The Abbot's Agreement by Mel Starr Page B

was slain, if Maude atte Pond spoke true. I did not know why it happened, or who was involved. But knowing what is an excellent first step toward knowing why and then who. Or who and then why.
    Arthur and I escorted Maude back to her home. It would have been quicker to approach the reeve’s house from the rear, but I did not want her mother to see us arrive in the toft from that direction. I knew it was likely that someone in the abbey had looked out across the fishpond and seen Arthur and me prowl the meadow and wood the day before, and might now see us circling the abbey buildings with Maude. That could not be helped.
    So we walked around the abbey and approached Maude’s home from the street. This route took us past Sir Richard’s manor house, from which upper window I had seen a man watching women cutting chaff. I glanced to the window as we passed andsaw the same fellow gazing from it. He was finely garbed, so I bowed my head in greeting and the man did likewise.
    Maude saw the movement from the corner of her eye and turned to see the cause. I saw her glance to the window, then quickly look away without acknowledging the man standing there. I thought I saw her shudder.
    The youth at the window was not handsome, as John Whytyng was reported to be before the birds found him, and was stout, but I could see nothing about his appearance or demeanor which might cause a maid to tremble.
    “Is that Sir Richard?” I asked.
    “Oh, nay, sir. Sir Richard is older than my father. That is his son, Sir Thomas, home for a time.”
    “He lives elsewhere?”
    “Aye. Near to Swindon, I am told, where he serves Sir Andrew Myhalle.”
    I thought Sir Thomas had looked down with some appreciation upon Maude as we passed, and wondered if he might somehow have discovered her secret meeting with John Whytyng, his appreciation of Maude’s beauty causing the knight to follow her unseen. Of course, that a man would look approvingly upon the reeve’s daughter should not make him suspect to murder, else all of the male population of the realm might be charged.
    I glanced back over my shoulder at Sir Thomas as we approached the reeve’s house and saw him yet watching. Did the young knight know of the mutual attraction between Maude and John Whytyng? How could he? He lived elsewhere, and John Whytyng was quite new to Eynsham Abbey. And what if he did? Perhaps I am too suspicious, but ’tis what bailiffs are paid for.
    We left Maude before her door, then returned to the abbey guest house. Night was near, the air was chill, clouds obscured the setting sun, and I wished for my fur coat. The guest-master had laid a fire upon the guest house hearth, anticipating our return, and although the blaze had burned low, it warmed the chamber. More logs were ready at hand, and Arthur soon had thefire renewed, so that when the lay brother brought our supper we consumed the pottage with warm fingers wrapped about our bowls.
    I slept through the ringing of the church bell for vigils, so when the thunderous pounding erupted upon the guest house door I was deep aslumber. Arthur and I stumbled to our feet in the darkened chamber and nearly collided as we both made for the door. A few embers faintly illuminated the hearth, else we surely would have become entangled.
    I opened the guest house door and saw before me a monk. In the dark I could not recognize the man, but he breathlessly introduced himself.
    “I am Brother Guibert, infirmarer. Brother Gerleys has told me that you are a surgeon.”
    “Aye, I am.”
    “Come, then… don your cotehardie and come quickly. Abbot Thurstan has fallen.”
    I did as the monk asked, as did Arthur, who followed me into the night as I followed the infirmarer. The moon illuminated our path to the west range and the abbot’s lodging. Monks crowded the corridor outside the abbot’s chamber, but melted aside as Brother Guibert and I appeared. The infirmarer led me into the chamber, and by the light of several cressets I saw the