Janna sighed. This was all thought and supposition; she had no proof to accuse Serlo of anything, nor would she unless Hamo could be found to bear witness against him. A sudden pang of doubt shook Janna as she remembered how Serlo had hidden them from the forester. He had given them shelter for he had recognized that they, too, were of Saxon stock, and his instinct had been to protect them from the terrible injustice of the forest law instituted by Norman kings. Even though they’d been expected to work hard in repayment for Serlo’s kindness, she and Edwin had been grateful, so grateful. And now here she was, ready to suspect him of the worst deeds imaginable: kidnap and murder.
“Gytha was always proud. Of course she has many talents as well as being beautiful.” Mistress Tova was still talking.
“Has Gytha spent any time with the young lord, with Hamo?” Janna interrupted, her certainty in Serlo’s guilt suddenly shaken. No matter how unlikely it might be that Gytha was guilty, she couldn’t afford a false accusation against someone as powerful as the reeve.
“Goodness me, no. She dislikes the child. Oh!” Mistress Tova put her hand to her mouth, too late to take back the words she obviously wished she’d never said. “I didn’t mean it quite like that,” she said nervously. “Gytha’s very good with children, but she resents the fact that the young lord will inherit this manor when he is of age. Even so, she’s very upset by his disappearance. She spends every free moment out searching for him. Poor little lad. He must have run off in a great hurry, for Mistress Cecily left him alone only while she talked to me, and she raised the alarm just as soon as she realized he had run away again.”
Janna hastily finished chopping up the herbs and threw them into the simmering water. A growing sense of urgency possessed her. The cook had given her much to think about and she was anxious to get moving. “This is a posset for Dame Alice, to help her rest,” she said. “Let it boil for as long as it would take to pluck a fowl, then take it off the fire and let it cool. Mistress Cecily will be along presently to fetch it for my lady.”
Not giving the cook any time to argue, she rushed out of the door, pausing only to untie Bones. Delighted, the dog yipped and ran around in circles, almost tripping Janna as she set off across the yard. “Behave yourself!” She nudged Bones out of the way with a not-too-gentle foot, and hurried on. She had to find Hamo—and for that, she had to find Serlo.
Her hand was smarting quite badly now. Janna looked down at the rash, remembering how she’d plunged her hand into the bush of rue to retrieve Hamo’s ball. She should have taken more care, wrapped something around her hand to protect it, she thought, recalling that rue was harmless enough except when the sun shone on it and brought oil to the surface of its leaves, the oil that had caused her skin to blister.
The elusive memory flickered once more, and in a moment Janna had it, the last proof she needed of Serlo’s guilt. He, too, had once had a rash on his hand, the same rash that came from picking rue. She remembered that she’d offered to make up an ointment for it, hoping to deflect his accusations about the straying cows—and the fox in the hencoop and the slaughter of the lamb. If only she’d thought of this before, so much harm could have been avoided! Now, when it might be too late, she understood the posies of rue and what they signified. Rue to curse Dame Alice, and to mark his revenge against her for taking his land. She would repent that theft, and suffer the consequences.
Janna remembered how quick Serlo had been to correct her when she’d hinted that Hamo might have been taken on purpose; how he’d called Hamo “silly” for wandering away and getting lost again. Janna closed her eyes and groaned aloud at her own stupidity as she realized something else. Serlo had seen her with the posy of rue. No wonder he’d been so quick to act against her. He would have had a key to the chests in the undercroft and could easily have taken the missing goods. Perhaps his aim was to throw Janna off his trail if he suspected that she understood his purpose, but it was more likely that he meant to use the theft of the goods as an excuse to banish her and Edwin from the manor. He had certainly used it to discredit her. He’d made quite sure that, if she voiced her suspicions, she would not be believed.
More convinced than ever, now, of Serlo’s guilt, and with a corresponding lightness of heart that Hugh was innocent of every charge, Janna thought of someone else who might help in her quest to find Hamo. Someone she could trust. Someone who was skilled at tracking, and who knew the forest better than anyone else, better even than the forester himself: Godric. If Hamo was hidden or buried somewhere in the forest, Godric would be able to follow the passage of whoever had taken the child.
