Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine (reading an ebook TXT) 📕

remembering the draft on the cold stone, which in spite of the straw-filled hassock had left his old knees rheumaticky and swollen. "Then I slept, and I had a dream. I believe it was in answer to my prayer, my lady. " He crossed himself and Matilda and Elen, glancing at one another nervously, followed suit.

"The dream told you the reason for the river being green?" Matilda's voice was awed.

"I believe so, madam. An old man came to me in my dream and said that Christ was greatly displeased. " He paused and gulped nervously.

Matilda rose to her feet, ignoring the sewing, which fell to the rushes, her eyes wide, one hand straying involuntarily to her stomach. She felt suddenly sick. "Why?" she whispered. "Why is our Lord displeased?"

"It is something that Sir William has done, my lady. " The old man spoke in a hushed voice, glancing over his shoulder as he did so. "But it is something he has done here. He has kept some property for himself that was granted to our chapel. It was to be used both for its upkeep and for works of charity, and Sir William has not allowed the money to come to us. "

Matilda stared at him for a moment in silence. "You're telling me that Sir William is misappropriating church property?" she said at last.

The old man shrugged apologetically.

She felt like laughing hysterically. "And this is an offense great enough to cause the mountain waters to change their color?" She turned away from him so that he couldn't see her face. She wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. It took a moment for her to get herself under control again. Then she turned back to him. "Have you told Sir William of this dream?" she inquired gently.

He shook his head vehemently.

"Then I shouldn't at the moment. I shall try to find out whether he is indeed withholding tithes due to the chapel, and whether he is doing it knowingly. I am sure there has been some mistake. He would never take something that was the church's. "

She waited until he had gone before bursting into tearful laughter, then she shrugged, wiping her eyes, and looked at Elen in despair. "I wish the archdeacon were here, Elen. He would know what to do. " She sighed. "He would know the truth about Father Hugo's dream, and about the river waters. " She took up the sewing, which Elen had recovered from the rushes, and sat down wearily.

"They are saying, my lady, " Elen began cautiously, "that is, the townsfolk in Aberhonddu and Hay are saying, that the river runs green for another reason. They say it is because of the king's great sin in taking Walter of Clifford's daughter Rosamund to be his mistress and casting off Queen Eleanor again. "

She glanced at Matilda shrewdly, her blue eyes merry in her freckled face. "I think it is more likely to be for the sins of a king than of one of his subjects, however great, that the waters of Afon Llynfi should change color, don't you?"

"I suppose so. " Matilda walked over to the narrow window and looked out across the valley. Sheets of fine rain were sweeping in from the mountains and the smell of sweet earth rose to her from her little garden in the bailey below. She leaned out and sniffed appreciatively. "I pray your story is true, or Father Hugo's—I don't care which. As long as the warning is not for me. And who knows, perhaps Margaret was right. Perhaps it is just pondweed. "

"Smelly it is, madam, anyway, Hugh says, " Elen put in briskly. "He thinks it's because there's been no rain, simple as that it is. And now this morning the rain has come so we'll soon know if the green all goes away. And your plants will be pleased by it, so they will!"

"Rosamund Clifford, " Sarah whispered. "Do you think she was an ancestor of hers?"

Bennet looked away from Jo's face, suddenly thoughtful. "Ancestral memory? Transferred genetically? I've read some interesting papers on the subject. " He shrugged. "I don't believe it myself, but we'll have to see what part this Rosamund plays in the story. I should wake her now. " He glanced at his watch. "She's getting tired. She has lived through six months in that world of hers. "

"Oh, wait, Carl. Can't we find out about the baby—I know she would want you to ask about it—" Sarah broke off suddenly as the door behind her opened.

Nick stared into the room. For a moment none of them spoke, then, after catching sight of Jo sitting on the sofa, Nick stepped inside the room and closed the door.

"Jo! Thank God I'm in time!"

Carl Bennet stood up, taking his glasses off in agitation. "You can't come in here. Please, leave at once! Who are you?" He stepped toward Nick.

Nick was looking at Jo. "Jo asked me to come, " he said. He glanced at Bennet for the first time. "My name is Franklyn. I'm a friend of hers. "

"I thought I told you, Dr. Franklyn, that Jo has asked you not to involve yourself in this matter!" Bennet stood looking up at Nick, his face stern.

"Dr. Franklyn is my brother, " Nick replied shortly. "Jo, for God's sake, explain. "

"Jo does not know you're here. " Anxiously Carl Bennet put his hand on Nick's shoulder. "She is in a deep trance. Now, please, I must ask you to leave—"

"Jo? Dear God, what have you done to her? You bastard!" Nick knelt at Jo's side and took her hand gently in his.

"Shall I call the caretaker?" Sarah said in an undertone. She had her hand on a bell by the door. Bennet shook his head. He sighed. "Please, Mr. Franklyn. You must leave. I am sure you realize it would be dangerous for you to interfere at this stage. "

"Dangerous?" Nick was staring at Jo's face. Her eyes were looking