“We solved two murders and unmasked forgery,” he said with a chuckle. “And all because I saved poor Emma from being torn apart by that mob.”
“Come, Ralph,” argued Gervase, clicking his tongue. “It was not as simple as that. My visit to the hermit turned our fortunes. It was he who took the chest from the yew tree and distributed the coins among the poor of the town. It was he who found that charter locked away with the money. Because I dragged that piece of sandstone to him, he gave us both chest and charter.”
“Emma showed us where the wolf-skin was hidden.”
“But who showed Emma?”
“My witch deserves all the credit.”
“My hermit was the true hero.”
“A Welshman would never aid a Norman!”
“This one did.”
“Only because Emma put a spell on him.”
They bickered happily for a mile, then agreed to see the whole visit to Bedwyn as a collective triumph.
“Everyone helped,” said Gervase. “Brother Luke helped by telling me about the abbey; Brother John helped by talking of his days as a rent-collector; Leofgifu helped by letting me see her father’s papers.”
“I, too, was helped,” Ralph pointed out. “Saewold helped by going away to Salisbury and Ediva by staying at home. It was she who brought down Hugh de Brionne.”
“Do not forget Hilda.”
“It was she who gave us the name of Brother Peter.”
“Only because Leofgifu had confided in her the details of her broken romance.” Gervase grew sad again. “Now I see why Leofgifu pressed me so closely about life in an abbey. That was where her lover had been driven by desperation and she wanted to know exactly the kind of life that he had been leading since their enforced separation.”
Ralph looked at him. “Do you still want to be a monk?”
“No, Ralph.”
“Do you not pine for the celibate life?” he teased.
“No, Ralph.”
“Would you not like to be another Abbot Serlo? There is a golden halo waiting for such a man.” Ralph grinned and nudged him. “Be honest with me, Gervase. Do you not harbour a secret desire to emulate him? Would you not love to be revered by all as a saint?”
“Indeed, I would,” confessed Gervase.
Then he remembered that Alys awaited him in Winchester.
“But not yet….”