Hamo must be alive. He must be! Her imagination tortured her with images of the boy’s bright face, his open, trusting nature. She wondered if he could hear the bell tolling to bring him home. He would not understand what was happening to him, why he was being held captive. He would be so frightened. Janna’s hands clenched in impotent rage. She would have battered the truth out of Serlo with her bare fists if she thought it would help her cause. But punishment could come later, once Hugh found out the full extent of his reeve’s treachery. In the meantime, Janna was sure that their best hope of finding Hamo alive rested with Godric.
Taking care to keep out of Serlo’s way, for he was everywhere about the manor supervising the search parties, Janna walked quickly to the gate with Bones yapping at her heels. She was about to pass through when Bertha pounced on her once more, and drew her into the shelter of a barn.
“You must be careful, Janna,” she said in a low voice. “I heard the lord tell Serlo that you’re innocent of all crimes and he’s not to lock you up again, but the hunt is still on for Edwin. Serlo means to have you followed in the hope you’ll betray Edwin’s hiding place. Promise me you won’t go anywhere near him.”
“Of course I won’t.” There was no doubt in Janna’s mind now that Serlo meant to make Edwin the scapegoat for all that had happened. She couldn’t allow that. “You don’t have to watch Gytha anymore,” she said. “I know she’s innocent, and I also know who’s guilty of these crimes, although I have no way of proving it unless I can find Hamo.”
“Is Hamo still alive then?” Bertha’s eyes shone with hope.
“Pray God that he is, otherwise we are all doomed,” Janna said grimly. “You must go to Edwin as soon as you can, when it’s safe, and tell him he’s not to show himself on any account until we find Hamo.”
She walked to the door of the barn and peered out. Serlo was nowhere in sight. “Have you seen Godric anywhere?” she asked.
“I saw a stranger go through the gate a little while ago. He came with my lady’s party.” Bertha answered. “Well built and with the fair hair of the Saxons. Was that Godric?” Janna nodded. “He walked down to the ford. It looked like he was planning to search in the forest.”
“Good. Thank you, Bertha.” Pulling Bones behind her, Janna left the barn and hurried off to the river. At the same time, she kept a sharp lookout for Serlo. To her relief, there was no sign of him or of Hugh. As she came to the ford, she caught sight of Godric. He was about to vanish into the thick green barrier beyond that marked the edge of the forest.
“Ho! Godric, wait for me!” she shouted, and put on a burst of speed to catch up with him. He’d paused, so Janna knew that he’d heard her cry out. It was too far for her to see his face, but she could imagine him scowling as he made up his mind whether or not to obey her command.
He stayed where he was, and she was grateful for it. “Godric!” she panted, as soon as she was within earshot. Although he’d waited, he’d turned his back on her and seemed absorbed in studying the myriad hues of green in the foliage ahead.
“What do you want?”
Janna bent over, holding tight to her aching side. “You have to help me,” she gasped.
Godric took a step away from her. “I have more important things to do with my time, Janna,” he said distantly. “I’m looking for Hamo.”
“So am I,” Janna said impatiently. She straightened. “
I think I know what’s happened to him. Please, listen to me.” She poured out the whole story then, including her suspicions about Hugh, trusting that once he knew the truth, he would help her. “I know how good you are at following signs,” she finished breathlessly. “If Hamo’s hidden somewhere in the forest, I know you’ll be able to find him, Godric.”
He shook his head, looking dubious. “People have been searching through the forest for days, trampling tracks everywhere. How will I know whether I’m on Serlo’s trail or someone else’s?”
“Oh.” Janna’s hopes deflated instantly. “I hadn’t thought of that.” She took some comfort from the fact that at least Godric had listened to her, and that he was taking her opinion seriously. But his objection was sound. “Then we’ll have to follow Serlo after all,” she declared, adding honestly: “You’ll have to follow him, Godric. He’s watching out for me, he thinks I’m going to lead him to Edwin—which I’m not. Bertha’s gone to warn Edwin. She loves him, and she’ll make sure he stays hidden until it’s safe for him to come out.”
