But the best laid plans are often upset, and just before the close of the commission a messenger brought a letter from Paton Hall, bidding him ride home with all speed if he wished to see his father before he died. It was not the first letter he had received from home since he had been in Oxford. He had hoped that his sister could join him there, but his father had forbidden it, and had sent to tell him that he was in failing health, and could not spare his daughter Margery to go junketing about the country. Miles had only half-believed it, although a letter from his sister herself confirmed the old man's report of his health.
The fact was Miles did not want to believe it, because it would be very inconvenient just now. But the inconvenient had happened, it seemed, and now he was in a dilemma as to what he should do with Cicely. He rather shrank from taking her home to Paton Hall at such a time as this, especially when he remembered his father's anger at Greenwich. But resection taught him that this anger was unreasonable on his father's part, and he owed a duty to Cicely now which must stand before all considerations of what people would say; and he made up his mind how to act before speaking to his friend, Master Baldock, who, as Cicely's uncle, might think he had a right to interfere if he did not make up his mind at first.
So, after pondering over the messenger's news for a little while, he went to Master Baldock, and told him what had happened. "Now, I must have a strong escort to protect Cicely, and set off at daybreak to-morrow, for I would fain see my father once again before he dies."
Contrary to his expectations, Master Baldock did not object to this plan. "It would be better thus, I think," he said, slowly, "for, from all I can hear, the nuns think she was killed the night of the riot, and have sent to tell the abbess at Greenwich the story of how it happened. Of course it will all be hushed up, as such things are, but I have taken care to send a letter to my brother, informing him of the true state of the case; and before she leaves Oxford she had better lay aside the dress of a novice, and no one at Woodstock need know that she ever contemplated entering the monastic life. You can understand how inconvenient it would be for her to go home to Greenwich just now."
"I would not let her go. Until she is my wife she shall not go near the Court or Queen," said Miles, hotly.
Master Baldock shrugged his shoulders, and smiled. Perhaps he thought it would be just as well if Miles did not have to continue much longer in the service of the Cardinal, for the affair had already caused more talk than was pleasant, and Wolsey was apt to think that someone had blundered if a matter was not settled with the silence and despatch with which he liked to characterise all his business transactions.
So a secular dress was provided for Cicely, and an escort engaged to take them to Woodstock, so that they should not be waylaid either by beggars or miscreants hired by the Mother-Superior to kidnap Cicely and murder Miles. For, he thought, either fate might befall them if they were not sufficiently guarded.
So, with his beloved Cicely beside him, and a well-armed guard, Miles once more passed through the gate of Oxford city, along the Northern Road, delighted to point out to his companion this and that along the road, and trying to keep up her spirits, but all the time feeling gravely anxious as to what reception he should get at the end of his journey, and wondering whether the Lady Audrey still lived at Paton Hall.