Chapter 9
In which Anna goes about her duties
[Braunschweig Manor, June 19th, 1095]
It was early in the morning on a fine summer day when the count's brother Otto and his Iberian sister-in-law, Petronilla de Leon, entered the manor's great hall together. As it was about time for the singing of Prime, the only other person in the hall was Anna, one of the serving maids, who was cleaning out the fireplace. They paid her no attention.
"Have you had time to consider my suggestion, Sir Otto?"
"To some extent, yes. And I really must commend you, milady, on the extent of your Christian charity. That you even now find the time to think about the plight…"
"Save your breath," Petronilla cut him off. "What is your answer?"
Otto smiled slightly. "I must admit that at first, I had some doubts about your intentions, as well as your ability to carry out your claims. However…"
"However…?"
"However, assuming this thing is meant to lead to where I believe we both agree it should lead – then, yes. I am interested."
Petronilla's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Interested?"
"Well, yes. I can see definite benefits in what you suggest. Assuming you really can carry this through, I would definitely support you."
"That is not good enough. Are you ready to take oaths with me regarding this matter?"
Otto hesitated for a moment, turning to look out an arrow slit. "You ask a lot, Lady Petronilla."
"There is always Eberhardt."
Otto spun around in surprise. "Eberhardt!? But he's… you…"
"Yes, I know," Petronilla smiled wickedly. "But I'm sure it would be possible to work something out."
"Are you threatening me?"
"Merely reminding you that you are not as essential as you seem to think."
Otto turned away from her again. "I… will need to think a little more about this."
Anna had finished with the fireplace. She collected the ashes and debris and walked towards the stairs. As she left the hall, she heard Lady Petronilla say: "Think quickly, then! We do not have long. We know that he is on his way back. You must…"
The courtyard was the usual busy and noisy collection of knights, soldiers and servants, going about their daily business in the manor. Anna dumped the sack of ashes on the dunghill, then started going back to the kitchen. On the way back, she noticed Spymaster Wulfthryth and Chancellor Estrid standing in a corner of the courtyard, speaking quietly together. She picked up a few scattered phrases as she passed by them.
"…know I can't get involved in…"
"…is important, Wulfthryth!"
"No doubt, to you. But what will…"
"So you won't…"
"…intend to wait and… the count… the matter."
Back in the kitchen, Anna was put to work on cleaning the fish for lunch. While working and chatting with the other servants, at one time she noticed Lady Petronilla and Marshal Wenzel passing by in the corridor outside the kitchen. Although with all the noise around her, she couldn't hear what they said, but it appeared like they were arguing about something. They quickly disappeared out of view.
In the afternoon, after lunch had been served, Anna went down to the manor's small garden to tend to the roses. The countess was very fond of roses and she had had some imported specially from her childhood home in Italia. It had turned out that Anna had some talent at keeping them alive even in the harsher Frisian climate, so she had been given the duty of looking after them from time to time. The diocese bishop, Adolf van Arkel was relaxing on a bench in the shade in the middle of the garden.
A short while later, the countess herself appeared up on the curtain wall and went down the stairs to the garden. She nodded absent-mindedly to the servant girl as she passed, then walked straight over to the bishop.
"Lord Bishop! I am pleased to find you here. Would you not walk with me for a moment?"
The bishop quickly rose. "As you wish, Lady Giovanna. Is there something I can do for you?"
"Merely a little something I was wondering about," the countess replied with a smile. They walked around in the far end of the garden for a while, but then approached the place where Anna was working.
"That is a very interesting question, Lady Countess," she heard the bishop say, "and also a quite complex one. I am afraid that I can't provide you with an answer right away – but might I ask you what made you think about this?"
"Yes, you see," the countess answered with a little laugh. "I was reading this most excellent collection of sermons by the Holy Anthony, and he did mention somewhere – unfortunately, I can't find it again – silly me – but he mentioned that…"
They walked away again. Anna cut her finger on a thorn. A few minutes later, they had completed another round and came back towards her.
"…although I have never actually heard of this idea before," the bishop finished a sentence.
"Oh. Is that so?" the countess asked with a pout. "What a shame."
"However," the bishop continued, "if you really did read this in the works of the Holy Anthony, then it is certainly very likely to be true. He is one of the great authorities on the subject, after all."
The countess clapped her hands together. "I am so happy that you think so, lord Bishop, because this really made me thinking: What would happen if…"
This time, they only made it halfway around the garden. The bishop suddenly stopped in surprise, and it seemed like he intently asked the countess several questions. Then he excused himself and hurriedly left the garden. The countess looked after him with a smile for a few moments, then went back inside.
In the evening, Anna got ready to do her last task of the day – putting fresh beddings and linens in the manors beds. On one of the upper floors, she passed by Lady Petronilla engaged in quietly but intently explaining something to her husband. It seemed like she had to repeat herself a few times. His brother Otto was standing off to the side, waiting impatiently.
Anna quickened her steps. There were ugly stories going around about Otto's cruelty against the servants, and she didn't much like the idea of being caught alone with him. She entered a bedroom and went about her work.
"I was told that you wished to see me." The words surprised her. She hadn't noticed the figure standing in the shadows in the back of the room. She quickly composed herself. "Yes – yes, that's right. Things are beginning to happen now, as you said."
The man stepped out from the shadows, revealing himself as Father Wilhelm, the prior of the nearby St. Boniface's Monastery. "What have you discovered, child?" he asked quietly.
"It is as you thought, Father," she replied. "Lady Petronilla is trying to get Otto's support, and seems to be succeeding. She has approached the marshal as well, but I don't think he was as agreeable. Lady Wulfthryth is still unwilling to throw in with the countess, but her working up on the bishop seems to have been successful. I think now would be a good time for you to contact him, Father."
The faint sound of singing drifted up from the manor chapel. "I am expected at Vespers," the prior said slowly, considering what she had told him. "You have done well. Keep vigilant, child, for we may have to make our move soon. God bless you." He threw her a small pouch and made the sign of the cross on his way out.
Anna opened the pouch and eagerly counted the money inside. If only all of her duties were this profitable…