I went into a cubicle, bolted the door and took a seat with relief. When I had finished I sat listening to the stream tinkling far below. I thought again of Alice. If the monastery closed she would be without a place. I wondered what I might do for her; perhaps I could help her find something in the town. It saddened me that such a woman had ended up in a place like this, but likely as not her family were poor. How sad she had been at the loss of a bird. I had been tempted to take her arm and comfort her. I shook my head at my weakness. And after what I had told Mark, too.
Something snapped me out of my reflections, made me jerk my head upright and still my breathing. Someone was outside the cubicle, moving quietly, but I had heard the soft footfall, leather on stone. My heart pounded, and I was glad now of the sense of danger that had kept me away from the doorways. I tied up my hose and rose soundlessly, reaching for my dagger. I leaned over and put my ear against the door. I could hear breathing on the other side; someone was standing right against the door.
I bit my lip. That young monk would probably be gone by now; I could be alone in the reredorter save for the man outside. I confess the thought that Singleton's assassin might be waiting for me as he had waited for him unnerved me.
The cubicle door opened outwards. With infinite care I slid back the bolt, then stepped back and kicked it open with all the force I could muster. There was a startled yell from outside as the door flew open to reveal Brother Athelstan. He had jumped back and stood waving his arms in the air to keep his balance. With a wash of relief, I saw his hands were empty. As I advanced on him with my dagger held high, his eyes widened like saucers.
'What were you doing?' I snapped. 'I heard you outside!'
He gulped, his prominent Adam's apple jerking up and down.
'I meant no harm, sir! I was about to knock, I swear!'
He was as white as a sheet. I lowered my weapon. 'Why? What do you want?'
He glanced anxiously towards the door to the dormitory. 'I needed to talk to you secretly, sir. When I saw you come in I waited till we were alone.'
'What is it?'
'Not here, please,' he said urgently. 'Someone may disturb us. Please, sir, can you meet me at the brewhouse shortly? It is next to the stables. There is no one there this morning.'
I studied him. He looked on the point of collapse.
'Very well. But I shall bring my assistant.'
'Yes, sir, of course—' Brother Athelstan broke off as the tall thin form of Brother Jude appeared from the dormitory. He scurried away. The pittancer, doubtless taking a break from calculating what rich meals the monks should have, gave me an odd look. He bowed and entered a cubicle, and I heard the bolt slide home with a bang. As I stood there, I realized I had started to tremble. I was shaking like an aspen leaf from head to foot.
CHAPTER 11
I pulled myself together with some deep breaths and hurried back to the infirmary. Mark was in the breakfast room; Alice had returned and was washing dishes, talking to him as he sat at the table. Her manner seemed cheerful and relaxed, without the reserve she had shown with me, and I felt a pang of jealousy.
'Are you allowed time off?' he was asking her.
'Half a day a week. If we are quiet, sometimes Brother Guy lets me take a whole day.'
They looked round as I bustled in. 'Mark, I must speak with you.'
He followed me to our room, and I told him how Brother Athelstan had waylaid me.
'Come with me now. Bring your sword. He doesn't look dangerous, he's a weaselly fellow, but we cannot be too careful.'
We returned to the main courtyard, where Bugge and his assistant still laboured in the snow, and passed the stables. I glanced through the open door; a stablehand was piling up hay, watched by the horses, their breath steaming thickly in the freezing air. It was no work for a sickly boy like Whelplay.
I pushed open the brewhouse door. Here it was warm. Through a door to one side a slow fire burned; a stairway led to the drying house above. The main chamber, full of barrels and vats, was empty. I jumped as something fluttered above me and, looking up, saw hens roosting among the rafters.
'Brother Athelstan,' I called in a loud whisper. There was a thud somewhere behind us and Mark's hand went to his sword as the monk's skinny form appeared from behind a barrel. He bowed.
'Commissioner. Thank you for coming.'
'I hope it was something important for you to disturb me in the privy. Are we alone here?'
'Yes, sir. The brewer is away, waiting for the hops to dry.'