PERNEL
I saw him for the first time at the gate of the abbey. Forewarned by Brother Cadfael, he waited for Lady Donata, full of careful concern like everyone who met her. And like everyone - almost everyone! - he underestimated her firmness and strength. He will appreciate it, he will have to - I was calm about that. Now that I had led Lady Donata to her destination, I could just take a look at him. Gunnilda described it to me in full detail; I knew that he was short, with dark hair, a handsome, dark face and fine hands. The biggest surprise to Gunnilda was his age, she said he was ridiculously young for a county sheriff. I hardly noticed it, he was much older than me, maybe even close to thirty. I knew he was married - Lady Aline Beringar was considered one of the most beautiful women in the county, or so Gunnilda had said. For a moment it was hard for me to imagine that such a beauty could have such an inconspicuous husband (our family laughed that the masculine starts at five feet seven inches), but I changed my mind when he smiled. This small, slender man had a lovely smile, innocent and mischievous at the same time, much younger than himself. I already knew what he had won Aline's heart with, and I could guess what made him like Brother Cadfael, who, I noticed, could not talk about him without a particular warmth in his voice. Lady Donata, I knew that from Sulien, was very fond of him too. She had known him since she was a child, but treated him with a certain familiar respect, which was not at all due to his function, but rather because, in her opinion, he really deserved such respect. From her skimpy statements, I concluded that she considered him noble and righteous, but I wondered myself how these qualities could be reconciled with serving a king in such an ungrateful position as the sheriff. Looking at his smiling mouth and fierce black eyebrows, it was easy to imagine that, despite all his chivalry, he could be tough and ruthless - and only then did I really start to fear for Sulien. If my beloved broke the law even one iota, his situation was unenviable.
My thoughts must have been visible on my face, because the sheriff looked at me - and I felt a stupid blush pouring over me. He saw it and, not wanting to disturb me, looked away. He gave his arm to Lady Donata and, together with the abbot, led her like a queen into the room. I stayed in the waiting room. As agreed yesterday at Longner, this conversation was not meant for me. Lady Donata stopped in the doorway.
"Pernel Otmere has been kind enough to bear me company all this way" she said, introducing me in this way to everyone except Brother Cadfael, who already knew me, "and I am grateful to her for more than that, but she need not be put to the weariness of listening to the long conference I fear I may be forcing upon you, my lords."
The abbot and the sheriff nodded silently to show that they were ready to listen to her for any length of time, but Lady Donata was not in the habit of getting things done halfway.
"If I may ask, first… where is my son now?" A quick knowing look told me he remembered our contract and would do anything to get me to see Sulien.
"He is in the castle." Beringar did not seem confused for a second. Indeed, where else would a murder suspect be?
"Locked up? Or on his parole?" Lady Donata's pale lips twitched in a half smile.
"He has the freedom of the wards" - God, this man was exactly as I imagined, if he met someone other than Lady Donata, this is where he would be - he would have to be! - end of discussion. But Lady of Longner had other plans, and they all had to submit to them, even though they were only now beginning to realize it.
"Then, Hugh, if you would be kind enough to provide Pernel with some token that would let her in to him, I think they might spend the time more pleasantly together than apart, while we confer?," she said. She wasn't looking at me, but she must have perfectly imagined my surprise and admiration. "Without prejudice, to any proceedings you may have in mind later." - the latter she could skip, Beringar understood her perfectly, and I could have sworn he wanted to whistle with admiration. Oh, it seems to me that if for some reason he himself did not want me to see Sulien, it would be end of discussion ...
"I will give her my glove," he said, and looked at me. This time, however, I knew so much about him that I withstood that look without blushing. – "No one will question it, no need for more."
He came over and ... oh God, he took my hand, like a little girl who needs to be escorted to a nanny. At first, I wanted to tear my hand away, but I didn't want to step out of my role as a quiet, serious, and terribly sensible person. And thanks to him, I was supposed to see Sulien, and it was worth the less sacrifice. Fortunately, as soon as we left the waiting room, Beringar let go of my hand and stopped.
"Now listen to me, little lady," he began, and my legs gave way under me, but he smiled and I hoped again that perhaps I would see Sulien other than on the scaffold. – "You are wonderful. You have accomplished something that all of us, full of compassion, could not afford."
"Lady Donata didn't need compassion, only the truth," I said, and just now blushed, it sounded so resonant. Beringar, however, looked at me almost fondly. – "And I wanted to save Sulien."
"Sulien doesn't need help." He took my hand again, this time I didn't feel like protesting, and we headed towards the gate. "He told us a whole lot of lies yesterday, but it was clear from them that he didn't kill Generys. Anyway, let him explain it to you himself." He laughed and squeezed my hand lightly.
"What for?" - I asked accurately. "I know he didn't kill this poor woman. And let him explain the lies himself, and not to me at all. He wouldn't lie to me."
"As if I had heard my wife," he laughed again, and I blushed, this time with joy because I knew he had given me the most beautiful compliment he knew. "Tell Sulien I congratulate him."
We came to the stables. Beringar released my hand and looked around.
"Jehan!"
A giant in a green jacket grew out of the ground in front of us, and I was surprised to notice that despite his young age he was completely bald. He bowed and stared at the sheriff with such tension as if he awaited an order to attack enemy positions.
"Bring Miss Otmere's pony out, take the horse yourself, and escort her to the castle" Beringar ordered.
" I can myself, '' I objected, but he didn't listen to me and continued:
"You'll take Miss to Sergeant Warden's and come back, I'll need a messenger."
"Yes, Your Grace." Jehan bowed again and walked over to the stables. Beringar reached under his belt and pulled out elegant, if slightly shabby suede gloves. He handed one to me, I noticed it was the left hand, and I wondered for a moment if it mattered.
"Tell Sergeant Warden to free Sulien and go for a walk," he said. "Just don't leave the castle, because when we finish talking, we'll need you. I will give Lady Donata an escort to Longner, and you will also be escorted home."
"It will depend on Lady Donata," I said. - But yes, I also think I can go back now.
"Lady Donata and Sulien will have a lot to say to each other," Beringar kissed me on the hand for goodbye. "Ride with God, girl."
Jehan led the saddled Bluebottle and tried to hold the stirrup for me to get in, but Beringar pushed him aside and with one movement, as if I were weighing nothing, put me on the saddle. And by the way I'm not some lumpy lump, almost a hundred pounds... I took the reins, still holding his gauntlet in my right hand. He wanted to wave goodbye to me, but his hand froze halfway when he saw me hug his glove to my cheek. It smelled like horse sweat and tanned skin, and there was something elusive as well, like the bitter smell of some herbs. Tansy or sage? .. I lowered my hand slowly, not taking my eyes from the sheriff's suddenly reddened face. Then I thought to myself that I was about to see Sulien, and that I was so happy about it that my eyes were full of tears and that they were about to drip onto the pony neck and mane. I turned my face and drove slowly toward the gate. Jehan followed me.