Free [Roger the Chapman 05] - Eve of Saint Hyacinth by Kate Sedley Page A

told him, whereupon he drew himself up to his full height and sniffed.
    'I never forgets a debt. C'me on. You look like you've sold most of what you got. We'll go to the Boar's Head in East Cheap and after, you can come 'ome with me and meet my Jeanne.'
    For a moment I hesitated, while a warning voice sounded inside my head. 'Stay now,' it said, 'and you may never get safely away.' But at the same time another voice whispered, 'God is not mocked,' and I heaved a sigh, knowing it to be only too true.
    'Well?' Philip demanded. 'You comin'? Never refuse a debt repaid, ol’ friend. It don't 'appen all that often in this wicked world.'
    I laughed and stowed my few remaining items in my pack, which I then humped on to my shoulders. I picked up my cudgel and nodded. 'Lead the way,' I invited. 'I was just thinking about my dinner when I saw you.'

    Over a meal of eel pies and brandy tarts, washed down with some of the best ale I have ever tasted, I told Philip Lamprey of my brief marriage and subsequent fatherhood, and of the desire to see London once more, which had led to my present circumstances.
    'Aye,' he commiserated, 'you couldn't've picked a worse time to visit than now. But you should've known that, cocky, what wiv us bein' at war again with them Mounseers. And only the Lord Almighty c'n tell why! Fer I don' know of any cause they've given us, do you? But there, it's not fer the likes of us t' question. You come 'ome wiv me tonight and my Jeanne'll make you more than welcome. Then tomorrer, if you're still set on goin' 'ome, you can.'  
    The Lampreys' second-hand clothes shop was situated in the western reaches of Cornhill and their living quarters were a daub-and-wattle hut at its rear. There was barely sufficient room for the two of them, but neither made anything of that. As Philip had promised, his goodwife made me as welcome as he did himself, and she pressed me to remain for the rest of the day and the coming night.
    Mistress Lamprey was a little, round, bustling body, with bright-brown eyes and a mop of unruly black curls, imperfectly confined by a kerchief. She had a smile and a cheerful word for all their customers, but what surprised me particularly was her youth. She could not then have been much above eighteen years old, while Philip was certainly past his fortieth birthday. But they seemed to suit each other and to be fonder than many a better-matched couple as regards to age.
    I spent the rest of the day helping them with their stall, my own selling skills coming in handy, after which I shared their supper before assisting them to pack up for the night.
    'So,' Philip asked when we had finished, 'what'll we do, then? It won't be dark for several hours.' Without waiting for me to furnish him with an answer he continued, 'There's a tavern I know of where you c'n get the best Rybole wine you've ever drunk in yer life. You'll be all right, my dearling, won't you?' he added, kissing Jeanne ingratiatingly on the cheek. 'We'll be back afore curfew.'
    'O' course I'll be all right,' she answered, laughing and giving him a playful push. 'Get along with you. But don' come back 'ere drunk.'
    'I'll see he doesn't,' I assured her, grinning. When we were clear of the house, I said, 'You've a treasure there.'  
    'Don' I know it!' he replied fervently. 'I told you my luck 'ad turned.'
    We set out briskly through a maze of narrow alleyways that had me lost and confused until we finally emerged into Candlewick Street, where the drapers and mercers have their shops and dwellings. The houses there are timber and brick and painted plaster, indicative of their owners' wealth and standing, but Philip regarded them without envy. He had everything he wanted from life.
    'Where are we going?' I asked, as we passed several likely-looking ale-houses and started down Dowgate Hill.
    Philip made no immediate reply. Halfway along, we s
    wung into Elbow Lane and, moments later, having turned the corner which gave it its name, we emerged into