Free Lost Innocents (A Servant of the Crown Mystery Book 3) by Denise Domning Page B

she aimed her head at her Crowner as she continued her tale.
    "Martha may have said nothing at the manor door, but after we returned home she did everything she could to keep me from the fate Odger intended for me," she said, in defense of a woman she loved. "At first, she kept me with her and told everyone that I was paying my way as Odger required. And, indeed I was, doing so by selling the items in my dowry.
    "Since Odger hadn't expected me to have the wherewithal to resist him, he sought to achieve his goal in other ways. Things happened, such as Martha's portion of flour spoiling at the mill, or so he informed us. Even then, we continued to thwart him and Odger became more bold in his attempts to drive me where he willed. He refused to let Martha join the other widows when it came time to glean the fields even though it was her right. As it was mine," she added softly, shaking her head. "It was a hungry winter, but we managed, foraging where and when we could."
    "We shared with you," Hew offered, yet seeking to redeem himself.
    "So some of you did," she agreed grudgingly and continued, gazing at her former neighbor. "But then the month for plowing arrived and Odger doubled the price Martha usually paid to use the lady's plow and oxen. Once again, he acted against custom, and once again, none of you spoke out to defend her."
    This time, Hew made no response. Amelyn looked back at Faucon. "By then, I could bear it no longer. I left Jessimond with Martha and went to Alcester as Odger intended. For those next years, I whored, using the coins I earned to support us all, Martha, me, Jessimond, and Johnnie.
    "Then this happened," she touched her hood, "and Odger brought me to our lady on one of her rare visits. He asked her permission to drive me from our bounds. Much to my surprise, and his too, I think, our lady instead bought me a place at the hospital in Saltisford. It was an unexpected kindness for which I will always be grateful, even if she strips it from me now for my defiance," she finished quietly.
    This time when Edmund reacted to her words, it was to kneel next Faucon, coming but a hand's breadth beyond the reach of the leprous woman. Faucon stared at his clerk, beyond startled. He'd never before seen the monk come that close to any woman, much less one with a contagious and disfiguring disease.
    "You must put your faith in our Lord," Edmund told Amelyn. "If your bailiff has done as you say, then it's certain our heavenly Father has taken note. Rest assured that He will see your bailiff pays dearly and for all eternity for the wrong he's done you," said a monk who was usually uncompromising in his judgment of sins and sinners.
    "Many thanks, Brother," Amelyn murmured.
    Edmund nodded his reply, then looked at his employer, speaking now in their native tongue. "Sir Faucon, the leper's tale of anonymous rape, and her later public sentencing by the bailiff for refusing to name the father—doing so before so many witnesses—makes public fact that no one in this place can truthfully state that the child is English," he whispered.
    "Of course the lass is English," Faucon replied at the same low tone. "She has to be, even if the leper cannot be certain who did the fathering. Who save one of the men in this place could have done the deed on that night?"
    "It matters naught who the girl's father might have been," Edmund said with a shake of his head, "only that his name is unknown. In this, the law is clear. If her sire cannot be named and proved English, then Englishry cannot be ascertained. We must name the child Norman and apply the murdrum fine."
    Surprise and satisfaction tumbled through Faucon. Oh, but there was value in having so learned a clerk at hand, despite Edmund's oddities. This day would prove one of his most successful yet. The murdrum fine was dear, and everyone in the community would pay it, including their lady. As improbable as it had seemed an hour ago, the king would profit from the death of a bastard