Free Whiter than the Lily by Alys Clare Page A

Ryemarsh, I should say – and it seems he’s not at all well. Sister Euphemia sent me to inform you that she wants to have him moved up to the infirmary – she says he needs to rest in the cool darkness for a while to see if that’ll help him recover his senses.’
    ‘Oh, dear!’ Helewise had not appreciated that Ambrose Ryemarsh was sick; was the purpose of his visit, then, more than to take the waters and pray for a child?
    ‘Will it be all right for Sister Euphemia to put the lord Ambrose in the infirmary?’ Saul was asking anxiously. ‘It’s so full at present and strictly speaking the old feller’s not really ill, only—’
    ‘Of course it’s all right!’ Helewise gave Saul a reassuring smile. ‘The infirmary is Sister Euphemia’s province and I would not dream of questioning her judgement.’
    ‘Aye, my lady,’ Saul said, with a smile that seemed to say, course you wouldn’t.
    They were hurrying on down the path when they saw someone approaching across the short grass over to their left. The figure was tall and strongly built and, until she could make out details of dress, Helewise took it to be a man.
    But it was a woman.
    Her gown and veil were of dark cloth and she wore a close-fitting linen wimple. Her face was pale, the expression joyless. But it was the eyes that Helewise noticed; wide under pale brows and lashes, they were of the palest green, like thick ice on a pond that is tinged with the colour of what lies beneath.
    For some reason, Helewise felt a shudder go up her spine. Rather more curtly than perhaps necessary, she said, ‘Yes? Can we help you?’
    The woman frowned. Then, in a strangely toneless voice, she said, ‘I am Aebba. I serve the lady Galiena.I am come with the lord her husband to join her here and in time to see her safely back to her home.’
    Helewise glanced at Saul to see how he might be responding to this strange woman. He was staring at her intently, a look of puzzlement on his face.
    ‘What were you doing out there in the grass?’ Helewise asked, trying to make her voice sound pleasant and non-accusatory.
    The woman stared at her for a moment. Then she said, ‘I was praying in the Abbey church. For the lady, you know, that what she desires be granted to her. Then I set out to find the Vale, where they tell me the lord Ambrose rests, but I missed the path.’
    Helewise was just wondering how anybody with eyes in their head could possibly miss the well-marked path to the Vale when Saul gave a sort of gasp and began, ‘But—’
    Instantly Aebba stepped on to the path, elbowed Saul out of the way and said curtly, ‘I must go to the master. Please show me the way.’
    After a brief hesitation, Helewise gave a slight bow and said, ‘Certainly. Follow me, please,’ and led the way on down the path.
    Other than accuse the woman directly of telling untruths, there was little else she could do. Very aware of Saul, walking behind Aebba and muttering softly to himself, she resolved to have a private word with him as soon as it could be arranged.
    The moment that Helewise laid eyes on Ambrose she understood Sister Euphemia’s concern. The old manlay back against his tree, eyes closed, barely conscious, face pale and with a sheen of sweat. As the infirmarer greeted her and came to stand beside her, Helewise said softly, ‘Let us arrange for him to be installed in the infirmary, Sister. I have been unable to locate Galiena but I am sure that she must surely reappear soon – after all, she must realise that her remedies are just about ready for her and she may well be expecting Aebba to have arrived.’
    ‘Aebba?’
    Helewise indicated the dour woman standing a few paces off, staring down at Ambrose with an unreadable expression on her face. ‘Galiena’s serving woman.’
    ‘Ah.’ The infirmarer made no further comment.
    ‘Can he walk?’ Helewise asked.
    ‘I reckon so, my lady, with help. Saul! Gus!’ she called, and immediately the two brothers hurried towards