and a simple cap, but the clothing failed to hide the womanly curves of the body underneath. Caris had obviously wanted to make Tilly seem too young for wedlock. The effect on Ralph was the opposite of what was intended.

One of the things Ralph had learned in the king's service was that, in many situations, a man could take charge simply by speaking first. He said loudly: 'Come here, Tilly.'

The girl stepped forward and came to him. Her escort hesitated, then stayed where they were.

'I am your husband,' Ralph said to her. 'My name is Sir Ralph Fitzgerald, Lord of Tench.'

She looked terrified. 'I'm happy to meet you, sir.'

'This is your home now, as it was when you were a child and your father was lord here. You are now the Lady of Tench, as your mother once was. Are you happy to be back in your family home?'

'Yes, lord.' She looked anything but happy.

'I'm sure the nuns have told you that you must be an obedient wife, and do all you can to please your husband, who is your lord and master.'

'Yes, lord.'

'And here are my mother and father, who are your parents, too, now.'

She made a little curtsey to Gerald and Maud.

Ralph said: 'Come here.' He held out his hands.

Automatically, Tilly reached out, then she saw his maimed left hand. She made a disgusted sound and flinched back.

An angry curse came to Ralph's lips, but he suppressed it. With some difficulty he forced himself to speak in a light tone of voice. 'Don't be afraid of my wounded hand,' he said. 'You should be proud of it. I lost those fingers in the service of the king.' He kept both arms stretched out expectantly.

With an effort, she took his hands.

'Now you can kiss me, Tilly.'

He was seated, and she was standing in front of him. She leaned forward and offered her cheek. He put his wounded hand at the back of her head and turned her face, then he kissed her lips. He sensed her uncertainty and guessed that she had not been kissed by a man before. He let his mouth linger on hers, partly because it was so sweet, and partly to enrage those watching. Then, with slow deliberation, he pressed his good hand against her chest, and felt her breasts. They were full and round. She was no child.

He released her and sighed with satisfaction. 'We must get married soon,' he said. He turned to Caris, who was visibly suppressing anger. 'In Kingsbridge Cathedral, four weeks from Sunday,' he said. He looked at Philippa but addressed William. 'As we're getting married by the express wish of His Majesty King Edward, I would be honored if you would attend, Earl William.'

William nodded curtly.

Caris spoke for the first time. 'Sir Ralph, the prior of Kingsbridge sends you greetings, and says he will be honored to perform the ceremony, unless of course the new bishop wishes to do so.'

Ralph nodded graciously.

She then added: 'But those of us who have had charge of this child believe she is still too young to live with her husband conjugally.'

Philippa said: 'I concur.'

Ralph's father spoke. 'You know, son, I waited years to marry your mother.'

Ralph did not want to hear that story all over again. 'Unlike you, Father, I have been ordered by the king to marry Lady Matilda.'

His mother said: 'Perhaps you should wait, son.'

'I have waited more than a year! She was twelve when the king gave her to me.'

Caris said: 'Marry the child, yes, with all due ceremony - but then let her return to the nunnery for a year. Let her grow fully into her womanhood. Then bring her to your home.'

Ralph snorted scornfully. 'I could be dead in a year, especially if the king decides to go back to France. Meanwhile, the Fitzgeralds need an heir.'

'She is a child - '

Ralph interrupted, raising his voice. 'She is no child - look at her! That stupid nun's habit can't disguise her breasts.'

'Puppy fat - '

'Does she have a woman's hair?' Ralph demanded.

Tilly gasped at his crude frankness, and her cheeks reddened with shame.

Caris hesitated.

Ralph said: 'Perhaps my mother should examine her on my behalf and tell me.'

Caris shook her head. 'That won't be necessary. Tilly has hair where a woman has it and a child does not.'

'I knew as much. I have seen - ' Ralph stopped, realizing that he did not want everyone here to know in what circumstances he had seen the naked bodies of girls of Tilly's age. 'I guessed, from her figure,' he amended, avoiding his mother's eye.

A rarely heard pleading tone entered Caris's voice. 'But, Ralph, in her mind she is still a child.'

I don't care about her mind, Ralph thought, but he did not say so. 'She has four weeks to learn what she does not know,' he said. He gave Caris a knowing look. 'I'm sure you can teach her everything.'

Caris flushed. Nuns were not supposed to know about marital intimacy, of course, but she had been his brother's girlfriend.

His mother said: 'Perhaps a compromise - '

'You just don't understand, Mother, do you?' he said, rudely interrupting her. 'No one is really concerned about her age. If I were going to marry the daughter of a Kingsbridge butcher, they wouldn't care if she was nine. It's because Tilly is noble-born, don't you see that? They think they're superior to us!' He knew he was shouting, and he could see the amazed expressions of everyone around him, but he did not care. 'They don't want a cousin of the earl of Shiring to marry the son of an impoverished knight. They want to put off the marriage in the hope that I'll be killed in battle before it's consummated.' He wiped his mouth. 'But this son of an impoverished knight fought at the battle of Crécy, and saved the life of the prince of Wales. That's what matters to the king.' He looked at each of them in turn: haughty William, scornful Philippa, furious Caris, and his astonished parents. 'So you might as well accept the facts. Ralph Fitzgerald is a knight and a lord, and a comrade-in-arms of the king. And he's going to marry Lady Matilda, the cousin of the earl - whether you like it or not!'

There was a shocked silence for several moments.

At last Ralph turned to Daniel. 'You can serve dinner now,' he said.

53

In the spring of 1348, Merthin woke up as if from a nightmare he could not quite remember. He felt frightened and weak. He opened his eyes to a room lit by bars of bright sunshine coming through half-open shutters. He saw a high ceiling, white walls, red tiles. The air was mild. Reality returned slowly. He was in his bedroom, in his house, in Florence. He had been ill.

The illness came back to him first. It had begun with a skin rash, purplish-black blotches on his chest, then his arms, then everywhere. Soon afterward he developed a painful lump or bubo in his armpit. He had a fever, sweating in his bed, tangling the sheets as he writhed. He had vomited and coughed blood. He had thought he would die. Worst of all was a terrible, unquenchable thirst that had made him want to throw himself into the River Arno with his mouth open.

He was not the only sufferer. Thousands of Italians had fallen ill with this plague, tens of thousands. Half the workmen on his building sites had disappeared, as had most of his household servants. Almost everyone who caught it died within five days. They called it
la moria grande,
the big death.