With an effort Evan hauled open the lid of the vast wooden cope chest that stood against one wall of the vestry. ‘If we get in here Jane can use her skirt to sweep away the prints. If she and Lady Margaret are found in the church the men may not come in here at all but if they do they are unlikely to lift this lid. I only did in case it would serve this very purpose. After you, my lord.’

The squire indicated the dark, cobwebbed interior of the chest. Apart from the spiders at least it was empty but its present occupants hardly made it inviting. ‘This had better be necessary, Evan,’ I said, swinging my leg over the side and breaking down the intricate silk network. ‘Get rid of them quickly, Jane, please!’

‘I will do my best,’ she said, remaining commendably calm. ‘But suppose they are thugs or bandits?’

‘If you shout we will come with weapons drawn,’ I assured her. ‘Let us hope you will not have to.’

Evan followed me into the chest and we heard Jane grunt with effort as she lowered the lid, plunging us into darkness.

There were shuffling sounds as Jane dragged her skirts over the footprints on the vestry floor followed by the noise of the door closing behind her as she joined Margaret in the church; then silence – dreadful, chilling silence. In a sliver of light I saw the whites of Evan’s eyes only two feet away, wide with alarm. I could see his hands, white-knuckled and clasped chin-high over his knees. A spider scuttled across them, black, long legged and gone in a flash. To shift my position I put my own hand to the floor and felt something squish under my palm. For several minutes my heart thudded like a drum in my chest, as I tried not to let my thoughts dwell on our claustrophobic confinement by concentrating on who might be approaching and what would happen if we were discovered.

Fortunately Jane soon reported back. ‘A couple of monks from the local priory. Once they discovered we were pilgrims they did not stay long. I believe they are still genuinely frightened of the plague.’

Lady Margaret had followed Jane into the vestry holding her costly skirts high off the floor but dust devils already clung to the gleaming fabric. She watched us clamber out of the chest, frantically brushing cobwebs and creatures off our clothes and hair.

‘I have little time left, my lord,’ she said, backing off in distaste. ‘Shall we discuss our business now? I should like to go outside where the air is sweeter. Jane and your squire can keep a watch.’

33

Jasper

St Aedan’s Church, Bettws Newydd