Godric nodded thoughtfully. He seemed a little more friendly as he said, “I doubt Serlo will make any move toward Hamo in the daylight. If he’s making a show of searching for him, he’ll continue while people are around to watch him. I suspect we’ll have to wait until it’s dark.”
“So you do believe me? You’ll help me?” Janna smiled up at him, delighting in the fact that they were friends once more.
He caught his breath, and turned quickly away. “I’ll help you,” he said gruffly. “But I suggest we also keep looking for Hamo.” He hesitated. “It would be easier for Serlo to keep him hidden if he was already dead, you know that, don’t you?”
“I refuse to even consider that possibility.” Bones had started to bark and Janna cuffed him gently with her foot. “Shh!”
Godric turned on Bones. “We mustn’t attract Serlo’s attention. Can’t you shut him up?”
But Janna was no longer listening. “No-one’s searched Serlo’s cottage, of course. It’s over there.” She pointed to show Godric where she meant. “It seems unlikely that he’d risk hiding Hamo there, but we should probably search there if we can.”
She became aware that Godric wasn’t paying attention, and waved a hand in front of his eyes. “Godric!”
Suddenly, and taking Janna completely by surprise, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard.
“Umph—ssfflk.” It was too hard to protest with Godric’s lips pressed against her own, but Janna did her best.
“Serlo’s coming our way,” Godric muttered, before kissing her thoroughly once more.
“But he thinks I’m a boy!” Janna protested, when she could speak once more.
“No, he doesn’t.” Godric kept his arms around Janna, and his mouth close to her ear as he whispered, “Cecily tells me she made a mistake one time, and called you ‘she.’ He’s been asking questions about you ever since, including asking Cecily why she thought you were a girl.”
Too alarmed by Godric’s observations to think straight, Janna melted into his embrace. They stood locked together in a long and lingering kiss. To Janna’s surprise, she found she was rather enjoying herself. “That’s enough,” she said at last, and pulled out of Godric’s embrace.
Godric’s eyes were bright and his face was flushed as he looked at her. Janna’s own heart was thumping like the mill race. She found it hard to meet his gaze. “We’ve done enough kissing to convince the reeve.”
Godric shook his head. “He’s still coming toward us,” he whispered. “But he might think twice about having you followed if he believes your affection lies with me and not with Edwin.”
“Is that what you also believed?”
Godric smiled. “Not anymore,” he whispered, and swept her into his arms again.
“You! John—or whatever your real name is. I want a word with you!” Reluctantly, Janna freed herself from Godric’s embrace and braced herself to face Serlo. He came striding up to them with a thunderous expression. In spite of her resolve, Janna found herself shrinking back against Godric, badly needing his support. Bones pressed himself close to Janna and continued to bark.
“If it were left to me, you’d be gone from this manor by now, and with a beating to send you on your way, you and your so-called brother!” Serlo stood over Janna, glowering at her. Godric placed an arm around Janna’s shoulders, and scowled right back at the reeve.
“You may have the ear of the lord Hugh, but I know how many lies you’ve told,” Serlo blustered. “Unless you tell me where your brother is hiding, I’ll make sure my lord finds out the truth about you, about who and what you really are.”
Several comments came to Janna’s mind, not least the fact that while Hugh already knew the truth about her, he certainly didn’t know the truth about his reeve. But she held her tongue, knowing that she must not, under any circumstances, put Serlo on his guard.
“Where is your brother?” Serlo thrust his face close to hers, and Janna took an involuntary step backward.
“She doesn’t know where he is.” Godric pulled Janna into the crook of his arm and held her tight.
“This is no time for courting,” Serlo growled. “You get back to wherever you came from, and leave the girl to me.”
“I’m staying right here to help look for the young lord.”
Serlo glared at them both. “Very well, then. I believe the boy may have tried to find his way home to his own manor but strayed off the track and is lost somewhere in the forest,” he snapped. “You two can go and look for him.”
