The Miracle at St. Bruno's

'The King is not dead and we should not be talking of his death. Would that not be construed as treason?”

'We wish him no ill. We wish him long life. But if we must talk dangerously then so we must, for you could well be in danger. Lord Northumberland has just married his son to the Lady Jane Grey. For what purpose think you? Edward supports the Reformed faith; so doth Lady Jane. If Lady Jane became Queen with Lord Guildford Dudley as her consort the Reformed religion would prevail and those who were suspected of Papistry and living the monastic life would be regarded as enemies of the state.”

"Rupert, it is good of you so to concern yourself for us.”

"No, not good, for there is nothing I can do to stop myself.”

"But how could this be? Who would accept the Lady Jane as Queen? Who now believes that the late King's marriage to Katharine of Aragon was no marriage? We know full well that it was declared so that he might marry Anne Boleyn and for this he had to break with the Church, which is where all our troubles started.”

"Forget not Guildford Dudley's powerful father. Northumberland could bring force of arms to support the claims of his daughter-in-law.”

"But he could not succeed, for surely Mary has the true claim.”

"How much will true claims count against a force of arms? Who do you think is the most powerful man in our country today? It is not the King. He is but a child in the hands of Northumberland, and if Northumberland succeeds in putting Jane Grey on the throne the danger you are now in would not be diminished, I do assure you.

But / think of now. There are enemies of St. Bruno's Abbey very close to you, Damask.”

"I believe you are thinking of my mother's husband.”

"He is an ambitious man. From humble beginnings he has become the owner of your father's house. He has done you a great wrong and people who do wrong very often bear great resentment against those whom they wrong.”

"You think that he would wish to take revenge on me for the wrong he did me? You believe then, Rupert, that he was in truth the man who betrayed my father?”

"I think it likely. He profited much. He could only have been in his present position through marriage with you and you made it clear, did you not, that that was out of the question?”

"You know so much, Rupert.”

"I have concerned myself closely with all that touches you.”

"What should I do now?”

"Warn your husband. Beg him to stop these men who were once monks and lay brothers assembling together. It would be better if he sent them away.”

"To where could he send them?”

"He could separate them. Perhaps I would take one or two. Kate could have more at Remus... anything rather than that it should be seen that a community of men who were once monks still live at St. Bruno's Abbey.”

"I will speak to him on his return, Rupert.”

He was very anxious but that satisfied him a little.

I sent for the girls and I was so proud of them. Honey was now thirteen years old and a real beauty; she had outgrown that acute jealousy of Catherine; and Catherine was of course my precious darling, my own child, and I loved her as I had not loved any since my father. My feelings for Bruno I set apart-I knew it now for a bemused fascination. It could have grown into overwhelming love, perhaps greater than anything, but I had for some time now realized that was not to be so.

Rupert was a favorite of the girls. They liked to visit his farm; it was he who had taught them to ride and they felt they had more freedom on his farm than they had at the Abbey. Bruno's indifference to Catherine and his resentment of Honey was noticed by the girls. They accepted it as children do and did not seek to change it. But I often thought that to Rupert they gave some of the love that might have been their father's. He was something between a highly favored uncle and father.

They chattered away, asking about the animals on his farm, some of which had been given names by them.

They embraced him warmly when he went and his eyes warned me: Do not forget our conversation.

The danger is here. It could flare up at any moment.

Bruno returned in good spirits. He was always in an exultant mood after his visits to the Continent.

'Did you do good business?" I asked him. He assured me that he had.

'What did you bring home this time? Anything new? My mother always wants to know what new flowers and vegetables have been produced in other countries.”

He said he had brought a fine tapestry which would hang in the hall.

When we were alone in our bedchamber that night I told him of Rupert's visit and the warning he had given me.

"Rupert!" cried Bruno scathingly. "What is he hinting at?”

"He is truly concerned. We are in danger. I sense it.”