Lord of Secrets

by Gillgannon, Mary

  Hearne frowned. “I know very little about such things. Or who among the women might be able to provide what you need.”

  “I could help you.” William turned to see who had spoken and saw a slender young woman in the doorway of the house. She had fine, dark-blond hair worn in two braids and huge brown eyes. With her tentative manner, she called to mind a timid doe.

  The reason for her wariness became clear when Hearne rounded on her, his voice rough with fury. “He’s not here to speak to you, Gisella! Go inside! Now!”

  Gisella immediately retreated. William stared after her, then turned to Hearne. “Is that your wife?”

  “Aye. Worthless bitch that she is!”

  William tensed at the vehemence in Hearne’s voice. He wanted to tell the man he didn’t approve of anyone speaking about women like that, and certainly not a man of his wife. He was intrigued by Gisella’s offer. But Hearne was already resentful of his wife; if William insisted on talking to her, Hearne might take out his anger on Gisella after William left. Feeling frustrated, he turned to go. “I suppose I will have to talk to the village women myself.”

  He’d gone a few paces when Hearne called out, “There is Osbert’s widow, Hawise. Osbert died of the bloody flux last winter, as did all their children. Now Hawise can’t do her husband’s boonwork and won’t be able to pay taxes this fall. You might as well put her to work in some other way.”

  The casual manner Hearne spoke of the woman’s loss shocked William. It must have been devastating for this woman to lose her whole family. “Where does this woman live?”

  Hearne pointed to a cottage at the end of the line of dwellings. “Let me take you there, milord.” Now Hearne was eager to help. He had remembered who he was speaking to and realized his duty as reeve was to aid William in dealing with the villagers.

  William, Adam and Hearne walked to the small house. The dwelling clearly needed repair. The thatching on the roof was damaged and the clay walls had cracks. But the vegetable plot behind the house was thriving. William went around to look at it more closely.

  “Do you know what all these plants are?” he asked.

  Hearne, who had followed him, pointed. “Beans, carrots, turnips and peas. And cabbages, of course.”

  “Any herbs?”

  The reeve glared at him. “How would I know of such things?”

  They went to the door of the dwelling and Hearne called out the woman’s name. Hawise came to greet them. She was a very thin woman with a careworn face. Her soft blue eyes focused on William with a look of dismay when he told her he wanted someone to help him with overseeing the castle household.

  Hawise twisted her hands. “I am pleased to serve you, milord. But I don’t understand how this would work. I have no authority at the castle. Why should the people there listen to me?”

  William realized the flaw in his scheme. If the castle inhabitants had resented Roscales’s mistress when she tried to take charge of the household, how much harder would it be for this woman get them to listen? She did not even have the status of being his leman.

  “I can see now that my plan will not work, at least as I originally thought of it. But there is another matter you may be able to help me with.” He explained the need for cloth for castle furnishings.

  Hawise was much more enthusiastic about this request. “Of course, milord, if you provide me the materials. I will spin and weave all day. I have little else to occupy me.” A shadow crossed her narrow features and William felt a pang himself as he thought about her loss.

  “I can make certain you have plenty of wool. But do you know if any flax was sown this year? Wool is fine for garments and blankets, but we also need linen for sheets, table coverings, curtains and the like.”

  “I don’t think there was a flax crop this year, but there is likely a harvest from last summer stored at the castle.”

  “If I am able to find it, do you know how to process the plants?”

  “I do, although I would need help. First the plants must be rippled and retted. Then there is the scutching and hackling. And all that must be done before spinning.”

  It did sound like a great deal of work. “Tell me which villagers know how to process flax and I will get them to aid you.”

  Hawise began listing the names of village women. William realized he could not go and speak to every one of them. He needed to put someone in charge of details such as this.

  They bid farewell to Hawise. William fixed the reeve with a stern look. “If I can locate it, I will have the raw flax brought here. Then you must make it clear to the village women that they must aid Hawise in processing it. If you do not want to deal with them or concern yourself with these matters, then find someone else to take charge. Your wife, perhaps.”

  Hearne lowered his gaze. William felt certain it was because Hearne did not want him to see the anger burning in his eyes.

  After they bid farewell to Hawise, Hearne asked, “Is there anything else, milord? I must go out to the fields and see that the plowing is progressing.”

  “That will be all, Hearne.”

  The reeve nodded and left them.

  “I can’t say I’m very impressed with the man,” William muttered when they were out of earshot. “I don’t approve of the way he spoke to his wife, nor his attitude towards women in general. Or his obvious unwillingness to help me with getting cloth made. He clearly sees such things as beneath him.”

  “I suppose most men do. And in some ways, I see his point. You also have more important matters to concern yourself with, milord.”

  “But if I don’t see to it, it won’t happen!” William felt the familiar frustration building.

  Adam made his voice soothing. “You need someone to serve as chatelaine. And the easiest way to find a woman to assume that role is to marry. I know losing Emma was difficult, but eventually you must take another woman to wife. You know I am right.”

