Here is the next chapter of the fifth book in my Drachma series, Chapter Twenty-One. In this chapter, we concentrate on Jeanne, and her relation to all that has been going on, with more to come!
Chapter Twenty-One
Jeanne woke to the sound of birds, and realizing suddenly that she had overslept, she scurried out of bed, and almost ran over Sylvie, who stood in the doorway with young Falma.
“Oh, Sylvie, I’m so sorry! I did not realize the time.”
“Mama!” exclaimed Falma, as he extended his little arms. Jeanne scooped him up in a wet embrace.
“I see that he has been fed. And for that I thank ye so much, Sylvie.”
“Aye, he and I have had breakfast, Madam. An’ yer bread and fruit be awaitin’ ye in the kitchen. One o’ the pages has been by to fetch ye but said that he’d await fer ye to get ready. He said the men would wait o’er yonder, and not to worry none.”
As she got dressed, she played with her toddler, and as she played, she contemplated whether she was even the right person for this new task given to her. However, she understood, as Craycroft explained to her, being short-staffed, and her being his right hand, there was no one else. And so, she agreed to accompany the two Scotsmen, as they found their way through the introductory material at the institute and in Sick Bay. She found it fortunate that Tingley and Mortimer had been there to guide them, since neither her husband nor Robert could be there. And for that period of time at least she was able to keep her thoughts off Melchior’s most uncertain fate. But now was it to be more of the same today?
What she could not understand was Craycroft’s admonition that it was she who would be responsible to determine if there were any signs of untrustworthiness in their manner, and to report back if she detected any at all.
She glanced in the small mirror and decided that was about as good as it was going to get. She then picked up Falma, and carried him into the kitchen, where she shared her bread and fruit with the youngster. Eventually, she told Sylvie that she was ready. Sylvie went to the back and told the page that her mistress was ready.
The young page seemed eager to accompany the great lady to her task this morning. He saw it as an opportunity for him to do more than simply run errands, but to learn some of the ways of the world out there. The two Scotsmen had been just as keen, it seemed to Tingley, to understand the goings on of the people of the castle, as he had been intrigued by their lives back in Scotland. Mealtimes were particularly stimulating, as the two men truly enjoyed their ale, and as the ale took its hold and loosened their tongues, they would wax on about their doings in the “old country.” It seemed to Tingley that some of what the two men described must have been exaggeration but was nonetheless very entertaining.
“Come, m’lad, let us be on our way.” Jeanne said cheerfully, as the young page stood at the door to the kitchen.
Her attitude this morning startled Tingley, as it seemed she appeared ready and even somewhat enthusiastic about the day’s tasks.
“Certainly, M’lady! D’ye need anythin’?”
“Nay, Laddie, nothing. But I do want ye to provide our Scottish guests with some lighthearted company for lunch today, as ye did yesterday.”
“Indeed?” Tingley realized then that the lady had been, in her own way, extraordinarily vigilant, and not disinterested.
As the two of them set out in the cool of the morning, heading across to Barncuddy’s, there was a notable lightness in the steps of his lady, as across the great courtyard they seemed to sail. The noise and clamor of the merchants, getting ready for the day’s doings seemed to spur them on.
As they came up to Barncuddy’s door, Jeanne turned to Tingley and said in his ear, “Now, Lad what I would have ye do, is to pay particular attention to what Master Enoch says, as he has some history with us, and particularly with Councilor Rust.”
“Rust? That I didna’ know, M’lady.”
“But aye, he was a student with Master Rust at Cambridge…”
“And now he would be a student again, but here, with us, eh?”
“T’would seem a little peculiar, no?”
“Aye that, M’lady…peculiar, indeed!”
As they entered the inn, the familiar sounds, smells and warmth of the place put them immediately at ease. They were greeted from across the inn by Clifton, who loudly bade them come over. As they made their way across the rough wood floor, between the benches, to the back of the dining area, Jeanne noticed a solitary man, sitting with his back turned to them. She thought he looked familiar but couldn’t place him.
“Well m’lady, it makes me heart glad that ye’ll be joinin’ us today,” said the bright-faced Clifton. Both he and Enoch stood, and made room for Jeanne and the page. “Now what’ll it be today? D’ye want any o’ this bread or any ale?” Jeanne shook her head and sat down. “Then are ye going to show us more of the fascinatin’ doings on of your institute?”
