The Elephants Of Norwich Part 29

*Why not?'

*To begin with, it's a taxing ride.'

*No more taxing than the ride from Winchester to Norwich.'

*I don't think you've fully recovered from that yet.'

*Of course I have.'

*I'd rather you stayed here and rested.'

*But I don't want to rest,' she said, breaking away from his embrace. *I've seen little enough of you during the day since we got here. All that I want to do is to ride beside you, Gervase. If you can take Golde, why reject your own wife?'

*It's not a case of rejection.'

*Then what is it?'

*Diplomacy, my love.'

*I don't understand.'

*But you were there when I explained it,' he reminded her. *I have to speak to the Saxon woman Olova again.'

*You don't think she was responsible for the crime, surely?'

*No, but I'm convinced she's holding back information that may be valuable to us. She wouldn't divulge it in the presence of lord Eustace but she may do so to another Saxon woman like Golde.'

Alys grew petulant. *What you're saying is that I'd be in the way.'

*Not at all.'

*Your own wife would be an embarra.s.sment to you.'

*That's not the case at all,' he insisted. *It's just that you're likely to make Olova feel uncomfortable and that wouldn't serve our purpose at all.'

*Then I'll make sure that she doesn't even see me. It's easily done. When we get there, I'll stay completely out of sight.'

*No, Alys.'

*You just don't want me to go, do you?' she challenged.

*It wouldn't be appropriate, that's all.'

*Is it more appropriate for me to stay here on my own?'

*I'm afraid it is.'

*So you're forbidding me.'

*Of course not.'

*Then why do I feel so hurt and neglected?'

Gervase fell silent as he struggled with the dilemma. To leave his wife behind on the morrow would make her upset and resentful. Taking her with him, however, involved a number of risks, not least of which was that she would distract him from the work in hand. Gervase knew that he would not be able to concentrate properly if he was worrying about his wife's safety and comfort. He thought about the sad, pale, uncommunicative woman who had sat beside him in the hall earlier on. Alys might be in a more buoyant mood now but a long ride that began at dawn would be an ordeal for someone who never enjoyed the most robust health. His wife was putting him to the test. He had to be firm.

*I'm sorry, Alys,' he said calmly, *but you'll have to remain here.'

*Why?'

*Because that's what I've decided. You promised that you wouldn't interfere with my work if I let you come to Norfolk with us and you're been scrupulous in keeping that promise until now. There's a conflict here between duty and pleasure. You know which one I must choose.'

*Yes,' she said, gloomily. *You're always so dutiful.'

*I have to be, Alys. This is no enjoyable ride into the country that we make tomorrow. It's part of a search for the truth about a serious theft and a brutal murder.'

*I know that.'

*And since Olova is also implicated in one of the disputes that we have to settle in the s.h.i.+re hall, it impinges on my work as a royal commissioner. We were appointed by the King himself. He expects diligence and commitment from us.'

Alys was deflated. *It might have been better if I hadn't come at all.'

*That's not true.'

*But I'll be so lonely tomorrow.'

*Visit the market again. Or take the opportunity to rest.'

*If you say so,' she agreed with a disconsolate nod.

*And you won't be wholly alone. Brother Daniel will be here.'

*What about Ralph? Is he going with you?'

*No,' said Gervase with a smile. *He'll be confronting another redoubtable woman. Ralph will be calling on the lady Adelaide tomorrow. He thinks it's high time that she knew the truth about the wedding gift she was offered.'

*The two gold elephants?'

*The lord Richard didn't buy them in France at all. They were deliberately stolen from the abbey of St Benet, much to the chagrin of the man who brought them back from Romea"Jocelyn Vavasour, soldier turned anchorite.'

*He's the man that Ralph and the lord Eustace tracked down today.'

*Yes. He's engaged in a hunt of his own now.'

When he first saw the visitor, Brother Joseph did not even recognise him. Hirsute and ragged, the man knelt in prayer in the empty church and looked more like a beggar than anything else. Compline had long since ended another day at the abbey and most of the monks had retired to their dormitory, but the sacristan had stayed behind to putaway all the vestments and holy vessels before sitting in contemplation beside the chest in which the valuables were kept. A scuffling noise had alerted him to the presence of someone in the abbey church. Taking the candle with him, Joseph went quietly into the church and walked silently down the nave. The circle of light suddenly included an unknown man, kneeling in submission before the altar and reciting a prayer to himself in Latin. It was only when the visitor rose to leave and turned to face him that the sacristan had an idea of who he might be.

*Bless my soul!' he said, holding up the candle. *Is that you, my lord?'

*I answer to no t.i.tle, Brother Joseph,' said Vavasour. *I'm plain Jocelyn now.'

*You've changed so since we last met.'

*Outwardly, perhaps. Inwardly, I'm still the same miserable penitent.'

*When did you arrive?'

*Shortly after Compline.'

*I should have been told,' said the sacristan, flapping his arms like a black swan struggling to take flight. *I could have given you a proper welcome. Come. Let us talk.'