  He did know that. But a part of him was not ready.

  “Or, you can take a mistress,” Adam continued. “’Tis not a perfect solution, but better than spending your days talking to women about clothmaking. Find some village woman you fancy, bring her to the castle and get her aid with these things.”

  A woman you fancy. The words immediately brought to mind the healer. But contemplating her as his mistress was witless. Her lack of interest in a relationship could not be clearer; she had tried to kill him. And she already had the responsibilities of a healer.

  As they walked through the village, a young woman with strawberry-blond hair hurried up to them and held out a basket. “Would you like something to eat, milord? Or some drink to refresh you?” The young woman smiled, showing off her dimples. “I’m Egelina, the smith’s daughter. I have buttermilk, bread and fresh-picked sloes.”

  It had been hours since William broke his fast. He motioned to one of the oaks near the village commons. He and Adam sat down beneath the oak and ate chewy maislin bread spread with butter and ripe plums washed down with buttermilk. As he was enjoying the food, William suddenly thought of his promise to the healer to bring her food in payment for the sleeping draught.

  “Do you have more of this bread and some plums?” he asked the young woman.

  She smiled delightedly. “Of course. I will go and fetch some of both.”

  Adam finished eating and brushed off his hands. “You are very hungry today.”

  “The food isn’t for me. I promised the healer I would bring her some as payment for the sleeping draught she made me.”

  “I don’t think you should tell Egelina that’s what you want it for.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because she clearly has designs on you. She will not appreciate you passing on the food to another woman.”

  “Egelina’s barely even a woman yet. I would never consider bedding a maid so young.”

  “Even so, I would be careful how you deal with Egelina. Her manner is sweet, but the look in her eyes is calculating and shrewd beyond her years.”


  William nodded. He must get used to being careful about who he appeared to favor. Especially when it came to the women. He must make an effort not to favor Rhosyn too much. He did not want to set people against her. She was new here and perhaps the villagers had not fully accepted her yet. Women could be prickly and harder to win over than men. He knew that from observing his older sisters.

  Egelina returned with the food. William stood and took it from her. “May I take the basket with me? I promise I will return it.”

  “Of course, milord. Or, I could come to the castle to fetch it.” Egelina gave him a flirtatious smile.

  “I’m certain there will be plenty of people going back and forth from the castle. I would not want to take you away from your normal tasks.”

  Egelina moved closer to and slowly blinked her hazel eyes at him. “’Tis no trouble, milord.”

  William felt cornered. He glanced at Adam, hoping he would help.

  “I will bring it back later,” Adam said. “I must return here to speak to Hearne, as you recall.”

  “Of course.” William took a step away from Egelina. “If you would excuse me, fair maid. I have other things to see to.”

  Once again Adam saved him. “You said you wanted to look over hayfields by the river.”

  William inclined his head to Egelina and he and Adam started off that direction. As soon as they were out of earshot, he said, “Jesu! Am I going to be made to feel like a trapped coney every time I come to the village?”

  “I suppose the remedy for that is to find some woman you like and make it clear you have no interest in the others.”

  “Either that or I need to learn to be more brusque and cold in my dealing with the villagers. But it goes against everything my mother taught me to be rude to women and treat them as beneath me.”

  “You are a lord now, William. You must keep your distance.”

  Adam was right. Another mistake he had made. William could almost hear his father’s voice in his head telling him how he must establish his authority at Higham and make it clear he was not someone to be crossed.

  He glanced down at the basket, thinking he should probably not be taking this food to the healer. It was her duty to provide him with whatever he needed. But he had promised her. And since she was so wary and suspicious of him already, he did not want to renege on that promise. And he wanted to see her.

  But it would be best if he did not take Adam with him. She had been unnerved by one knight visiting her cottage; she would be even more threatened by two. And he wanted to be alone with her. He halted. “I’m going to the healer’s cottage now. But I should probably go alone.”

  “You know that will get the village gossips talking.”

  “I will take the back way, through the woods along the river.” He motioned.

  “And why must you go alone?” Adam pressed.

  “She’s not fond of English knights. Having two visit her at the same time might unsettle her.”

  “She told you that? Very bold of her to say such a thing. And odd. She is the foreigner here. Not you.”

  “I think something bad happened to her involving a knight. But that doesn’t mean she is a spy or anything of that nature.” At least, he hoped that was true.

  Adam still looked puzzled, but he nodded. “I will go back to the castle. Do you have any tasks for me there?”

  William could think of a dozen things that needed looking after. But few of them were tasks he could easily explain to Adam. Nay, that was not true. He glanced at Adam. “I’ve been thinking. I need a captain of my garrison. Someone to take charge of the men. I doubt I will have much time for training and keeping track of who should be on guard duty and generally overseeing the defense of the castle. If you could act as my captain, it would be a great boon.”

  Adam looked surprised. Then he smiled and held his head higher. “If you will make it clear to the men I have that authority, I will be pleased to take charge.”

  William smiled back. “I will speak to them when we get back to the castle. You are well-respected; I think most of them will be satisfied with my decision.”

