With so many pilgrims making the journey to Canterbury, despite the unseasonable weather, the two knights found upon enquiry that all the inns were full. Richard stood holding the reins of both horses as he watched Hugh talking with one of the towns’ tavern keepers. The man shook his head, and Hugh turned away walking back towards Richard.
“Nothing here either. He suggested trying near Westgate. St Thomas the Martyr’s hospital is meant to have a couple of spare beds still.” Richard sighed as he turned the horses.
“Well let’s hope he’s not leading us on a wild goose chase like our last helpful guide. Little bugger.” A child dressed in ragged clothes, so covered in dirt from the street that it was impossible to tell whether it was boy or girl, had clearly been making a living from sending desperate pilgrims in the wrong direction in return for a few coins. Hugh however did not resent the loss of the coins, for he knew what it was like to be cast into the world penniless. The child would at least have a warm bed of his own that night. They continued to walk in silence, both men wrapped in their own thoughts as the last dregs of daylight disappeared.
The hospital became clear to see from a distance, for the building front was made of small grey stones, which was unusual in a street where most of the buildings were simple wooden structures. The building had three windows on the highest floor, each with intricate tracery, and a plain lower window. The open wooden door was surrounded by the additional detail of an arch of white stones. As the knights stopped they saw two women standing in front of the hospital’s entrance.
“How difficult can it possibly be to get these bags inside?” This exasperated question was asked by a woman of striking beauty. She stood with a hand on her hip whilst the other was flourished in the air emphasising the tone of impatience in her voice and the elegance of her poise. She had a slender figure, emphasised by the richly embroidered belt that encircled her waist, and her auburn hair was elaborately arranged to expose the long line of her pale neck. Her stance and the cut of her gown were obviously meant to elicit the admiration of men. Aware of the attention of the two knights, she tilted her head as if in consideration. Clearly their mud stained clothing and travel weary expressions did not win her approval, for her green gaze became once again fixed on the second woman. “Oh never mind. I’ll just have to do it myself. Give me that.” She said as she snatched one of the bags and went inside the hospital. Richard watched her disappearing figure in admiration, but Hugh’s attention was focused upon the woman left struggling under the weight of what remained. “Here, wait. Let me help you with that.” He said quickly dropping the reins of his horse and grabbing some of the bags before they slipped out of her grip.
“Oh thank you.” She said laughingly as she tilted her head up to meet his gaze. “I’m not sure that Adele taking only one bag counts as ‘help’, but it’s as much as she done during the entirety of the journey here I suppose.”
“Where have you travelled from?”
“As a group we’ve travelled from London together. But before that we all travelled from different places. My father and I came from Wales. I’m Heloise by the way.” She smiled up at him, her grey eyes wide and disarming. Her beauty was quiet in comparison to the carefully studied elegance of Adele. She was a petite woman who did not even reach the height of his shoulder, and her features were delicate and elfin. Her hair was the colour of polished oak, and that which had not been confined to two thick braids framed her face in thick curls. Hugh greeted her in Welsh and she laughed in surprised delight. He found himself smiling with her, before remembering a sodden Richard standing bad temperedly in the street.
“We were told that there might be room for another two pilgrims here at the hospital. Do you know if that is still the case?”
“You’re in luck. There are just two free beds left in the undercroft, as we were rather a large group. It made it safer for travelling on the roads around London. It’s different to Wales.” She added with a note of wistfulness. “Ah Brother Robert, you’re back. Wonderful. Would you be so good as to take the horses? They will need stabling, as these two knights will be staying here.” Heloise’s voice was firm, and the burly lay brother quietly assented to her gentle authority. Hugh and Richard shouldered their saddlebags and followed Heloise as she entered the hospital. “Come.” She beckoned with her infectious smile and a tilt of her head, “We can go tell Brother Benedict that you’re staying. And then I’ll introduce you to the rest of the group before supper.”
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