‘He was holding her hand.’
‘And that was it?’
‘No, she was crying, but smiling at him, as if she was happy.’
‘Which is proof of infidelity?’ Bradecote privately agreed it gave a strong hint, but no more. ‘Had it not occurred to you that the lady, already facing leaving her home, seeing her son go to the Benedictines and having just lost her husband, has been distressed? Your steward, whose manhood you are so keen to remove, is man enough to feel as many men do when a woman looks defenceless and alone. I have no doubt he sought to encourage her not to be dismal and offered some comfort.’
‘It was not his place.’
‘No, but she would get it neither from you nor the son of her own body.’ It was then that Bradecote wondered about Hamo. ‘Where is he, Hamo?’
‘In the hall. He was praying as I brought her out.’
‘Just praying? He was not injured?’
Undersheriff and serjeant exchanged glances. If ever final proof were needed that Hamo de Lench was not like ordinary folk it was the idea that he would stand by and see his mother mistreated before his very eyes.
‘No. He came from the solar and asked what was happening, calm as you like, and I told him what his precious mother had been doing with that bastard steward, and he looked at her and said that adultery broke a commandment and he would pray for her soul. So he did, then and there.’
‘Even when you shamed her?’
‘She had shamed herself long since. I just wanted everyone to see her for the whore she is. My father would not keep a wife like that, and I will not suffer her to remain.’
‘She can leave when all is settled, not before, and if you set foot in that hall—’
‘It is mine.’
‘It is the lord Sheriff’s, from whom you hold, and I stand in his place. You do not enter it until I say so.’ Bradecote looked Baldwin de Lench in the eye. ‘And you do not place as much as a finger on the steward. When this is concluded, and only then, you may dismiss him, just as you may send your sire’s widow from Lench, but you harm neither. Understood?’
‘Where would you have me sleep? In the stable?’
‘In the priest’s house.’ Bradecote could not much care by this point. He kept his gaze on de Lench but his words were for Catchpoll. ‘Serjeant, Walkelin will sleep where the steward sleeps, and you and I will guard the hall.’
‘Yes, my lord.’
‘And take the lord Baldwin to the priest.’
‘Yes, my lord.’ It was not often Catchpoll was so obedient.
Chapter Fifteen
Bradecote waited until the serjeant had removed Baldwin de Lench, and then turned towards the altar and went upon his knees, silent in his prayers. After a few minutes he crossed himself and rose, and then went to seek out the lady of the manor.
The hall was both peaceful and yet showed signs of disruption. A stool was thrown over, a cup broken, and there, as Baldwin had said, was Hamo de Lench, down on his knees, hands together in the formality of prayer, intoning Latin as though he were already a monk professed. From the solar beyond came a sharp cry, an exclamation of pain that escaped through the gap where the oaken door was ajar, but the cadence of the prayer was not disrupted by as much as one breath. It felt unreal to Bradecote, who was suddenly very tired. It was as Catchpoll had said; everything tumbled upon them, one thing after another, and it seemed days since Osbern de Lench had been interred. The praying youth was a distraction he did not want.
‘Messire, go to the church if you wish to pray.’ Hamo looked up but frowned as if questioning this.
‘I could, but God hears prayers wherever they are said.’
‘Assuredly, but yours will be interrupted when my men enter. Go to the church, and when you have finished your prayers, you may return.’ Bradecote paused one moment and then asked the question to which, although he had had enough of the day, he could not rest without knowing the answer. ‘Why did you not defend your lady mother when Baldwin … mishandled her?’
‘She had sinned. It was a harsh penance, but chastisement is for the wicked, and adultery is a great wickedness, a breaking of God’s commandment. If she suffers now, then perhaps it will not go so hard upon her with Him in the time to come.’
‘It is also a commandment to honour your father and your mother.’
‘Indeed, and I do. That is why I pray for her now. I think she will be forgiven, for it is not all her blame.’
‘No.’ Bradecote wondered at this flash of insight, but then Hamo continued.
‘No, for she cannot help being a Daughter of Eve, and thus easily tempted, as Eve was by the Serpent.’ He shook his head. ‘Only a fool would be tempted by a snake, but women are fools.’ With which statement he got up, dusted his knees and walked to the door without another word.
The lady de Lench had been right; Hamo would make a very bad priest, but a good monk.
Bradecote heard his stomach rumble, reminding him of his lack of sustenance, and then turned at the sound of footsteps. Walkelin entered, reporting that the steward was now fully conscious and very afraid.
‘He got off more lightly than the Widow Brook, I will say that, my lord, when it comes to the beating.’
‘I doubt not he could at least try and fight back, Walkelin, which is more than she could do.’
‘Aye, my lord, but I think part was done when he was half strangled. He has cloudy memory of it all.’
‘He is fortunate then.’ He paused. ‘Have you seen Serjeant Catchpoll?’
‘No, my lord.’
Bradecote therefore explained how the lord of Lench would be kept from his potential victims.
‘Bar the door to any but the girl Hild. Sweet Lady Mary,