It was too good an opportunity to miss, and Janna moved off with alacrity, tugging the furiously barking Bones behind her. But the reeve’s next words stopped her dead.
“And get rid of the dog. If Hamo calls out, I want to be able to hear him.” Noticing Janna’s surprise, the reeve continued, “I’m coming with you. And so are they.” He raised a hand and beckoned several villeins forward.
Were she and Godric being enticed into a trap? If so, there was little they could do about it. She spotted Urk and his mother watching from a distance, and dragged Bones over to them.
“Will you look after Hamo’s dog for me please, Gabriel?” she asked, including Mistress Wulfrun in her friendly smile.
“Ooh, yes!” The boy fell to his knees and began to pat Bones with great enthusiasm. The dog wagged its tail, but kept on barking.
“I’m sorry, mistress. I don’t know what’s got into him,” Janna apologized. “Do you think Gabriel could play with him for a bit, and keep him quiet?”
“Gabriel has a way with animals, ’tis true,” his fond mother agreed. She nodded. “Go on, then. We’ll look after the dog for you.”
“Thank you.” Janna wasn’t sure who would take priority where Mistress Wulfrun was concerned, Urk or the dog, but she knew she could trust the woman to do her best.
Keeping close to Godric, Janna followed the villeins and Serlo into the forest. “I really am sorry about your mother, sorry that I wasn’t there to physick her,” she apologized, thinking Godric must listen to her now after what had just passed between them. The memory brought a blush to her cheeks, and a quivering to her limbs.
“I’m sorry too,” he said soberly. “It’s true what I told you before. No matter what some of the villagers might have said to you—and I know Mistress Hilde was one of them—they regret it now, and repent the action they took against you. Especially Mistress Hilde. There is no-one to make up the cream that your mother once provided, and her skin is red raw with scratching.”
Janna felt a moment of fierce satisfaction. “She saw us together, and mistook you for her husband. So she killed my cat and tied it to a tree, as a warning to me, she said, not to lie with him again.”
“She lives to regret it. She says now that your cat walks with her wherever she goes. She is in mortal fear that it will smother her baby. But no-one else can see the cat; it’s just her sick fancy.”
“’Tis Hilde’s guilt that torments
her now, guilt for crucifying my cat!”
Godric’s face darkened in remembered anger. “I don’t know how you could have held me responsible for that, Janna, not even for a moment. You should know I would never do anything to harm you. Why, I—” He clamped his lips together, and marched on.
“I know that now.” Janna hurried after him. “I’m sorry, Godric, truly. I know I should have trusted you. Instead, I haven’t been kind, or fair, to you at all. I’ve misunderstood everything you’ve done for me, and I regret it with all my heart.” She felt the heavy burden on her conscience ease somewhat. She’d thought she’d never see Godric again; it was a huge relief to have the chance to apologize.
“Will you forgive me? Please?” She gave him a tentative smile. When he flashed a reluctant grin in return, her spirits soared. Then she remembered the task that lay before them, and her joy evaporated immediately. At once she looked for Serlo. He was watching them closely, seeming more interested in keeping them in sight than pretending to search for the missing boy.
Fear threaded through Janna and tightened into a knot of anxiety in her stomach. Serlo had already shown himself to be quick and resourceful, and utterly without mercy. Soon enough he would make a move against them. What did he have in mind?
One thought brought Janna a little consolation. While Serlo was watching them, he was unable to act against Hamo. She only hoped that, when the time came, she and Godric would be able to outwit the reeve and find Hamo in time to save the boy’s life. If he still lived.
Chapter 13
The bell continued to toll at intervals through the weary day, the sound growing fainter as they moved further away from the manor until, at last, they could no longer hear it. Suspecting they were wasting time, Janna grew increasingly frustrated and impatient, but knew they couldn’t start their own search under Serlo’s watchful eye. The sun burned fiercely, its heat penetrating even the dim forest, parching her mouth and throat. She wished she’d thought to bring something to drink, and something to eat too.
Stolen Child: The Janna Chronicles 2 Page 21