36
The home of Lord William and Lady Philippa, at Casterham, had once been a castle. There was still a round stone keep with battlements, though it was in ruins and used as a cowshed. The wall around the courtyard was intact, but the moat had dried up, and the ground in the slight remaining dip was used to grow vegetables and fruit trees. Where once there had been a drawbridge, a simple ramp now led up to the gatehouse.
Gwenda, carrying Sammy, passed under the arch of the gatehouse with Father Gaspard, Billy Howard, Annet, and Wulfric. A young man-at-arms was lolling on a bench, presumably on guard, but he saw the priest's robe and did not challenge them. The relaxed atmosphere encouraged Gwenda. She was hoping to get a private audience with Lady Philippa.
They entered the house by the main door and found themselves in a traditional great hall, with high windows like those of a church. It seemed to take up about half the total space of the house. The rest, presumably, would be personal chambers, in the modern fashion, which emphasized the privacy of the noble family and played down military defenses.
A middle-aged man in a leather tunic was sitting at a table counting notches on a tally stick. He glanced up at them, finished his count, made a note on a slate, then said: 'Good day to you, strangers.'
'Good day, Master Bailiff,' said Gaspard, deducing the man's occupation. 'We've come to see Lord William.'
'He's expected back by suppertime, Father,' the bailiff said politely. 'What's your business with him, may I ask?'
Gaspard began to explain, and Gwenda slipped back outside.
She went around the house to the domestic end. There was a wooden extension that she guessed was the kitchen. A maid sat on a stool by the kitchen door with a sack of cabbages, washing the mud off in a big bowl of water. The maid was young, and looked fondly at the baby. 'How old is he?' she said.
'Four months, nearly five. His name is Samuel. We call him Sammy, or Sam.'
The baby smiled at the girl, and she said: 'Ah.'
Gwenda said: 'I'm just an ordinary woman, like you, but I need to speak to the Lady Philippa.'
The girl frowned and looked troubled. 'I'm only the kitchen maid,' she said.
'But you must see her sometimes. You could speak to her for me.'
She glanced behind her, as if worried about being overheard. 'I don't like to.'
Gwenda realized this might be more difficult than she had anticipated. 'Couldn't you just give her a message for me?' she said.
The maid shook her head.
Then a voice came from inside: 'Who wants to send me a message?'
Gwenda tensed, wondering if she was in trouble. She looked toward the kitchen door.
A moment later, Lady Philippa stepped out.
She was not quite beautiful, and certainly not pretty, but she was good-looking. She had a straight nose and a strong jaw, and her green eyes were large and clear. She was not smiling, in fact she wore a slight frown, but nevertheless there was something friendly and understanding about her face.
Gwenda answered her question. 'I'm Gwenda from Wigleigh, my lady.'
'Wigleigh.' Philippa's frown deepened. 'And what do you have to say to me?'
'It's about Lord Ralph.'
'I was afraid it might be. Well, come inside and let's warm that baby by the kitchen fire.'
Many noble ladies would have refused to speak to someone as lowly as Gwenda, but she had guessed that Philippa had a big heart underneath that rather formidable exterior. She followed Philippa inside. Sammy began to grizzle, and Gwenda gave him the breast.
'You can sit down,' Philippa said.
That was even more unusual. A serf would normally remain standing when talking to a lady. Philippa was being kind because of the baby, Gwenda guessed.
'All right, out with it,' Philippa said. 'What has Ralph done?'
'You may remember, lady, a fight at the Fleece Fair in Kingsbridge last year.'
'I certainly do. Ralph groped a peasant girl, and her handsome young fianc?? broke his nose. The boy shouldn't have done it, of course, but Ralph is a brute.'
'Indeed he is. Last week he came across the same girl, Annet, in the woods. His squire held her down while Ralph raped her.'
'Oh, God save us.' Philippa looked distressed. 'Ralph is an animal, a pig, a wild boar. I knew he should never have been made a lord. I told my father-in-law not to promote him.'
'A pity the earl didn't follow your advice.'
'And I suppose the fianc?? wants justice.'
Gwenda hesitated. She was not sure how much of the complicated story to tell. But she sensed it would be a mistake to hold anything back. 'Annet is married, lady, but to a different man.'
'So what lucky girl got Mr. Handsome?'
'As it happens, Wulfric married me.'
'Congratulations.'
'Though Wulfric is here, with Annet's husband, to bear witness.'
Philippa gave Gwenda a sharp look, and seemed about to comment, then changed her mind. 'So why have you come here? Wigleigh is not in my husband's territory.'
'The incident happened in the forest, and the earl says it was on Lord William's land, so he can't adjudicate.'
'That's an excuse. Roland adjudicates anything he likes. He just doesn't want to punish a man he's recently elevated.'
'Anyway, our village priest is here to tell Lord William what happened.'
'And what do you want me to do?'
'You're a woman, you understand. You know how men make excuses for rape. They say the girl must have been flirting, or doing something provocative.'
'Yes.'
'If Ralph gets away with this, he might do it again - perhaps to me.'
'Or me,' said Philippa. 'You should see the way he stares at me - like a dog looking at a goose on the pond.'
That was encouraging. 'Perhaps you can make Lord William understand how important it is that Ralph should not get away with this.'
Philippa nodded. 'I think I can.'
Sammy had stopped sucking and gone to sleep. Gwenda stood up. 'Thank you, lady.'
'I'm glad you came to me,' said Philippa.