Sarum - Edward Rutherfurd [281]
It was during their walk that Peter discreetly slipped away to purchase something that caught his eye, while Alicia pretended not to notice.
At last they moved northwards, and up the street past Blue Boar Row.
The bishop had laid out his town in roughly rectangular blocks, or chequers, each of which was divided into standard tenements. The tenements were plots of land three perches – about fifteen yards – fronting the street and seven perches deep for which each tenant paid a shilling a year ground rent and upon which he might build as he pleased. Most built houses with stores or workshops on the street level; a few – the rich – constructed purely private homes. South of the market lay New Street chequer; to the north, Blue Boar chequer and several others, still being laid out on as the town expanded.
Past Blue Boar chequer, on the street that led north towards the old castle, but before the city gate, lay the home of Le Portier the aulnager – a tall three-storey timber and plaster house, with a single steep-gabled roof hung with tiles.
When Peter and Alicia entered, the aulnager was not there, but Alicia’s mother was. As she watched the two go past, Peter noticed that she gave them a curious, thoughtful look. Perhaps, he supposed, she was wondering how long it would be before he was her son-in-law.
It pleased him to see Alicia’s mother. As well as her unusual violet eyes, she was one of those fortunate women whose looks, though not beautiful, were somehow so compact that she did not seem to grow old. It was another of the reasons why he had chosen the girl. I want a woman who’ll last, he had always thought. Her mother had only one fault that marred her appearance: a slight stoop that made an unattractive curve at her shoulders. But her father’s as straight as a rod, he had argued to himself; I think she’ll grow straight.
She had. As he looked at her now, he was sure that his choice of bride was perfect.
They moved into the area behind the house.
Unlike most of the spaces at the back of each tenement, the aulnager’s was not used for workshops or storehouses, but contained instead a little garden with a yew hedge, two honeysuckle and half a dozen small rose trees. In the middle of the little garden was a wooden bench.
Only when she sat down did he produce the present he had bought in the market. It was a tiny silver locket that he had seen on a silversmith’s stall. It hung on a thin silver chain and had been made down at the coast at the mouth of the river, where there were small open silver mines. He produced it with a show of casualness, while she watched him cautiously. They both knew that this was an important moment.
“It’s for you.” He handed it to her, suddenly feeling awkward.
As she took it, her eyes were on the ground.
“And what’s that supposed to mean?” With a great effort she kept her voice cool, unconcerned.
“That you’re to wear it because you belong to me.” He said the words with a little too much bluster.
“Do I?” She was pleased, but she did not want to sound so: she wanted him to say something more.
“Of course you do.”
“Isn’t that a bit of an assumption?”
But young Peter was both awkward and pleased with himself. He only shrugged.
“Perhaps I may not want to belong to you.” There was a quietness in her voice that was a warning, but he chose to ignore it. Indeed, the half flush on her cheek, which told him she was unhappy, gave him a sense of power. Half man, half boy, he wanted her to give way.
“I offered you