keep.”
“My lord, my lord,” Mercer cried wringing his hands, “we
would not cheat you! Never! You may send men to watch the dockings if you
will.”
William could feel his jaw starting to drop with surprise,
and he firmed it hastily. It had never entered his mind that the townsfolk
would cheat on fees or tolls. He had been thinking solely of defense. If his
guards did not have free and open land down to the river, enemies could bring
boats ashore unseen. Even when the guards could not see so far, on moonless
nights, for example, the open, slowly rising land was valuable, for sound
traveled well along it up to the keep. It would be very hard to land enough men
in a silence so profound as to fool the night watch. Buildings would block both
sight and sound.
“Naturally you would not cheat me,” William said quietly,
with a cold threat in his voice. “It would be unsafe and unhealthy to do so, I
promise you. That was not my concern. I do not choose to open so inviting a
door to enemies. You may, however, build open docks on that bank if you wish.”
The chagrin on Thomas Mercer’s face would have made William
laugh if he had not been so disgusted. The man had intended to cheat. Just a
little at first, probably, then more and more if William remained indifferent
and unaware. Two considerations saved Mercer from being struck down where he
stood, whining about the cost of cartage from such open docks as William was
willing to permit and the danger to delicate cargo from being moved in the rain
or the hot sun. First, William made a nice profit from tolls and fees paid by
merchants, and it would be a mistake to kill one of them in a seeming fit of
bad temper over the proposed buildings. Second, Mercer was almost certainly
neck-deep in some kind of dishonesty already, or he never would have conceived
such an idea.
It was time for a thorough investigation into the town’s
government. Doubtless sufficient bad practices would be uncovered so that
Thomas Mercer could be hanged. This would serve the multiple purpose of giving
the man his just desserts, enriching William’s purse by the forfeiture of
Mercer’s property, setting an example to the rest of the merchants of the
results of dishonesty, and pointing out clearly that William was no longer
going to allow himself to be fleeced.
The whining plea, which now included offers of money, had
come to a halt. William looked down and shook his head. “I told the builder and
I will tell you. If the timbers are not gone by the time I return, I will send
my men down to burn the area clean.” His eyes were the color of cold, muddy
water behind the long, curling lashes. “Do not try my patience.”
Another torrent seemed about to burst forth, but William did
not wait to hear it. He urged his big gelding forward toward the river again
where, a little to the west, a broad, heavy-bottomed boat lay that served as a
ferry. As he did so, William was suddenly surprised at all the events of the
morning. Why had he said to Alys he must ride to Hurley? Normally he
would have taken the boat docked below the keep. Of course, that meant walking
up from the village or sending someone over first to say he was on his way so
that a horse would be waiting for him.
It almost seemed as if… Then William smiled at his own
superstition. God, he was sure, did not trouble Himself with whether or not
buildings were put up in the town of Marlowe. He had said he would ride because
of what he had been thinking last night. When Elizabeth was alone in Hurley, he
always took the boat and walked. When Mauger was there, he always rode. William
had to smile wryly. He was a fine one to talk about pride. He was worse yet,
not wishing either to demean himself by arriving on foot or by asking that a
horse be sent to him. William could not help chuckling, despite his fury at
Mercer, at his own silly pride, so that he was in a much better humor when he
waved a negligent greeting to the guards at the gatehouse of
“My lord, my lord,” Mercer cried wringing his hands, “we
would not cheat you! Never! You may send men to watch the dockings if you
will.”
William could feel his jaw starting to drop with surprise,
and he firmed it hastily. It had never entered his mind that the townsfolk
would cheat on fees or tolls. He had been thinking solely of defense. If his
guards did not have free and open land down to the river, enemies could bring
boats ashore unseen. Even when the guards could not see so far, on moonless
nights, for example, the open, slowly rising land was valuable, for sound
traveled well along it up to the keep. It would be very hard to land enough men
in a silence so profound as to fool the night watch. Buildings would block both
sight and sound.
“Naturally you would not cheat me,” William said quietly,
with a cold threat in his voice. “It would be unsafe and unhealthy to do so, I
promise you. That was not my concern. I do not choose to open so inviting a
door to enemies. You may, however, build open docks on that bank if you wish.”
The chagrin on Thomas Mercer’s face would have made William
laugh if he had not been so disgusted. The man had intended to cheat. Just a
little at first, probably, then more and more if William remained indifferent
and unaware. Two considerations saved Mercer from being struck down where he
stood, whining about the cost of cartage from such open docks as William was
willing to permit and the danger to delicate cargo from being moved in the rain
or the hot sun. First, William made a nice profit from tolls and fees paid by
merchants, and it would be a mistake to kill one of them in a seeming fit of
bad temper over the proposed buildings. Second, Mercer was almost certainly
neck-deep in some kind of dishonesty already, or he never would have conceived
such an idea.
It was time for a thorough investigation into the town’s
government. Doubtless sufficient bad practices would be uncovered so that
Thomas Mercer could be hanged. This would serve the multiple purpose of giving
the man his just desserts, enriching William’s purse by the forfeiture of
Mercer’s property, setting an example to the rest of the merchants of the
results of dishonesty, and pointing out clearly that William was no longer
going to allow himself to be fleeced.
The whining plea, which now included offers of money, had
come to a halt. William looked down and shook his head. “I told the builder and
I will tell you. If the timbers are not gone by the time I return, I will send
my men down to burn the area clean.” His eyes were the color of cold, muddy
water behind the long, curling lashes. “Do not try my patience.”
Another torrent seemed about to burst forth, but William did
not wait to hear it. He urged his big gelding forward toward the river again
where, a little to the west, a broad, heavy-bottomed boat lay that served as a
ferry. As he did so, William was suddenly surprised at all the events of the
morning. Why had he said to Alys he must ride to Hurley? Normally he
would have taken the boat docked below the keep. Of course, that meant walking
up from the village or sending someone over first to say he was on his way so
that a horse would be waiting for him.
It almost seemed as if… Then William smiled at his own
superstition. God, he was sure, did not trouble Himself with whether or not
buildings were put up in the town of Marlowe. He had said he would ride because
of what he had been thinking last night. When Elizabeth was alone in Hurley, he
always took the boat and walked. When Mauger was there, he always rode. William
had to smile wryly. He was a fine one to talk about pride. He was worse yet,
not wishing either to demean himself by arriving on foot or by asking that a
horse be sent to him. William could not help chuckling, despite his fury at
Mercer, at his own silly pride, so that he was in a much better humor when he
waved a negligent greeting to the guards at the gatehouse of
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