Alice stamped her feet, which tingled with the cold. ‘Out of the two of us, you made the wiser decision.’
Elizabeth smile widened. ‘Yes, I did, didn’t I?’
Alice felt a pang in her heart at Elizabeth’s happiness. The role of mayor’s wife was ideal for her sister’s excellent social skills. It was made all the more perfect since she and John adored each other.
But Alice had her own bit of happiness to divulge. ‘Today, William needed no instruction with the abacus.’
Elizabeth clapped her hands. ‘Oh, I’m so happy for you.’
Another pang. This time of annoyance. ‘Not happy for me, forhim.’
Elizabeth’s elated smile dimmed. ‘Yes, for him. It’s—’
‘No more, Elizabeth. This is better for him.’
It was an old argument. William was the only child of Bertrice’s friend, Sarah. When she and her husband had drowned, Bertrice took him in. Bertrice hadn’t always been able to corral William. As he got older, Alice would find him wandering the Great Hall or other official rooms. It hadn’t taken long for Alice to realise how bright and curious he was.
She’d always helped families with food, clothing, tools and sometimes with chickens or goats from her own stocks when her father wasn’t looking. But with William, she had given to in other ways by educating him on matters around the house.
Eventually the little tutorials had turned into lessons. And now, William came to the house twice weekly for his studies.
Alice was certain William would make one of the finest stewards in the country, if only someone would take him on.
‘Is it better for him?’ Elizabeth pursed her lips. ‘You know he has to be noble-born to run a household.’
Alice’s frustration burned, despite her certainty that her sister was wrong. ‘Perhaps I intend to put him in a more...accommodating home.’
‘Maryknewit!’ Elizabeth’s smile was triumphant. ‘She knew that if you couldn’t provide for him in Father’s home she’d end up with William in hers.’
Alice wasn’t surprised her sisters had talked about her. She also wasn’t surprised that they’d guessed her plans. Still, she didn’t know how they were feeling.
‘And did Mary protest?’
Elizabeth sighed. ‘She didn’t...unprotest.’
Alice wanted to smile her own triumphant smile. It wasn’t an agreement, but it was a start. William had many more years before he’d be fully trained. In that time she could wear Mary down.
William would be perfect for Mary’s household, and she didn’t live that far away. Alice would keep him herself, but knew her father would never allow William to run his home. Her father wanted the best of everything. And that included having people in his employ with only the best connections.
Her father would take on the eighty-eighth cousin of the King even if he was a thief and couldn’t count with his fingers.
‘Has Father Bernard told William he intends to crown him Boy Bishop?’ Elizabeth asked.
Alice did smile then. William—quiet and analytical—would be the best Boy Bishop in all of Swaffham, if not in the whole region.
It was a great honour. Every year a boy was chosen to be a pretend Bishop from the sixth of December to the twenty-eighth. Under the guidance of Father Bernard, William would officiate all the Advent services apart from mass.
There was a part of Alice that thought William would make a great steward for the church but, as much as William was worthy, evensheknew the church would never accept someone with no royal blood.
‘Not yet, but I have no doubts Father Bernard will tell him soon. There’s no one more suitable for it.’
‘He does have the most beautiful voice in the choir, which will help him secure the post,’ Elizabeth said.
‘And he has me to make sure it happens,’ Alice said.
Elizabeth made a tsking sound. ‘Thisis why you remain unmarried. All your projects and causes. At least this particular project—making a child, with no connections or blood, steward of a wealthy landholding household—will start and end with William.’
Alice rubbed her hands towards the fire.
