Free The Squire’s Tale by Margaret Frazer

had faded back toward the cloister door, out of the general way of things but now the priest came forward, to raise a hand and make general blessing at them for their journey. They all crossed themselves in answer and then the lead men swung away toward the gate, leading the way into the outer yard. Priory folk were there about their morning business among the byres, barns, sheds and stables that served the worldly side of the nunnery’s life and some paused to watch the riders go by because even though come-and-go was part of the nunnery’s life, it was rarely nuns who came and went, and as they neared the outer gate, a tall boy somewhere in the awkwardness between childhood and youth came to stride at Frevisse’s side, asking up at her, “When will you be coming back?”
     
    ‘Good morning to you, too, Dickon.“
     
    ‘Good morning, my lady,“ he returned belatedly and unabashedly. The steward’s son, he had grown up at St. Frideswide’s with no awe of nuns. ”Going to be gone for long?“
     
    ‘As God wills,“ she said, smiling at him.
     
    ‘Safe journeying,“ he said and as he dropped aside she turned in her saddle to raise her hand in farewell. He waved back cheerily, the last familiar face before they rode through the priory’s outer gateway into the world and it was only as they swung rightward into the narrow road between the greening hedgerows did Frevisse realize she had no thought of where they were going except away. Ahead and behind, the other women were already in talk with one another and she turned to Katherine to ask, ”Where are we bound for?“
     
    Katherine looked at her, momentarily surprised, before lightly laughing, saying with sympathy, “It’s come of a sudden, hasn’t it? To Brinskep, Master Fenner’s Warwickshire manor.”
     
    ‘More than a day’s ride?“ Frevisse said, remembering something of what Robert had said.
     
    ‘It could be a long day’s ride if you start earlier than this and ride at a hard pace.“
     
    ‘And for us?“
     
    ‘Likely midday tomorrow, the roads allowing.“
     
    Rain spattered down in answer to that and Frevisse reached back to pull her hood up. Katherine reached over to help her set it over her wimple and veil, then Frevisse helped her with hers. The close-felted wool would serve against all but a heavy rain and happily the low-swept clouds looked likely to be too busy on the wind to bother with much more than showers.
     
    Ahead, likewise busy with hoods, Lady Blaunche was saying to Dame Claire, “It was yesterday the rain was bad. There was rain all the morning. When I awoke and heard it, I nearly didn’t want to bother with getting out of bed. You could tell it was the kind that would go on for hours. This looks like it will pass, though.” She turned in her saddle to say back at Frevisse and Katherine, “We’ll likely have sun by this afternoon. You’ll see.”
     
    Katherine agreed they likely would and Frevisse nodded, too, and Lady Blaunche returned her attention to Dame Claire. Frevisse called up her manners and asked Katherine, “Are you glad to be going home?”
     
    ‘Yes,“ Katherine said, paused, then added, ”Of course.“ And after another moment, ”In some ways.“ And very quietly, ”But I was far happier in St. Frideswide’s than I’d expected to be.“
     
    ‘I’m glad,“ Frevisse said, for awkward lack of a better answer.
     
    Katherine smiled almost apologetically, as if the awkwardness were her fault instead of no one’s. “I’ve never spent days in a nunnery before. I didn’t know it was like that. The busyness mingled with the quiet. And the prayers. The Offices. They’re so… beautiful.” She looked back and Frevisse looked with her. The road was cresting a small rise and through a field gate’s gap in the hedge there was a last glimpse of the church roof and the top of its squat tower. “I’m sorry to leave. I’ve been…” Again she hesitated before saying, “… happy with being