He led the guest into the vestry and offered him a seat. Vavasour preferred to stand, making it clear that it was not a social visit. An outbreak of guilt sent Brother Joseph into a paroxysm of apologies.

*I don't blame you,' said Vavasour, silencing him with a soft touch on his shoulder. *You couldn't stand guard over those elephants twentyfour hours a day, Brother Joseph. What I wish to hear, from your own lips, is what actually happened.'

The sacristan composed himself before relating details that caused him the utmost distress. Interweaving his account with more apology, he explained how they had no choice but to conclude that the traveller who stayed the night there had been the thief. Vavasour pressed him for a description of the man then shook his head.

*Your guest was lying to you, Brother Joseph. I've met this Starculf and he's not the man you just described to me. Someone was using his name as a convenient disguise.'

*Who would do that?'

*I don't know, but I intend to find out.'

*We were so dismayed that your precious gift went astray, Jocelyn. It grieves me more than I can say. My only consolation is that the lord sheriff is now aware of our loss. He sent a man called Ralph Delchard to the abbey.'

*I've met the lord Ralph. He seems honest and capable.'

*He a.s.sured me that the treasures would be found and returned.'

Vavasour was emphatic. *I'll make sure that they are, Brother Joseph. Nothing else would have torn me away from my little hut in the marshes.' A distant smile showed through the beard. *I'm very happy there. It's home and church to me.'

*Abbot Alfwold will be delighted to see you.'

*I'll not be able to stay long. My search will begin early.'

*Where will you go?'

*Everywhere.'

*But the lord sheriff and his men have searched in vain so far.'

*I know people and places that they may have overlooked.'

*Those elephants of yours have brought us such joy,' said the sacristan, eyes moist with sadness. *It's remarkable that something so small can occupy so large a place in our hearts. It's not their value as gold pieces. It's what they represent.'

*The penance of a sinful man.'

*Your pilgrimage to Rome purified you, Jocelyn.'

*Not completely,' sighed the other, *but I have a second chance of redemption now. If I can recover those little elephants and return them to the abbey, I hope that G.o.d will forgive my past misdeeds and offer me His succour. This isn't simply a search for missing property, Brother Joseph,' he declared. *It's a mission.'

It was a dry morning but dark clouds obscured the sun and held the threat of rain. As he rode through the outer edges of the estate, Ralph Delchard looked up at the sky.

*I hope that we're not in for bad weather,' he sighed. *Gervase and Golde have a long ride ahead of them this morning. They'll be soaked to the skin.'

*It may hold off,' said Eustace Coureton. *If it doesn't, we'll get wet as well. It would be a great pity if two royal commissioners turn up at the lady Adelaide's door looking like a pair of drowned rats. She'd refuse to admit us.'

*She's far too gracious to turn us away, Eustace.'

*How gracious will she be when she has heard what we have to say?'

Ralph grinned. *It'll be interesting to find out.'

With four men by way of an escort, they rode at a brisk trot so that they could take stock of the land through which they were pa.s.sing. Dispensing with their hauberks for such a relatively short journey, they wore bright tunics under their mantles. Verdant pasture stretched out to their left, dotted with hundreds of sheep who were in skittish mood. Harvesting was taking place in the fields to their right, the men so busy with their scythes and sickles that they did not even raise their heads to look at the pa.s.sing riders.

The two commissioners continued on their way until the house finally came into view. Ralph emitted a whistle of admiration. *Now I can see what Golde meant when she said that it was magnificent.'

*Yes,' said Coureton. *Rather more so than the anchorite's hut.'

*That had a certain charm,' observed Ralph with light sarcasm. *Not that it worked on me, I hasten to say.'

*Doesn't self-denial have any attraction for you?'

*Only when it's practised by someone else.'

*I don't think you'll find the lady Adelaide is an example of it.'

*I agree. At heart, I fancy that she's something of a sybarite.'

When they got closer, servants come out to take charge of their horses while they went inside. Concealing her surprise at their sudden arrival, the lady Adelaide welcomed them into the parlour as if they were expected guests. They were offered seats and refreshment soon arrived. The conversation had a neutral tone to it at first.

The lady Adelaide occupied a chair that was built like a small throne. *I was so pleased that your wife could visit me yesterday, my lord,' she said.

*Yes,' replied Ralph. *Golde had a very enjoyable time.'

*I'm glad to hear that.'

*She was impressed with your lovely house but even more impressed with you.'

*Indeed?' said the other with a self-deprecating laugh. *There was no reason.'

*It was kind of you to invite her and Alys to call on you.'

*I wanted to be able to speak to them both at leisure. It was a pleasure to get to know them a little better and, indirectly, to learn more about you and your colleague, my lord. You're honoured guests in Norwich.'

*Even though we came at an awkward time?' asked Coureton.

*A grisly murder is hardly a cordial welcome,' she agreed, quietly.

*That's what brought us here today,' said Ralph, becoming serious. *The murder and the crime that preceded it. I understand that you were present in the lord Richard's house when those gold elephants disappeared?'