Brother Cadfael 13: The Rose Rent

here, it will be known all too well what the change means, and Brother Eluric's trouble will become matter for gossip and scandal. Oh, be sure I know that no rule of silence keeps news from spreading like bindweed. No, this must be seen as a change of policy for good and canonical reasons. Which is why I asked for the charter. Its purport I know, but its exact wording I cannot recall. Let us see what the possibilities are. Will you read it aloud, Anselm?"
    Anselm unrolled his leaf and read, in the mellifluous voice that rejoiced in swaying hearers in the liturgy:
    "Be it known to all, present and future, that I, Judith, daughter of Richard Vestier and widow of Edred Perle, being in full health of mind, give and bestow, and by this present charter confirm to God and to the altar of Saint Mary in the church of the monks of Shrewsbury, my house in the Monks' Foregate, between the abbey forge and the messuage of Thomas the farrier, together with the garden and field pertaining to it, for an annual rent, during my lifetime, of one rose from the white rose-bush growing beside the north wall, to be delivered to me, Judith, upon the day of the translation of Saint Winifred. By these witnesses recorded: as to the abbey, Brother Anselm, precentor, Brother Cadfael; as to the town, John Ruddock, Nicholas of Meole, Henry Wyle."
    "Good!" said the abbot with a deep, satisfied breath, as Anselm lowered the leaf into the lap of his habit. "So there is no mention of who is to deliver the rent, merely that it must be paid on the fixed day, and into the donor's own hand. So we may excuse Brother Eluric without infringing the terms, and as freely appoint another to bear the rose. There is no restriction, any man appointed may act for the abbey in this matter."
    "That's certain," agreed Anselm heartily. "But if you purpose to exclude all the young, Father, for fear of bringing them into temptation, and all of us elders for fear of exposing Brother Eluric to suspicion of, at least, weakness, and at worst, misconduct, are we to look to a lay servant? One of the stewards, perhaps?"
    "It would be perfectly permissible," said Radulfus practically, "but perhaps might lose something of relevance. I would not wish to diminish the gratitude we feel, and should feel, for the lady's generous gift, nor the respect with which we regard the gesture of her choice of rent. It means much to her, it should and must be dealt with by us with equal gravity. I would welcome your thoughts on the matter."
    "The rose," said Cadfael, slowly and consideringly, "comes from the garden and the particular bush which the widow cherished during the years of her marriage, and tended along with her husband. The house has a tenant now, a decent widower and a good craftsman, who has cared for the bush, pruned and fed it ever since he took up household there. Why should not he be asked to deliver the rose? Not roundabout, through a third and by order, but direct from bush to lady? This house is his landlord, as it is her beneficiary, and its blessing goes with the rose without further word said."
    He was not sure himself what had moved him to make the suggestion. It may have been that the evening's wine, rewarmed in him now by the abbot's wine, rekindled with it the memory of the close and happy family he had left up in the town, where the marital warmth as sacred in its way as any monastic vows gave witness to heaven of a beneficent purpose for mankind. Whatever it was that had moved him to speak, surely they were here dealing with a confrontation of special significance between man and woman, as Eluric had all too clearly shown, and the champion sent into the lists might as well be a mature man who already knew about women, and about love, marriage and loss.
    "It's a good thought," said Anselm, having considered it dispassionately. "If it's to be a layman, who better than the tenant? He also benefits from the gift, the premises suit him very well, his former quarters were too distant from the town and too cramped."
    "And you think he would be willing?" asked the abbot.
    "We can but ask. He's already done work for the lady," said Cadfael, "they're acquainted. And the better his contacts with the townsfolk, the better for trade. I think he'd have no objection."
    "Then tomorrow," decided the abbot with satisfaction, "I will send Vitalis to put the matter to him. And our problem, small though it is, will be happily solved."
    Chapter Three
    Brother Vitalis had lived so long with