'We must take immediate steps to reconcile ourselves with the parish and do nothing to inflame passions. The incident with Sister Alice was extremely harmful. The impression created by that appalling partition was the last straw.'
The two men were standing at the window of the abbot's chamber, looking down into the cloister. A cover over the underground conduit had been removed. Earlier in the day, dogs had been sent down to kill rats that had taken up residence in the elaborate system of channels and drains that supplied water to the monastery and removed effluent. The measure had been undertaken at the instigation of Brother Arnold who had been alerted to the health risk by Sister Alice.
'The woman's a witch.'
The words exploded from William's lips.
'Who are you talking about?'
'Both of them … the Cobham woman and that matron. I don't believe those bruises are real. She put them there by sorcery.'
'That sort of talk did not go down well with the dean.'
William ignored the interruption.
'One day you will remember what I've said and you will wonder why you did not have the wit to recognise it.' He pointed an accusing finger. 'Eleanor Cobham will be the ruin of Good Duke Humphrey and I can't wait for that to happen.'
'That may be the case,' Simon mused. 'But we have to deal with the present. As we now speak, Humphrey is the most powerful man in the land.'
'I would dispute that.'
Simon tried another tack. 'The dean insists that a more acceptable partition be erected. Master Hulle says his original recommendation was for a screen covered in good quality sailcloth, painted with scenes from the gospels.'
'That's not what he told me.'
'Nevertheless, it could provide a way out of our present difficulty at low cost. I have spoken with the brothers in the scriptorium. Brother Paul is keen to take on such a commission.'
William considered the proposition.
'You say it will be low cost?'
Simon nodded.
'And it will be modest? I won't brook anything that makes it look as if we are going out of our way to appease them.'
'It will be sufficient to satisfy our lord bishop.'
'Very well.' Abbot Bradford raised a dismissive hand. 'You have my permission to do whatever you think fit, so long as you keep it within the bounds I have specified.'