Chapter Eight
After a deep but short sleep, I got up and left Tim’s room before his parents rose.
I decided to walk to Father Ten’s church house a hundred yards
deep in the forest. His diocese was in the county of Sumerise, his
local church, was in the centre of the Clubton village, but he was a
prudent man and only escaped the carnage of the Black Prince by being
so secluded. There was some time before he left at seven, for the
Diamond gardens.
You approached his house through a winding path in the forest. It was
that ethereal time of the morning when touched by the first light, the
startled drowsy birds began to twitter. I saw an owl, unheard, fly over
my head to its day’s sleep in the night barn, as nature’s
habitat began to rise with the probing light.
As I walked briskly around the last corner, ahead, at the apex of the
path, was the Bishop’s dwelling. Two rooms on the top floor, were
lit yellow, and flickered like the devils eyes, from the draughts of
the fifteenth century building. It seemed to sit like a demon’s
skull in the mist and obscurity of the forest dawn, seemingly more of
the underworld than the empyreal.
Father Ten opened the door, a look of surprise added to the creases on
his face. ‘Jeffery! What in Hell… in Heaven are you doing
here?’ He asked, sheltering his panting candle with his huge
hands.
‘Sorry Father, I needed to tell you about my mother, and my
experiences at work yesterday.’ He nodded and as he waved me in,
his candle blew out.
‘I know about your mother, poor soul. I will try and visit her tomorrow.’
When inside, and sitting by his breakfast fire, I told him everything.
He listened patiently, a look of disquiet on his face. Without a word
he eventually got up and prepared food for us both.
The only time I ever felt completely relaxed was with Father Ten. He
was such an accomplished and self-assured man. Once a Baron, in the
great Holy Suit wars, he committed himself with aptitude. When it was
over and the Spade and Gold Suit had won, he fought on with the square
table knights until he was eventually captured by the then good
righteous Ace Spade Pope, a fair and merciful man who, instead of
execution, banished him to a monastery for twenty years. Father Ten
escaped back to Clubland but remained a priest, and in only two years
was promoted to bishop by the instructions of our Club Queen, Lucia
with no opposition from the timorous King. It helps to have friends in
high places. Not only did the Queen approve, but he was appointed by
the Archbishop Melbourne, an old fourth at whist.
In the comfort and security of his pantry, I ate like a gluton.
‘So,’ he said, watching with pious disapproval, as I
slurped over the meal. ‘The Black Prince didn’t kill you.
You’re very lucky.’ ‘Um,’ was all I could
answer with a stuffed mouth. ‘Still,’ he said reflectively.
‘That must have been due to the good Queen Pauline of Diamonds.
I’ve heard through the ecclesiastic grapevine that the fabricated
affair with Prince Victor was only put around Gossip’s Corner to
make the King jealous so that he would give up his mistress.’
‘Yes.’ I swallowed. I believe the Queen is quite
ingenious and it was just a ploy.’ ‘What I am worried
about,’ he said after a long pause, ‘is that the Queen
expelled him. That will mean trouble, and soon. Especially as they
believe that you overheard too much on your knees.’ In a sudden
change of mood he rested a hand on my head. ‘Jeffery, for the
love of God do not pursue that shallow Princess. You are still the
absolute bottom of all suits. This is a dangerous game.’
I began to protest. ‘But the way she looked at me, Father! I
would swear there was something in her eyes!’ He sighed heavily
and shook his head.
‘Jeffery, I beg you to listen. When I was very young, I
thought that so many times. You can never be sure of a woman’s
feelings by the way she looks at you. It has to come with much time and
commitment, and even then…’
‘No!’ I snapped pulling away. ‘Why was I chosen
then for this mission if I am so humble and of low rank?’ I had
meant to pursue the argument of Topaz but I just blurted it out. He
didn’t hesitate with his answer.
‘Because your low rank gives you a curious anonymity. You
are cultured and mannered, yet only a minor suit Two Club. No one will
want to be acquainted with you. But you can acquit yourself well, and
understand what is going on, even if someone talks in Latin or Gold.
Well, that was the theory. But in practice, you got involved in a sword
fight in the Palace courtyard, you knocked over Princess Topaz, and got
into a fight with Prince Victor and Sir Beal. This was not on the
agenda. I cannot fail to notice that you took no notice of my advice
for restraint. Especially with Princess Topaz!’ He stressed the
derogatory inflection of her name, as if it was as impossible as a
voyage to the moon.
‘I love her! She loves me! I just know it!’ He
looked at me with demonstrative pity. ‘Don’t look at me
like that!’ I yelled. He raised the palms of his hands.
‘All right, Jeffery, calm down. You are clearly afflicted beyond
reason or rescue. You will have to learn by your own mistakes. Why do
we live beyond forty? We can teach the young nothing. But I beg you, do
not take any reckless chances. You are a good kind boy… man now.
Your death would be a tragedy, for me and your friends, and your
mother. She has almost drowned in it.’ He stood and placed his
hands on my shoulders. ‘For all of us will you promise not to be
so rash and impetuous?’ I looked up and smiled.
‘Yes, I’m sorry Father.’ He shook me.
‘Good, then take that fat horse and take your path to a bright
future. For I feel, by God’s grace, that there is an important
future for you. If you listen to your head and not your cockerel.’