“I had to set out late, madam, when the castle was abed, and I came without stopping, except to breathe my horse.”

“You’ve eaten, I believe?”

“Yes.”

“Then after you’ve rested, come back to me for the letters, and tell the stable-man to saddle one of our horses for you. And Adam –”

“Yes, my lady?”

“Tell them at home not to worry too much, but just to put up with a difficult visit as best they can. And tell them that my father is recovered now, and resting, and should soon be well. Whatever it was in your news that distressed him, it will be put right the moment we get home. In fact, it’s been put right already.”

For the next three days Alice was constantly with her father. She sent to tell Alexander what had happened, and that his meeting with the duke must wait till the latter was fully recovered. The message came back that the prince had no plan to leave the monastery until such time as he might meet and talk with the duke, and meantime if there was any service, anything at all he could do, he was her most devoted servant.

The messenger – it was Berin, the duke’s page – was sent running back with Alice’s thanks, no more, but with a postscript added by Berin (now deeply interested) that he was sure his mistress meant to attend some of the chapel services, to add her prayers for her father’s recovery to the fervent representations made by the monks and nuns.

So Alexander went devotedly, morning and evening, to chapel, and spent his days riding out to exercise his horse, and on the third evening was rewarded by the sight of the Lady Alice at vespers, and a smile and brief word as she hurried back afterwards to the sickroom. She looked tired, he thought, and a little pale, but her lovely serenity was unchanged. Her father was better, she told him, gaining strength almost hourly; he was fast recovering the use of his limbs, and his speech, though still slow, was clear. If Prince Alexander still wished to have speech with him –?

He did.

Well, then, very soon, she thought. In two or three days’ time. Would he still be here?

He would.

Alexander went cheerfully back to the stableyard, where he spent most of his time these days in the excellent company of his horse and the lay-brother who worked as groom. It was only when the latter, hissing over the work-mules, asked him if he had been into the chapel sanctuary where Chlodovald’s grail was now splendidly housed in its own carved and canopied apse, that he realised he had forgotten completely about that grail, and indeed about any other.

Except what had become his own heart’s dear desire.

33

Two days later one of Ansirus’ servants came to find Alexander as he sat at breakfast, to tell him of the duke’s wish to see him, and to escort him to his master’s bedside.