Mathew ignored it and continued to hunt through the box.
Alice glanced at the grinning young monk, working at his easel, and memories flooded back. He belonged to her past ... much younger but just as rakish.
'Ralph.' She smiled. 'Show me what you're doing.'
He gave a sheepish smile and moved to one side.
She had expected a nude but found a Madonna and Child. The flesh tones of the infant were executed to perfection and there was nothing licentious about Mary.
She moderated her voice. 'It's beautiful.'
'Thank you, my lady.'
Alice felt embarrassed. She'd misjudged him. He might look like the shallow, ignorant successor to the wild adolescent she'd known but his work told a different story. A sudden impulse took her.
'Ralph, would you do something for me?'
The sensual grin returned. 'That would be my pleasure.'
'We need a new sign for the Julian Inn. Perhaps you could paint one as a gift to the good people of Sherborne.'
'Your wish is my command.'
He rose from his stool. For an awful moment she thought he would try to kiss her. But he merely bowed.
Back on the street she could scarcely contain herself. The wind blew her hood to one side. She pulled it back and turned to Harald who was escorting her back to the almshouse.
'I recognised him. He was no more than fifteen when we last met but he already had that wild look. His name is Ralph Knowles. You might know the family.'
Harald gave an ironic laugh.
'Yes, I know them. My wife was a Knowles. Her brother, Roger, is trying to take back her dowry.'
Alice felt his pain. 'On what possible grounds?'
'They ... they're …'
Alice had noticed that Harald's voice failed him whenever he was nervous.
'I'm sorry. I shouldn't pry into your affairs.'
'No.' He seemed to relax. 'You'll find out before long and I wouldn't like you to hear it from the lips of others.'
They stopped near the site for the new almshouse. Harald told her about the claim that William was illegitimate and the marriage contract invalid as a consequence. She listened as one distressing detail followed another. To be called a cuckold was bad enough. To have it said that you were cuckolded by your fourteen-year-old brother was devastating.
'Does William know?'
'Not yet. But he will when the case goes to court. He's twelve. He's not a little boy anymore. He'll find out.'
'Whatever will he think?'
'He'll love it.' Harald choked back tears. 'He worships Guy. He'll be delighted to think that Guy is his father and not his uncle.'