Chapter 22 #2
“I am Good Brother Osbert, m’lord,” he said. “Father Joseph requests that you join him in his study as soon as is convenient. He will not be leading Vespers this evening.”
“Excellent, then I will take my leave. I commend my lady to your care, Brother Osbert, but with this warning: she is not to leave here under any circumstances. Beware. She is not given to obedience.”
“Rest assured, m’lord,” said the brother with rather a startled look upon his face.
The earl was not appeased. He cocked a single eyebrow and looked the man up and down. “Would it be fair to say that your exposure to fine ladies is somewhat limited?”
“More than fair,” said the monk, and he grew even more crimson.
“Do not underestimate her, or my wrath,” warned the earl, “should I find her gone from your care in the morning, will be great.”
The monk sagged in dismay.
With a dark look at Lily, Edward went to the door. There he stopped and turned back to the monk again. “One thing further, brother. My men will stand guard. How many entrances are there to this house? I counted three. Are there more?”
“No, m’lord, no. Only three.”
Edward nodded and stepped out into the night.
* * *
The lay brother may have been unfamiliar with the ways of women, but he knew what travelers needed. Hospitality was his sacred duty, and he proved to be most efficient.
Lily got the distinct impression that he pitied her for having to deal with such a hard-hearted tyrant as the earl. After all, from the look on his face earlier, he must have overheard some of their conversation. Also, he’d been exposed to the earl’s threats on the matter of failed duty.
Very politely, Brother Osbert showed Lily a small chamber that led off from the parlor.
The room had a well-appointed cot and a small table with a washstand.
Best of all, there in the corner stood a welcoming sight of two full buckets of steaming water and a bowl of soap.
He even produced a hairbrush from somewhere, blessed man.
He asked her to come back to the parlor once she had refreshed herself.
Her supper consisted of a rich brown ale, an excellent pottage, several slices of coarse bread, and plenty of yellow butter.
Best of all, there was a compote made from last year’s pears served with cream so thick she had to lick it off the spoon.
It all tasted wonderful and completely satisfied her fierce hunger.
What is more, the good brother kept her company, which surprised her.
She thought he would scurry away and not come out until morning. Obviously, she was wrong. It was during their meal that Lily concluded that the brother had some sympathy for her plight, although of course, he never made a single mention of the earl. Not even once.
Lily had no such compunction. A plan had been forming in her mind all evening, and she was eager to put it to the test. Goodness knows what these ploys of hers were going to cost her soul, but then the competition was stacked against her as the lone female currently standing.
“You must find great contentment here,” she told the brother enthusiastically. “The countryside around that I saw this afternoon is truly a place of great beauty,”
“It is,” he agreed.
“And do you know, I counted seventeen different shades of green in your little vale alone?”
“You are observant, m’lady. It is just that—beautiful.”
“Serene. I could be happy here,” said Lily casually, but she gazed intently at the monk through heavy lashes.
When she got nothing further, she continued.
“Oh, would that I could remain. My future, I must confess to you, brother, is bleak.
‘Tis hard indeed to bear,” and she sighed ostentatiously, “that I go to a careless household is a cruel fate.”
The monk sat up in alarm. “B-but y-you cannot, I mean… surely not. Lord Ravensworth is a great magnate of this land, a puissant knight and the king’s friend. Surely, as his lady wife, your future is assured.”
Lily looked at the flustered monk with feigned commiseration. “Aye, he has great power, the earl. Even over you, Brother Osbert. And yet you saw how he misuses his power. You personally experienced it this very evening—threatening you with retribution.”
Lily wrung her hands, her expression anguished. She said a quick Ave and hoped she would not have to resort to tears. She had a feeling that the kindhearted monk might himself begin weeping.
“Now, now, now, dear lady, please don’t take on so. What is it precisely that you fear?”
Lily had no intention of airing out details of her sorry alliance. If she told him that her betrothed intended to consummate the marriage before the wedding because he believed in some fanciful plot against him, the monk might expire. She could hint at a threat, though, even if not explicit.
There was a chance that he might intercede on her behalf and offer her temporary sanctuary. At least until the matter could be heard in a bishop’s court.
Knowing Edward as she did, the actual chances of her wishes being honored were next to nothing. In any case, he would most likely arrange for Bishop Renard, the very bishop who officiated at their betrothal, to hear her case—if she ever got that far.
Lily knew it was unlikely. She didn’t quite know why she was doing it, save for a vague sense that she had to hold on to herself, not get washed away in the torrent that was Edward Rowley. Surely, she had a right to be herself, a person who could express herself, do things for herself?
Also, it would delay and inconvenience His Arrogance. That alone was irresistible.
She sent Brother Osbert a sad smile. “I can see you are a very caring person. The earl is the exact opposite. You heard him. He will crush me.”
“Surely it was meant figuratively. In an excess of emotions, we do at times exaggerate?”
“The earl is constantly in an excess of emotions, Brother Osbert. He flies into a passion at the least provocation. But tell me, how would your church feel about aiding and abetting so unfeeling a man as he snuffs out my life like a candle? You could prevent that.”
“W-what, me?” he wailed. “Oh no, no, no. I am but a lay brother here. Only Father Joseph… might… could. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. You couldn’t possibly want me to… to…”
“The Almighty would surely not forgive you if you did not, Brother Osbert. That is my understanding of the matter. It is a sin to force a lady to give her consent when she has no free will. A sin.”