even for you.’ And each year another mayor. The thought sickened him.
The mayor’s colour deepened. The musky scent intensified. His chin tilted up, he gazed down his long, bony nose at Ravenser. ‘I suspect that your reasons are not those you offer me.’
‘My reasons are not—’ Ravenser heard himself sputtering and shut up. But the audacity of the man! He fought to regain his calm, and in a much softer voice asked, ‘Surely you do not suggest that I am lying?’
Savage had the grace to squirm – slightly. ‘No. No, I could not in good conscience accuse you of that. But there is another matter that I had hoped to avoid discussing.’
‘And what might that be?’
Savage glanced round the room as if making sure he would not be overheard. ‘It is the matter of a woman you employ as a lay sister. A woman of questionable character. Honoria de Staines.’
A low blow. ‘Mistress Staines has performed much penance and is one of our best servants.’
‘Some would be quite puzzled by that claim, Sir Richard. Quite puzzled.’
‘You have reports of her?’
The mayor smirked. ‘In faith, you cannot be surprised. She has been seen. Even with some of your select number of corrodians.’ He rose, filling the air with musk, bowed slightly to Ravenser, who rose also.
‘Can you provide me with proof?’
Savage sniffed. ‘I shall not betray confidences.’
‘Lies, more like.’
Savage bristled. ‘Have a care, Sir Richard. I know that the hospital is in financial straits because of a shortfall in the Petercorn. If you seek the goodwill of the freemen of the city, you must earn it. By choosing those who work in the hospital with caution. By being a valuable member of the community.’
Ravenser was finding it difficult to control himself. ‘Would you be so kind as to tell me how you know about our finances?’
‘It is all over the city. One need only stand on the street and open one’s ears. I thought it common knowledge.’
‘I see.’
Savage shook his head. ‘I am left to conclude that your rejection of my mother-in-law has more to do with your dread that I might be privy to what happens at St Leonard’s.’
Ravenser could take no more. ‘Master Savage, it is widely reported that your mother-in-law is a tyrant. You wish to prevent her taking over your household, that is your motivation in trying to bully me into accepting her here.’
Savage had turned a frightening shade of crimson. ‘That is not my purpose in asking you to take her in!’
Ravenser had wagged his head. ‘Master Savage, now who is tripping on the truth?’
With a flourish of his mayoral robes, Savage had stormed from the room.
Thoresby listened to his nephew’s story in growing despair. ‘For pity’s sake, Richard, Savage was right. You are dependent on the freemen of the city. And you made an enemy of the man who might have defended you to them. Have you no control of your temper?’
A startled expression told him that Ravenser had expected sympathy.
‘And now the new mayor, Roger Selby, asks about her. What is so important about this lay sister? Why must you defend her? Why keep her?’
‘Did not Mary Magdalen find redemption as a follower of Christ?’
‘You would compare yourself with Christ?’
Ravenser groaned. ‘You are a man of God, uncle. Do you not see the goodness in what Cuthbert did?’
‘Cuthbert has earned his place in Heaven by his desire to do good, Richard, but he has done nothing for your career. You must see to it if you wish to climb any higher.’
Thoresby found his nephew a puzzle. His elaborate, colourful attire contradicted the naïve simplicity of his faith.
Six
Disturbing Developments
B ess Merchet arrived early at the infirmary and sat watching her uncle sleep. Julian Taverner seemed old and frail. A network of veins crept across his cheeks, nose and eyelids. The skin of his neck was wrinkled. His hair was still abundant, a family trait, but it was now pure white. It curled
The mayor’s colour deepened. The musky scent intensified. His chin tilted up, he gazed down his long, bony nose at Ravenser. ‘I suspect that your reasons are not those you offer me.’
‘My reasons are not—’ Ravenser heard himself sputtering and shut up. But the audacity of the man! He fought to regain his calm, and in a much softer voice asked, ‘Surely you do not suggest that I am lying?’
Savage had the grace to squirm – slightly. ‘No. No, I could not in good conscience accuse you of that. But there is another matter that I had hoped to avoid discussing.’
‘And what might that be?’
Savage glanced round the room as if making sure he would not be overheard. ‘It is the matter of a woman you employ as a lay sister. A woman of questionable character. Honoria de Staines.’
A low blow. ‘Mistress Staines has performed much penance and is one of our best servants.’
‘Some would be quite puzzled by that claim, Sir Richard. Quite puzzled.’
‘You have reports of her?’
The mayor smirked. ‘In faith, you cannot be surprised. She has been seen. Even with some of your select number of corrodians.’ He rose, filling the air with musk, bowed slightly to Ravenser, who rose also.
‘Can you provide me with proof?’
Savage sniffed. ‘I shall not betray confidences.’
‘Lies, more like.’
Savage bristled. ‘Have a care, Sir Richard. I know that the hospital is in financial straits because of a shortfall in the Petercorn. If you seek the goodwill of the freemen of the city, you must earn it. By choosing those who work in the hospital with caution. By being a valuable member of the community.’
Ravenser was finding it difficult to control himself. ‘Would you be so kind as to tell me how you know about our finances?’
‘It is all over the city. One need only stand on the street and open one’s ears. I thought it common knowledge.’
‘I see.’
Savage shook his head. ‘I am left to conclude that your rejection of my mother-in-law has more to do with your dread that I might be privy to what happens at St Leonard’s.’
Ravenser could take no more. ‘Master Savage, it is widely reported that your mother-in-law is a tyrant. You wish to prevent her taking over your household, that is your motivation in trying to bully me into accepting her here.’
Savage had turned a frightening shade of crimson. ‘That is not my purpose in asking you to take her in!’
Ravenser had wagged his head. ‘Master Savage, now who is tripping on the truth?’
With a flourish of his mayoral robes, Savage had stormed from the room.
Thoresby listened to his nephew’s story in growing despair. ‘For pity’s sake, Richard, Savage was right. You are dependent on the freemen of the city. And you made an enemy of the man who might have defended you to them. Have you no control of your temper?’
A startled expression told him that Ravenser had expected sympathy.
‘And now the new mayor, Roger Selby, asks about her. What is so important about this lay sister? Why must you defend her? Why keep her?’
‘Did not Mary Magdalen find redemption as a follower of Christ?’
‘You would compare yourself with Christ?’
Ravenser groaned. ‘You are a man of God, uncle. Do you not see the goodness in what Cuthbert did?’
‘Cuthbert has earned his place in Heaven by his desire to do good, Richard, but he has done nothing for your career. You must see to it if you wish to climb any higher.’
Thoresby found his nephew a puzzle. His elaborate, colourful attire contradicted the naïve simplicity of his faith.
Six
Disturbing Developments
B ess Merchet arrived early at the infirmary and sat watching her uncle sleep. Julian Taverner seemed old and frail. A network of veins crept across his cheeks, nose and eyelids. The skin of his neck was wrinkled. His hair was still abundant, a family trait, but it was now pure white. It curled
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