After their supper, Brother Matthew asked James, "May we go to Evening Mass?"

"Nay. It has been a long day and I do not want to go anywhere else." Due to the finality of his tone and the look he gave Brother Matthew, no one protested. James stood and the rest followed suit. "Antone," James said, "Lead the way." They followed him up the staircase and down the hall. Antone stopped in front of a door. James opened it. A single candle burned on a crate. The room was rectangular. Two windows faced the southeast. Though both windows were shuttered, the moonlight crept in through the cracks around the shutters. This room had actual beds, but there were only two! Lydia glanced at James. He seemed unconcerned. She was concerned. James shut and bolted the door. His shoulders sagged. For the first time in days his body seemed to relax. He said, “It is good to have a safe haven tonight.”

With a peculiar smile Antone said, “It is good to have a bed to sleep in. Whom will sleep with whom?”

Without looking at Lydia, James said, “That is easy enough, you dear nephew will sleep with me.”

To Lydia, Antone said, “Be careful this night, tender Luke, you know the priest drools.”

Before Brother Matthew could protest, James cut in, “Antone, you know he is a monk, give him that courtesy on your last night. Please, or else you can find other lodging.”

“Sorry, Uncle, sorry, Brother Matthew. It will not happen again.”

With hurt feelings, Brother Matthew replied, “Since we will be parting tomorrow, perhaps, for once, you will be able to keep a promise.”

Though the comment was meant to sting, it did not. Antone laughed and said, “Indeed.”

James sat down on the bed and took off his cloak, pilgrim's robe and boots. He pulled a pamphlet from his back pocket.

Antone's eyes latched onto it and he exclaimed, "Mirabilia!* Where did you get that!" He stripped the pamphlet from his uncle’s hands. Without another word, or another glance at anyone he plopped himself on the floor beside the candle and began to read. His absorption was complete. James stretched out on their bed. Within moments he was asleep.

Brother Matthew pulled back the blankets and studied the bed. He whispered, "See any vermin?"

Lydia looked. She did not see anything, but that did not mean they were not there. After they shed their cloaks, robes and boots, they climbed into the bed. Oh, how Brother Matthew would bellow if he knew he was sharing a bed with a female! He whispered in her ear, "Luke, I am going to Morning Mass at Notre Dame. Come with?"

"Aye."

"Good. Till morning." Brother Matthew snuggled down into the blankets and was soon sound asleep.

Though James would be furious when he found her missing. Well, if he found her missing. James was not a deep sleeper. Still, Lydia was determined to try. In memeory she heard her Moder's voice, “The dark was lit by the candles that wavered on the altar. All was silent. Mass would begin and as it progressed the fresh new light of day would creep through the cathedral with muted softness. It was like a kiss from God.” She so wanted to see what her mother had seen and experience what her mother had experienced.

Lydia pulled out her vermin comb and slid it through her hair. Nothing tonight. That was good, would the comb come clean in the morning? She slid it back in her pocket and glanced at Antone. He was still on the the floor reading. The soft glow of the candle encircled him in a ring of light. So small, so ephemeral was a candle wick and yet when lit it had the power to push back the darkness.

Antone glanced up and saw she was awake He took the candle and crept silently acrosss the floor to her. In a low voice he said, “Listen to this Luke. This is what you will behold when you go to the Vatican to see Pope Boniface.” From the pamphlet he read, “Within the palace of Nero is the temple of Apollo…before which is the Basilic of the Vatican, adorned with marvelous mosaics and a ceiling of gold and glass.” He sighed. “Imagine such a ceiling.” His eyes took on a far away look.

Timidly she whispered, “I cannot imagine.”

“Nor I. It is something that must be seen.” Did this mean he was considering going with them? Had James given him the pamphlet on purpose to encourage him to continue in their company? It was obvious James cared for his nephew very much. It was also obvious that he worried about him.

Their voices had awakened James. He said, "Antone, leave Luke be."

Antone gave her a crooked smile and scooted back across the floor.

*

Before first light Brother Matthew shook Lydia awake. He motioned to her and climbed out of bed. On silent feet, the walked toward the door. As she grabbed for her cloak, her foot bumped against her her candle box. It clattered. James raised himself up on one elbow and asked, "Where do you two think you are going?"

"Mass," said Brother Matthew.

James asked, "Where?"

"Notre Dame."

"That is half way across the city, going in the wrong direction. I saw a chapel down the street. You can go there."

Though they did not want to go there, Brother Matthew said, "All right James, if we must."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

"You must. Thanks to Pope Boniface the roads will soon be clogged with pilgrims headed toward Rome to celebrate this year of Jubillee. So do not waste time dawdling."

Incensed, Brother Matthew said, "I assure you James, going to Mass is not dawdling.!"

In a flat, even tone, James said, "Standing around gaping at relics that are not on the list is dawdling. So come straight back. We will be leaving after breakfast."

Disappointment filled Lydia. Leaving, already? There would not be another opportunity to go to Notre Dame, to feel the nearness of Moder, or to bask in the beauty and silence of the cathedral. She wanted to cry.