“Oh, aye, that we shall. And we shall also check back with Sick Bay. There are several folks that I need to be seeing there. Frankly, I’m concerned about little Julius and old Allen. Neither of them looked very well yesterday.”
Jeanne had gradually been taking over the day-to-day running of Sick Bay, and especially now, in the absence of Master Robert, Judy and Melchior. It seemed to her that every day would bring about new challenges, with which she often felt unprepared to deal. Yet Craycroft’s faith in her abilities was unwavering, and the patients always seemed thankful. Oh, but I am not trained to care for these wounded and unwell persons. Ah, Judy, if only you were here by me!
Tingley noticed her changed countenance but said nothing. Then he noticed the arrival of Mortimer. “Ho, Mortimer, o’er here!”
Mortimer came over to the table, but he had a look on his face to suggest serious doings were afoot.
“What is it?” asked Tingley. “And do na’ be tellin’ me that it’s nothin’. Fer I can see it on yer face…”
“Well, if ye must know, it seems that a Master Charles, from the same place as Master Robert, came to the castle, and he brought with him ol’ Wheezer, who had been stabbed an’ burned. And who is now in Sick Bay wi’ the others.”
The look on Jeanne’s face was of shock as well as concern. “Wheezer, is that the same urchin who acted as snitch for our enemies?”
“Aye, the same! But m’lady, he’ll be doin’ nothin’ o’ the sort fer the future, if he survives.”
“Any idea who did this to him?”
“Nay, m’lady, none.”
“Well, then, it would seem that there be layers of mystery yet to be uncovered… But what can ye tell me of this Master Charles? Is he someone known to Master Robert or to Lady Judy? And why did he come here at this time?”
As she was asking these questions, Jeanne could see in her peripheral vision that the man who sat in the corner seemed to take a sudden interest in their conversation, but when she looked directly in his direction, he turned quickly away, then immediately exited.
“M’lady, I know not how to answer yer queries,” said Mortimer, “but what I can tell ye is that Craycroft would like ye to meet the man and requests yer presence ere noon today. There ye shall meet Master Charles, and ye may ask him whate’er ye’d like.”
“I would say, then, comrades, that we shall have much to do, and that we should not tarry. Let us go to Sick bay, and see what we have there, and then perhaps later, Mortimer and Tingley, you can take our gentlemen to the institute, while I get the opportunity to meet this new person, and to discuss matters with Craycroft.” As she said this, she also thought, and maybe I can find out a little more about my own Melchior!
As the group of five made its way out, Jeanne turned to Barncuddy, and took him aside. In a conspiratorial tone she asked, “Can ye tell me, who was that man, sitting o’er yonder? Have ye seen him before?”
“His name I know not, and he’s ne’er been in here, and that I would know. But what I can tell ye is that he has been seen in the company o’ that scoundrel, LeGace. That much I know from me sources in the kitchen.”
“Well, then, I must speak with your sources. If you could arrange for me to talk wi’ them later today, I would be grateful, as would m’lord, Craycroft.”
“Aye, m’lady. If ye could be here at three bells today, I shall have ye meet wi’ Gracie, who should be back wi’ me onions an’ turnips by then.”
“Thank you, my good man. I shall be here then as well.” And she left him with a hug and a radiant smile, as she hurried to catch up with the others, who were just going out the door, heading toward Sick Bay.
As they made their way across the great courtyard, Jeanne could not help but think that her day was becoming so much more complicated than she could have expected.
“Well now, Jeanne, ‘twould appear that you have had quite a morning. Am I correct?” Craycroft’s eyes twinkled slightly as he looked across the little table. He took his glass of wine, raised it to her, and this time said, with his voice softened with concern, “Why don’t you tell me about your day, and then I shall try to answer your queries.”
“Oh, ye do know me, Craycroft! Of course, I shall tell ye of all that I found this morning, and of what significance it all seems to carry.”
Craycroft’s thoughts suddenly took him back four years, when he decided to make Jeanne his special assistant. All of what was wrapped up in those moments, and what significance they would have for the future of the island and its people was too much to consider. And there she was, sitting in the same chair, in the same room, but she was then a broken woman, having lost her long-time friend and employer. And Craycroft was little better, having lost the true love of his life, but having been granted rule of the island by the earl. He had reached out his hand toward her and told her of his unrequited love for her mistress, as well as his new responsibilities, his sense of unworthiness. Still, he could not evade this request by his liege lord. And so, in that moment, he had asked her to be his assistant. Her demeanor had suddenly changed, and she had looked back at him with steely resolve, which was both frightening and somehow reassuring. It was that same visage she had again as she began to tell him of her morning.