  “Except Rollo. You know he will be resentful.”

  “’Tis his own fault I’m not choosing him. He is always needling me and making me doubt my decisions. And, frankly, I don’t trust him not to undermine me.”

  “I can’t blame you for that. He has an abrasive nature.”

  William shot Adam a look of gratitude. Even if he still faced many challenges, he felt better knowing he didn’t have to do everything on his own.

  He parted ways with Adam and then made his way along the river and through the woods to the healer’s cottage. There was no door to knock upon since a hide covered the entrance. He called out: “Maid Rhosyn, are you there?”

  When there was no answer, he called out again. Still hearing nothing, he decided she was either out gathering herbs or visiting someone who needed her aid. While he waited for her, he explored the garden behind the cottage. None of the plants looked familiar. He decided they must be healing herbs rather than vegetables. Growing bored, he returned to the front of the dwelling. The urge to go inside gnawed at him. He yearned to smell the rich, heady scents permeating the cottage. They reminded him of the exotic and intriguing woman who lived there.

  Chapter Six

  Rhosyn came up through the trees behind the cottage and didn’t see Lord Fitzhugh until he was but a few paces away. As soon as she beheld his tall form, her mouth went dry. He nodded politely to her and she told herself to stay calm. He hadn’t hurt her the day before, even when she’d given him cause to retaliate. But she remained uneasy. What was he doing here? Had he come to complain about the sleeping potion? Perhaps the dose wasn’t large enough. He was a giant of a man, after all. She gazed at him questioningly.

  “Good day, Healer Rhosyn. May I come in to your cottage and speak with you?”

  She went to the hide door covering and held it back so he could enter. Inside, she watched him peruse the cottage’s interior, as if he had not been there the day before. As the silence grew, she asked, “Why have you come? What do you wish with me this day?”

  He held out a basket. “I have brought you the food you asked for. Payment for the sleeping draught.”

  She took the basket, wondering where he had gotten it. He met her gaze and she thought again how very blue his eyes were. Blue eyes were common among the villagers, but none had eyes of such a vivid and lovely hue.

  She tore her gaze away and put the basket on the table.

  “I must return the basket. But the food inside is yours.”

  She took out the food: buttered maislin bread wrapped in cloth and a half dozen sloes. “Thank you.”

  “Besides bringing the food, I came here because there is something I need your aid with.”

  She raised her brows questioningly.

  “As a healer, you must know of plants and roots that have a savory flavor. Lord Roscales saw fit to strip the castle before he left. Among other things, he took the seasonings and spices used for cooking. The cook says it is likely a peddler will pass by before winter and we will be able to purchase more. In the meantime, I wonder if you could suggest some plants that could be used for flavoring.”

  She could not believe he was asking this. Men did not usually concern themselves with matters such as spices and herbs. “Is there not a castle garden where herbs are grown?”

  “Roscales’s wife might have seen to such things. But she died two years ago, and the woman who he set up as mistress of the household apparently had no interest in the garden. It looks like a mass of weeds.”

  “If herbs were grown in the garden in the past, there should be some growing there still. Chives and parsley return each year. And mint is so prolific it will likely to take over the garden if left on its own. They all add flavor.”

  “There may be herbs growing there, but apparently the cook doesn’t know what they look like. Perhaps you could come to the castle and see what you c
an find.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. Sooner or later she would have to go to the castle to tend someone too injured or ill to travel. But she had hoped to delay that day as long as possible. “I could show you the plants I grow here that are useful for seasoning, and you could seek them out in the castle garden.” She motioned to the door, pleased she had an excuse to get him out of her dwelling. He was much too large for the small cottage. She could not breathe properly with him standing there.

  He didn’t move. “I know next to nothing about plants, and I fear it would take a long time for you to teach me. It makes more sense for you to come to the castle and show one of the servants about the herbs in the garden there.” There he was again, insisting she come to the castle. Once there, she would be in his domain and he would be able to coerce her to do what he wished. She stood there, hoping he would give up and leave.

  “There is another thing I wished to ask about. Your furniture appears well-made and of good quality.” He gestured to the table. “Can you tell me where it came from?”

  Herbs and plants and now furniture. The man was cunning. “Most of these things were here when I arrived. My aunt, Branwyn, was the healer here before me. Now that she is older, her hands are getting too stiff to easily grind herbs and her eyesight is fading. I came here to take her place.”

  “And where did she go?”

  “Back to where she grew up in Cymru…Wales.”

  “Where exactly?”

  “Her brother Rhodri’s fortress.”

  “Your uncle has a fortress? Is he a chieftain? Does he control much territory?”

  “Rhodri is the overlord of the Cantref Bychan.”

  “Cantref? What is that?”

  “’Tis how my people divide up territory. What the English might refer to as a shire.”

  “Did you also grow up at your uncle’s fortress?”

  Why was he asking all these questions about her past? It was unsettling. “I grew up on the coast.” She hoped this would satisfy him.

  “What is the place called?”