Abbot Radulfus leaned back in his stall and regarded themessenger with an impassive face. “Certainly Richard shallattend his father’s funeral. When is that to be?”

“Tomorrow, my lord, before High Mass. But that is not mymistress’s meaning. She wants the young lord to leave hisstudies here and come to take his proper place as lord of Eaton.I’m to say that Dame Dionisia feels herself to be the properperson to have charge of him, now that he’s come into hisinheritance, as she’s assured he shall do, without delay orhindrance. I have orders to bring him back with me.”

“I fear, master steward,” said the abbot withdeliberation, “that you may not be able to carry out yourorders. Richard Ludel committed the care of his son to me, shouldhe himself die before the boy came to manhood. It was his wish thathis son should be properly educated, the better to manage hisestate when he came to inherit. I intend to fulfil what Iundertook. Richard remains in my care until he comes of age andtakes control of his own affairs. Until which time, I am sure, youwill serve him as well as you have served his father, and keep hislands in good heart.”

“Very surely I will, my lord,” said John ofLongwood, with more warmth than he had shown in delivering hismistress’s message. “My lord Richard has left all to mesince Lincoln, and he never had cause to find fault, and neithershall his son ever be the loser by me. On that you mayrely.”

“So I do. And therefore we may continue here with easyminds, and take as good care of Richard’s schooling andwellbeing as you do of his estates.”

“And what reply am I to take back to Dame Dionisia?”asked John, without any apparent disappointment or reluctance.

“Say to your lady that I greet her reverently in Christ,and that Richard shall come tomorrow, as is due, properlyescorted,” said the abbot with a slightly admonitoryemphasis, “but that I have his father’s sacred chargeto hold him in wardship myself until he is a man, and by hisfather’s wishes I shall abide.”