Page 30 of The Trials of Neilina MacKai
“Ye say ’tis only yer servant as will use the room after tonight?”
“Indeed.I will be visiting the Reverend Mother.Her invitation clearly stated that I should bring no servants.”
“Aye, them nuns, they do most everything for themselves.Hasn’t brought much custom to our village.”He frowned.“’Ceptin’ for transporting folks.The fishermen make extra coin by taking folk over to the island.”
“Since fishing is a chancy business, the extra money must be welcome,” Seona commented.
“Aye, and too, some of that coin makes its way to my tavern.”Clyne grinned.
“You’ve named your price,” Seona brought the conversation back to the matter at hand.“I will pay you for tonight and tomorrow.After that, my servant will pay you in the morning for the next night’s stay.”
“That’s agreeable.I’ll show you to the room.”
They followed him up a narrow staircase.A door at the top opened into a single room.It was more of an attic than a chamber, given the ceiling of bare planks was pitched like the roof she’d seen from outside.
He held the door open to usher them inside and pointed toward the wooden bed.“There’s a trundle under the bedstead over there.”
“That is much appreciated.When is dinner served?”
“I’ll send me wife to fetch you when it’s ready.”
“Thank you.”
“Good night to you then.”
“And to you, sir,” Seona called as he shut the door.She heard him clump down the stairs.
“Come sit with me on the bed, Mistress Auchmuty.We should review our plans for tomorrow, and I’d rather not risk being overheard.”
“Those stairs are so rickety; we’ll know of anyone coming before they can get close enough to listen.”
“True, however, better safe than sorry.”
“Aye.”
“We’ll need to wake early.I did not see a church or hear a watchman.I doubt we’ll be able to hear the hours being rung from the abbey.I’ll need your help to rise early enough to meet the boatman who will take me there.”
“Don’t you worry about that, my lady.I always wake afore sunrise.You’ll not miss your boat.”
“Good.The only part of the plan that is uncertain is whether or not my boatman will carry messages for me to you and be quiet about it.”
“I know you plan to offer him enough coin to make even the poorest man happy.”
“When he’s finished working for me, he’ll be able to purchase a new boat, but only if he keeps our secrets.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
“Then you must stay in good graces with our host.Rhuad’s squire said he’s a canny man who knows everything that goes on in the village and a lot that happens in the abbey.If our boatman fails us, or some other unexpected problem arises, Mr.Clyne will know.”
“The squire will be here in three days, and the earl and his men the day after.We should be able to manage until then,” Mistress Auchmuty said.
“I pray that everything goes smoothly, but I want to be prepared for the worst to happen.”
“The worst would be if you were killed before you could get a message out,” the cook stated.“With no one to aid you at the abbey, I don’t think we can prevent any harm that might come to you.”
“Indeed, the best we can do is give the Reverend Mother good reason to keep me alive.”
***