She told him of her encounter at Barncuddy’s, with the information she had gotten about their new arrival, and about poor Wheezer. She mentioned that little Wheezer seemed to be rallying somewhat under the care he was getting at Sick Bay but was unable to say much about his injury other than to say it was definitely LeGace involved. And then she mentioned that stranger at Barncuddy’s whom she found out had been seen with LeGace as well, but who then disappeared.
Craycroft thought about all of this, and then said that he would need more guardsmen at Sick Bay.
“I was thinking the same thing,” said Jeanne. “But what about this Master Charles? May I meet him, and what do you know about him?”
“But, of course, you may see him, in fact I was expecting you two would meet. He has gone to Sick Bay – he was quite worried about Wheezer, as he was the one who saved the young lad from the burning building.”
“He is at Sick Bay now? Why then, shall I go there?”
“Nay, there is no need, for he will be coming back here anon. Aaron is with him now, as is Tom, and Derrymoor also. They know of the importance of your meeting him.”
“Importance? Whatever do you mean, m’lord?”
“Do you not think that I, and the rest of those ruling this Isle, think your opinions do not matter? If you recall, it was I who chose you from among the many here to be my special assistant. And it was not a choice that I have ever regretted. Nay, you have been a most trusted aide to me. E’en now, this day you do bring your insight, for which I remain grateful.”
“You do honor me, m’lord. But it is just that circumstances being what they be could be overwhelming to me. I do admit that without Melchior at my side, it does cloud my perceptions. Now, have you heard any news of Melchior, for his absence continues to grieve me?”
“Nay, my dear, I have heard nothing new…”
Jeanne swallowed hard, and put her face in her hands, and for a brief moment there was silence in the room. As the clock outside was striking ten bells, there was a knock at the door.
“Come in! The door is not barred,” said Craycroft.
To Jeanne’s surprise, in walked a sizable group of men, led by Aaron, and included the earl of Derrymoor, Tom, Rust, Kerlin, and Cayman. And in their midst was the obvious stranger, dressed in rumpled gray clothes, with a coat that looked too large for his small frame. Craycroft was immediately up and came over to the group. He introduced Jeanne to Charlie Stephens.
“It’s nice to meet you, Jeanne. And yes, I’ve heard about you, and … it’s all good!”
“But, alas! I have heard nothing of thee, except that ye come from the same place as Master Robert and the lady, Judy, no?” Jeanne went on, as she looked toward Craycroft. “If we could all move to the adjacent room where we might all sit down at the table. Then we could all get acquainted properly.”
Charlie couldn’t help but stare at this woman, subdued, beautiful, and possessing a strength he had not found in anyone since Marilyn.
“That would seem most appropriate,” said Craycroft. Then, as the group moved toward the meeting room, he turned toward Charlie, and said in a whisper, “did I not warn ye about this one?”
“Indeed, you did.”
“Master Tom,” it was one of the pages, coming up the hallway. “Yer horses be ready, and there be men awaitin’ ye at the stables.”
“Very well, Stewart.” He turned toward Charlie and said, “Master Charles, are ye ready for your next journey?”
“Well, I guess so.” Charlie turned once more toward Jeanne, “I’m sorry, Lady Jeanne, but it seems I’m needed elsewhere on your island, and it looks as though we’ve gone through much of the morning already. Do take care of Wheezer for me. It would seem that he has important information, and he does appear to be rallying this morning.”
“Of course, Master Charles. We shall meet again…of that I am quite certain.” She held out her hand, but Charlie did not know what to do with her hand, if he was supposed to shake it or kiss it. So, he just reached out and gently shook it, eying Tom, who gave him no direction.
“All right, then, Tom, you lead the way.”
Jeanne watched them quietly, as she turned to Craycroft and said in a whisper, “Was this your doing? As a way of keeping me guessing in the dark?”
“Nay, Jeanne. It was but another move on the great chessboard. It would be as if the master mover would have us go from our opening to the center game.”
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