With a hint of hope in his voice, Brother Matthew asked, "Will we pass through Paris on our return?"

This was something to hope for. James quickly dashed this hope. "Nay," he said. "We will follow the Pilgrim's Way back. Paris is not on the traditional route."

Brother Matthew said, "You are a brute, James..”

"Perhaps I am," said James. "Now get going before I change my mind."

Angry determination filled Lydia. They might bypass Paris on their return, but she would not. In fact, when this pilgrimage was over, she would come back to Paris and live! She followed Brother Matthew out of the room and down the stairs. Outside the sky was beginning to turn a soft blue. The air was cold and smelled of rancid food. They dodged the refuse and the nasty puddles of God knew what on the street. At the tiny chapel they stopped. It had a single door with a cross carved on it. Brother Matthew pulled open the door. Every time they opened the door to a new holy place it was like opening a gift. They never knew if it would be a good gift or a bad gift.

In this little chapel tallow tapers burned on the alter and cast their scant light into the damp stone structure. After they took a seat, a man, near James age, with a very clean robe, walked alone down the aisle. He did not have a candle bearer. A couple old ladies huddle in the front pews. That was the total of his congregation. The priest stepped behind the altar and gave the old women a nod. He looked out over their heads and smiled at Brother Matthew and Lydia. He then proceeded to perform the Mass in perfect Latin. His voice was rich and deep. It carried Lydia on waves of sound. Kindness and joy seemed to billow out of him. It was odd, not even Father Peter had seemed so happy in his vocation. When Mass was over, the priest greeted them at the door. He shook their hands and said, "Thank you so much for coming. I am Pere Stephen."

Brother Matthew said, "I am Brother Matthew on pilgrimage to Rome, and this is Luke."

The priest looked directly at Lydia and said, "Please to meet you both. Luke, you remind me of someone." He studied her a moment and said, "You bear a striking resemblence to my cousin Tabitha."

Lydia's heart seemed to stop in her chest. She asked, "Was her papa a tanner near the Isle?"

"Oui. He was."

Was, past tense. So her grandfather was dead. Was her grandmother? To Pere Stephen she said, "Tabitha was my mama."

He frowned and asked, "Is she among the living?"

"No. She died last spring."

"I am so sorry. Such a sweet child. It broke my heart when she moved away." He reached out a hand and squeezed her shoulder. Timidly, Lydia met his eyes. He had known her mother, he had loved her mother. She could see a hint of Moder in the bridge of his nose and the line of his brow.

He removed his hand and said, "I knew Tabitha had a girl, I did not know she had also had a son, but then it has been a long time since there has been any word of her. Are you a candle maker like your papa?"

Brother Matthew burst out, "Luke is. In Ameins he had a word from God blessing his calling and profession!"

"Indeed," said Pere Stephen. As a smile spread slowly across his face, Lydia felt like it was her mother was smiling down on her. He placed he placed his hand on her head and blessed her, "benedicat tibi Dominus et custodiat te ostendat Dominus faciem suam tibi et misereatur tui onvertat Dominus vultum suum ad te et det tibi pacem."* His blessing echoed through Lydia. Moder was close, so close. She had not needed to be in Notre Dame this morning. She needed to be here.

He invited them to breakfast, but Brother Matthew told him, "No, we must get back."

As Pere Stephen watched them go, he said, "May we meet again, this side of heaven."

Brother Matthew called back, "In God's time."

Lydia was determined she would see Pere Stephen again. She would learn about Moder's childhood and the life she had lived before Fader carted her off.

As they made there way back to the inn, Brother Matthew said, "Well, Luke that was something indeed. There is a candle maker in Southampton, named Thomas Wade. Would he be your fader?"

"Nay." It was a bold faced lie and she must tell another. "I am from Romsey."

"I have never been there."

Lydia thought, Thank God.

Back at the Inn, they found James and Antone seated in the dining room. James had already ordered breakfast. He looked up and said, "Well, you two made good time."

"We did indeed," said Brother Matthew without elaboration.

They ate their eggs and pork in silence. When the meal was over Antone's lips curled into an enchanting smile.

Brother Matthew whispered to Lydia, "Be wary of that smile, Luke."

"Uncle," said Antone turning his smile on James. "Last night after much thought and prayer I had a revelation.”

Brother Matthew interrupted, "Thought, prayer and a revelation, you?”

The smile left Antone’s lips. He continued, “I can see you are uneasy, Uncle. It troubles me.”

Brother Matthew interrupted, "James, you know what is coming next. Consider, he will be an added expense, another mouth to feed and a extra burden for Moses Aaron."

Veiled amusement played across James' face. To Brother Matthew, he said, "I am sure Moses Aaron will be touched by your concern. Still, let Antone finish.”

Nervousness trembled in Antone’s voice as he spoke, “I would like to go to Rome with you, if you will have me. I would be another man to keep watch.”

For several moments James studied his nephew. “I believe you are in earnest. I would indeed welcome another set of eyes."

*Mirabilia means Marvels. It is a guidebook discribing the Marvels of Rome