Falls Ende

Chapter 8

PART TWO

Mellester Manor, ten years later.

Oswald, the parish priest, continued to rant, extolling the virtues of the church in a litany of well-rehearsed utterances. As he did every Sunday morning, he stood before his congregation wearing a soiled and stained dalmatic tunic over his alb. He flapped his arms and decried unchristian-like behaviour and promised eternal damnation if tithes were not met and increased offerings weren't received.

"The church requires a new roof!" he exclaimed, raising both hands towards the heavens and a porous roof before looking up.

Only a few parishioners followed his example and lifted their faces towards the roof. Most believed the roof to be somewhat adequate and leaked only a little; some had their eyes closed, others snored. Odo looked at the back of Charlotte's head and had impure thoughts.

"God's house must be kept dry," intoned Oswald, suggesting parishioners could afford to bequeath a penny or two more to help pay for the roof. Sadly, the village had little to spare.

Odo couldn't wait for the service to end, and, independent of Priest Oswald's encouragement, silently mouthed his own prayer. Today was an important day.

Priest Oswald reluctantly concluded the service, and his congregation, the good folk of Mellester, exited the church as quickly as possible. Odo stood at a little distance from the church and waited for Charlotte to emerge with her family.

Finally, he saw her tugging on the arm of her father. Her mother, carrying the baby, followed closely behind, and Odilia, her younger sister, brought up the rear.

"Hail, Herdsman Odo! Seems this Sunday morning has Charlotte in a tither," Gerald's eyes twinkled.

"Father!" admonished Charlotte. She gave Odo a smile and turned away, in case her flushed cheeks provided fuel for a discussion she wanted no part of.

"Cheeseman Gerald, fare ye well?" Odo replied somewhat anxiously.

"I do, lad, that I do."

Charlotte gave her father a nudge.

"Oh, uh, yea. Perhaps ye would care to join me for a cup of mead?"

Odo grinned, feeling some relief. "Thank ye, Gerald."

Rain began to fall, and neither Gerald nor Odo spared any thought to the church roof Oswald prattled about. They sat at a table inside Gerald's home, and each had a tankard of mead in front of him.

The home of Gerald and Agnes fronted the main village square, where they sold cheese that Gerald made in the building attached to the rear of their house. Charlotte insisted to her mother that they allow her father and Odo to talk privately, but the maiden loitered near the curtain separating both rooms, and hidden from view, overheard every word as the two men spoke.

With every passing moment, she was becoming more frustrated. Odo wasn't sticking to the plan, and instead was talking about his cows and a bull he wanted. She resisted the urge to intrude and give Odo a subtle reminder. However, her patience was finally rewarded when Odo cleared his throat.

"Uh, Cheeseman Gerald, I have something I wish to discuss."

Gerald looked up, feigning surprise. "Then speak, lad."

Charlotte insisted to Odo that he recite, word for word, the phrase they practised.

"I have a fondness for Charlotte, and I would like yer permission to marry her."

Behind the curtain Charlotte rolled her eyes and clenched her fists. This is not what he was supposed to say!

The request was not surprising, and Gerald himself had been quietly looking forward to it. "I see," he said, nodding his head as though this was unexpected and very serious news. He rubbed his chin as if in deep thought. "And as a father, I must ask, can ye provide fer her? Ye are still quite young, and though I know that since the unfortunate passing of your father three year ago ye have done well fer yerself, but can yer look after Charlotte and any kiddies ye may be blessed to have?" Gerald took his tankard and drained it. His little speech had taken some time to rehearse. He was proud of himself and thought he spoke well.

Odo's eyes were wide, and he was nodding in agreement long before Gerald finished. "Yea, I can, Gerald," he said enthusiastically. "I have managed to save a bit, and papa left me a little. The land is mine, and I'm goin' to buy more cows, and produce even more milk so ye can make more cheese."

Gerald smiled, "That ye will, lad. And I say, as long as yer have the means to take care of Charlotte, yer both have my blessing. Congratulations, Odo." Gerald was grinning.

Unable to restrain herself any longer, Charlotte thrust aside the curtain and ran into the room to hug her father. She was beside herself with joy. She'd always loved Odo, ever since they were children. It was inconceivable for her to marry anyone else and she'd spurned many a boy, and later any man, who had shown interest in her.

Agnes was called, and it was quickly decided Odo and Charlotte would marry the following spring.

Odo walked home without a care in the world, oblivious to the rain and overwhelmed with joy and relief. For a brief moment, he felt saddened that his father wasn't alive, but he knew Godwin would have been happy for him.

When Godwin became ill and bedridden, father and son talked for hours. Odo told his father of the depth of his affection for Charlotte and of his plans, and although not surprised, Godwin encouraged him to save and make good sound decisions, and at the right time, he assured him, Cheeseman Gerald would agree to the betrothal.