Question (Episode 11 - The Further Chronicles of a Young Lady (and her Maid))

Continued from Episode 10 - Grave

The story so far:  You can find out how our two heroines came to be where they are today by reading The Chronicles of a Lady (and her Maid) either here on ABCTales or in book form (link is external).  In brief, 'Ethel' and Gwladys ran away from a life of servitude at the Inn, run by Aefelthrith's former Lord, along with his partner (and their baby), to take their chances on the road , much against Gwladys's better judgement.  Entering a new town, they had to find a way to fund their life on the road.  A pawn shop run by 'Anty Marj' seemed to be the short-term answer and a lengthy negotiation secured a good deal on Aefelthrith's ring, until Anty Marj suddently vanished before the deal was completed.  Discovering her lifeless body in the Stock Room, Aeflethrith decided this was a sign that they should take over the business.  With Anty Marj safely stowed in an outhouse, Gwladys and Aefelthrith set about running the pawn shop and all seemed to be going reasonably well, until  Anty Marj's body vanished and an officer of the Watch, appeared.  When the Watch produced a confused Anty Marj, wondering why someone else was running her shop, Gwladys managed to convince her that she had sold the shop to them, palming Aefelthrith's ring into her pocket to demonstrate payment.  A suddenly hugely enriched Anty Marj went away a happy woman and the Watch withdrew, satisfied.  Meanwhile, Gwladys engaged a young urchin, 'Arry, to help clear the back garden of weeds, as a means of giving him a bit of income to support his poorly mother and avoid him either going down the pit or up the chimney, much to Aefelthrith's displeasure.  Next morning, 'Arry set about his task bright and early and all was well, until he produced a skull from his digging.  Gwladys swore him to secrecy and quiickly buried the evidence, which gave them a breathing space, but then Sergeant Argent of the Watch appeared in the shop:

Aefelthrith fidgeted about in the kitchen, aware of a steady but indistinct conversation being held on the other side of the dark curtaining which separated the Pawn Shop from the living quarters.  The curtains parted and Gwladys came back into the kitchen, grinning from ear to ear.

“What’s happening?” Aefelthrith asked.

“He erm” Gwladys seemed to be stifling a laugh, “He wants to see you”

“What?  Why?  It’s not…it’s not about that other Watchman, is it?” Aefelthrith took a few steps back, as if preparing to run away.

“Nah, it’s nothin’ like that” Gwladys still seemed to be on the brink of laughter, “go an’ see ‘im, ‘e won’t bite”

Aeflethrith looked dubiously at Gwladys but made her way through the curtains, nevertheless.  There stood Sergeant Argent, a helmet tucked under one arm and the menacing truncheon dangling from his waist.  Toward the back of the shop, lurking in the shadows, was Constable John.

“Ah, splendid to see you again, ma’am” Sergeant Argent made a sort of vague salute and blushed a little.

“How kind of you to visit our little shop again, Sergeant” Aefelthrith bowed slightly, “how can we be of assistance?  I trust there are no further problems relating to Anty Marj?”

“None whatsoever, ma’am” Sergeant Argent shook his head, furiously, “I believe that particular lady has left town to invest her good fortune, elsewhere”

“Capital!” Aefelthrith clapped her hands in delight, “Then, how may we assist you?”

“I erm, I wondered…this is rather difficult” Sergeant Argent blushed furiously and dabbed at his sweating forehead.  He took a deep breath and drew himself up to his full height. “I wondered, ma’am, if you would do me the great honour of agreeing to walk out with me” This last sentence was delivered a full pelt, as if he was afraid of losing his momentum.

Aefelthrith looked at him, aghast.  From the shadows of the shop, in the vicinity of Constable John, she could hear a low key “Hur..hur..hur”

“I erm, I hope as how I’ve not been too forward” The Sergeant looked a picture of misery.

“I…I…don’t know what to say!” Aefelthrith stammered, “If you will excuse me, I must speak with my colleague” Aefelthrith shot back through the curtains where Gwladys was sitting at the table, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.

“Told yer it weren’t nowt ter worry about” Gwaldys managed, at last.

“Nothing to worry about?  He’s asked me to ‘walk out with him’, whatever that may mean?”

“Means ‘e wants ter court yer” Gwladys grinned.

“Court me?  What, you mean…romantically?” Aefelthrith looked shocked.

“’Course ‘romantically’, ‘ow else didjer think ‘e meant?”

“But…but…I cannot do that!”

“Why not?  ‘E’s a good catch, ‘im” Gwladys nodded, approvingly, “’E’d set yer up in this town and no mistake”

“You know very well why I cannot be linked, romantically, to another” Aefelthrith sniffed.

