“He’s sent no word ahead,” he asked, “of how the daywent?”

“None. But the rumour is it did not go well.” She said it firmlyand freely, putting back with a small hand the pale gold hair from herforehead. A slender girl, still only twenty-one years old and mother of ayear-old son and as fair as her husband was black-avised. The shy manner of hergirlhood years had matured into a gentle dignity. “This is a very wantontide that flows and carries us all, here in England,” she said. “Itcannot always run one way, there must be an ebb.” She was brisk andpractical about it, whatever that firm face cost her. “You haven’teaten, you can’t have stayed for supper,” she said, the housewifecomplete. “Sit there and nurse your godson a little while, and I’llbring you meat and ale.”

The infant Giles, formidably tall for a year old when he was reared erect byholding to benches and trestles and chests to keep his balance, made his waycarefully but with astonishing rapidity round the room to the stool by thefireside, and clambered unaided into Cadfael’s rusty black lap. He had aflow of words, mostly of his own invention, though now and then a sound madesudden adult sense. His mother talked to him much, so did her woman Constance,his devoted slave, and this egg of the nobility listened and made volubleresponse. Of lordly scholars, thought Cadfael, rounding his arms to cradle thesolid weight comfortably, we can never have too many. Whether he takes to thechurch or the sword, he’ll never be the worse for a quick and ready mind.Like a pair of hound puppies nursed in the lap, Hugh’s heir gave offglowing warmth, and the baked-bread scent of young and untainted flesh.

“He won’t sleep,” said Aline, coming with a wooden tray toset it on the chest close to the fire, “for he knows there’ssomething in the wind. Never ask me how, I’ve said no word to him, but heknows. There, give him to me now, and take your meal. We may have a long wait,for they’ll see all provided at the castle before ever Hugh comes tome.”