[Roger the Chapman 03] - The Hanged Man Read Online Free Page B

bid for freedom, I said, 'It isn't fit that two women should be sharing their cottage with a strange man, a single room housing the three of us. You'll find yourselves the subject of gossip, and I should be loath to have that laid at my door.'
    Margaret paused in her vegetable chopping and glanced up with a derisive smile. 'Lad, I'm old enough to be your mother and, furthermore, I'm a respectable widow. So why should I not have the benefit of your intention to take permanent lodgings for the winter, rather than some woman in Wells? Surely I'm as deserving of your money as she is? And, as you know, there is an outside privy, and a curtain which we can pull to divide the room in two when privacy is needed indoors. As soon as you are fit again, you can as easily ply your trade around Bristol as Wells, and more than likely, the pickings will be better.
    However, if you're determined to go, I can't stop you, but only wish you Godspeed.'
    Her arguments were irrefutable, and my heart sank while she made them, for there was no escaping the fact that I owed her and Lillis more than I could adequately repay. At the same time, I felt that quickening of interest which Lillis's words had aroused, and could almost see the end of my nose quivering with anticipation, like a dog scenting a buried bone. My mother always complained of my insatiable curiosity, and my inability to keep that same nose out of other people's business, prophesying that it would do me no good.
    'Very well,' I capitulated, 'I'll stay with you until spring if you'll have me. But you must accept payment for the past fortnight's lodging, and I'll not take no for an answer. I've sufficient money to support myself for several weeks, although some I must necessarily keep back to replenish my pack, which I can do easily enough from the cargo ships which tie up here at Redcliffe Wharf. On that condition, I'll stop.'
    Although neither woman's face displayed the slightest sign of triumph, I could sense the relief in both of them; an easing of the tense lines around the mouth and a lightening of the brow.
    'Tomorrow, I'll borrow a truckle bed from Nick Brimble,' Margaret said, plying her knife again and tossing chopped leek and turnip into the iron pot, where the water was beginning to bubble gently in the fire's heat.
    I nodded, bowing to the inevitable. 'And this story you were going to tell me about your father?' I asked. I saw Margaret's lips tighten and added, 'Lillis is right. If I'm Io live with you, it's as well I should know of any trouble. Others will make it their business to see that I do, even if you keep me in ignorance.'
    'There you are, Mother!' Lillis gave me a blinding smile. 'Roger agrees with me, and it's only fair he should know what happened.'
    Margaret hesitated before nodding a reluctant agreement. 'But we'll eat first. After supper, we can be cosy by the fire and no one likely to disturb us. There's a cutting wind blowing off the river and an icy sleet. Not a night for anyone to be about.' I wondered if she were thinking, as I was, of that mysterious nocturnal visit she had received so recently, but she gave no sign of unease.
    'There, that's the last of the vegetables. The stew shouldn't take long now.'

    The meal had been eaten and cleared away. The shutters were fastened against the unfriendly night, and the three of us drew close to the fire, whose fierce blaze had been banked down with turfs cut from neighbouring fields and sold from door to door by the turfer, who had called that same morning. At the time I had reflected, somewhat sententiously, how much city-dwellers had done for them which country folk had to do for themselves. Mistress Walker had no stock-cupboard worth mentioning, not even for the winter months, but went daily to the market for whatever was needful in the way of food. Her other wants were supplied by pedlars coming to the door; and when I asked what happened when heavy snowfalls or floods kept suppliers from reaching the city, I