“Why not?”

“Because I am betrothed”

“Oh, do me a favour!” Gwladys shook her head, “Your bloke’s shacked up with another woman, they’re runnin’ a pub AND they’ve got a babby between ‘em”

“Those are just…details” Aefelthrith waved her hand, “the simple fact is that I pledged my troth, and my parents paid a dowry.  I am, therefore, betrothed”

“Give me strength!” Gwladys rubbed her forehead, “Look, when we ran off from the castle, an’ ‘e got ‘is arse kicked in that battle, ‘e made a run for it an’ fetched up with that Dolly, right?”

Aefelthrith nodded, miserably.  “She tended his wounds”

“An’ then, when ‘e were recovered, the two on ‘em went travellin’ up an’ down the coast, rookin’ gullible buggers.  Is that really the sort of bloke you want to marry?”

“He has been led astray” Aeflethrith said, desperately.

“Get away with yer!  ‘E’s a chancer an’ I wouldn’t trust ‘im as far as I could throw ‘im.  Why not give this bloke the time of day?”

“I will not!” Aefelthrith said, stiffly.

“Wouldn’t ‘urt to ‘ave the Watch on our side, just for once”

“You cannot expect me to prostitute myself to the constabulary in this way?”

“Dunner no about no ‘prostituting’” Gwladys folded her arms, “but it don’t ‘urt to be nice to people, sometimes”

“I cannot, I just cannot” Aefelthrith stamped her foot.

“Alright, alright, keep yer ‘air on” Gwladys snapped, “but yer gonna ‘ave ter do summat…tell ‘im something”

“I will tell him that I am betrothed” Aefelthrith said, haughtily.

“Dunner be so daft!  Are yer gonna tell ‘im who yer betrothed to?  ‘Ave the Watch crawlin’ all over ‘im and Dolly’s pub, eh?  Perhaps start askin’ questions about where we’ve all been these past months an’ years?  That what yer want, is it?”

“Well, no, of course not”

“Then yer canner say nowt about yer past, else it all comes out, right?”

“So, what can I do?” Aefelthrith asked, miserably.

“Leave it with me” Gwladys sighed, “I’ll sort it”

Gwladys got up from the table and marched through the curtains and into the shop, with Aefelthrith trailing behind.

“Sergeant” Gwladys nodded to the Watch Officer.

“Ma’am” Sergeant Argent bowed a little.

“My erm…colleague would like to thank you for your kind invitation.” Sergeant Argent looked relieved.  “You will understand, of course, that she needs to take some time to seriously consider your offer.  Therefore, with your permission, she will reflect on your proposition and return to you, in due course, with an answer.  I trust that is acceptable to you, sir?”

“Ah, erm, yes, of course, that is most acceptable” Sergeant Argent, clearly discomfited, replied.

“Thank you, Sergeant.  I will not detain you unduly” Aefelthrith said, coyly.

“’Ow about you and me then, darlin’?” Constable John had scuttled out from the shadows and was now leering up at Gwladys.

“What?”

“Werl, you an’ me, we know ‘ow things work eh?” He nudged Gwladys and gave an exaggerated wink,  “Yer know worrImean, there’s these two a’ dancin’ ‘round each other, when you an’ me, eh, we could be walkin’ out”

“Don’t be disgusting!” Gwladys said, in her most imperious voice.

“What’s disgustin’ about it?” Constable John looked suitably hurt.

“I should think anything involving you would be disgusting!” Gwladys said, with a shudder.

“Bit harsh!” Constable John grumbled.

“Wouldn’t hurt to have the Watch on our side” Aefelthrith whispered, pointedly, and raised an eyebrow.

“There’s the Watch, and then there’s the,,,Watch” Gwladys hissed, looking with revulsion at the leering Constable, “GO AWAY!” She snapped at the Constable.

“Alright, alright, keep yer ‘air on” Constable John limped off, muttering under his breath.

“Might I ask, with your permission, ma’am, when I might anticipate an answer?” Sergeant Argent shuffled his feet and looked deeply embarrassed.

“One week from this day, would that be acceptable, sir?”  Gwladys asked.

“Most acceptable, ma’am.  I shall count the days” Sergeant Argent saluted, turned on his heel and marched out of the shop, “Constable, with me” He snapped.

Constable John tipped his helmet, winked at Gwladys and scuttled after his superior.

Aefelthrith and Gwladys watched them go with bated breath.  Once they were out of the door, Aefelthrith turned to Gwladys and yelled,

“A WEEK?”

You can find the previous adventures of Gwladys and Aefelthrith in both Kindle and paperback formats at The Chronicles of a Young Lady (and her Maid (link is external)

Now read Episode 12