A Twisted Vengeance
- Автор: Робб Кэндис
- Серия: A Kate Clifford Mystery #2
- Год: 2017
- Язык: английский
- Год: Pegasus Books
- ISBN: 9781681774756
- Жанр: Исторические детективы
Электронная книга - «A Twisted Vengeance». Краткое содержание книги:
As the fourteenth century comes to a close, York seethes on the brink of civil war – and young widow Kate Clifford, struggling to keep her businesses afloat, realizes that her mother is harboring a dangerous secret…
1399. York is preparing for civil war, teeming with knights and their armed retainers summoned for the city’s defense. Henry of Lancaster is rumored to have landed on the northeast coast of England, not so far from York, intent on reclaiming his inheritance – an inheritance which his cousin, King Richard, has declared forfeit.
With the city unsettled and rife with rumors, Eleanor Clifford’s abrupt return to York upon the mysterious death of her husband in Strasbourg is met with suspicion in the city. Her daughter Kate is determined to keep her distance, but it will not be easy – Eleanor has settled next door with the intention of establishing a house of beguines, or poor sisters. When one of the beguines is set upon in the night by an intruder, Kate knows that for the sake of her own reputation and the safety of her young wards she must investigate.
From the first, Eleanor is clearly frightened yet maintains a stubborn silence. The brutal murder of one of Eleanor’s servants leads Kate to suspect that her mother’s troubles have followed her from Strasbourg. Is she secretly involved in the political upheaval? When one of her wards is frightened by a too-curious stranger, Kate is desperate to draw her mother out of her silence before tragedy strikes her own household.
“It seems I need to get to know John Paris better,” she said. “Do you know him well, Clement?”
He shook his head. “I doubt I know any more than you, Mistress Clifford.” The words came out slightly slurred and Clement reddened. Kate’s heart ached for him.
“So the knights next door were of no help?” Griselde asked, drawing attention away from her husband’s discomfort.
“They did ask whether I knew any of the monks of St. Mary’s Abbey. At first I thought they were confused, as I’d said I live in the parish of St. Mary’s Castlegate. But they asked about monks, no mistaking. Odd on the same morning that Sir Elric makes a visit to the abbey.”
Kate sat up. “When?”
“I’ve just come from following him to the gate. He asked the gatekeeper for directions to the abbot’s house and the infirmary.”
So that was where he had been headed. The abbey infirmary. Had one of his men been injured? Had he lied about not having spoken to his men? When Berend poured himself more ale and seemed to slip into his own thoughts, Kate asked, with some urgency, “You did say the infirmary?” Berend nodded. “And do you know any of the monks?”
“When I first came to York I had a swelling in my scarred ear. Or what was once an ear. I was told that Brother Henry, the infirmarian, might be able to help. I had not expected such an elder. He was in ill health at the time but assured me that the sub-infirmarian, Brother Martin, was in fact far more skilled in such wounds than he was. So, yes, I know the monks in the infirmary.”
“I should think those in the infirmary know all that happens in an abbey,” said Kate, excited. “Do you think Brother Martin will talk to us?”
“It has been years since I spoke with him. But we parted friends. I returned a few times for the unguent, but once he was confident my ear was healing he sent me to the apothecary in St. Helen’s Square, assuring me that she would know exactly what I needed. So I’ve had no cause to return.”
“Until now,” said Kate. “Bless you, Berend. He might have some answers for us. Go to him. See if he will talk.”
Sister Clara returned to the hall empty-handed, the dagger still missing. “I saw Master Lionel depart,” she said as she sank onto a bench with a sigh. “Might I ask what you told him?”
Eleanor crossed herself. “I lied to him. It seemed my only recourse. I could think of nothing else.”
Clara nodded. “I might well have done the same. I propose that Sister Brigida and I ask to join Sister Dina in the maison dieu, vowing to obey the rules of the house while we reside there, and that you return to William Frost’s residence until this is resolved. By taking such actions we will prove to Dame Katherine our sincere regret for our error in trusting Agnes Dell.”
“The error was mine, Sister Clara. You should not suffer for it. Their rules would deprive you of your work outside the sister house, your means of support.” Not to mention that the thought of returning to bide under Isabella Gisburne Frost’s roof nauseated Eleanor. She despised the woman – a mutual dislike. Though if it would appease Katherine, it bore consideration. Despite what Katherine thought, Eleanor still hoped to find a way to make peace with her daughter. She was all she had left. “What of Sister Agnes? Do we simply abandon her? What if she is sincere in wishing to embrace the life of a beguine?”
Bowing her head, Clara seemed absorbed in folding her hands one way, then the other on her lap. Just as Eleanor began to wonder whether a response was forthcoming, Clara sighed. “In truth, I cannot find it in my heart to trust Agnes now – or consider her a sister. If she does sincerely wish to embrace the life of poverty, chastity, and obedience, she has many small houses from which to choose in York. It need not be ours.”
Though Eleanor felt much the same, she found it jarring from a woman devoted to spreading word of God’s all-abiding love. “And where am I to find another house for us?” Eleanor wondered, startled to hear her own voice. “Forgive me, I did not mean to burden you with my concerns. This is not your difficulty to resolve.”
“We work together, Dame Eleanor. It is our problem.” Clara looked round the hall, her eyes resting on the Lady altar they had furnished so lovingly. “Our Blessed Mother shall show us the way.”
A dangerously foolish philosophy, Eleanor thought, but kept her counsel. “Before we say anything to Agnes, I propose that you and I consult with my daughter and my man Griffin. I would have their thoughts on abandoning Agnes.”
A simple bow. “I am happy to take that precaution. Is that the correct word?”
“Your grasp of the language is nothing short of remarkable, Sister Clara.”
Meanwhile, Eleanor thought she might do well to have a word with God. She feared that this hindrance was a sign that he rejected her avenue of atonement for betraying her husband David, the father of her children, with Ulrich. But why had God not stopped her earlier? In Strasbourg? On the journey to York?
She excused herself and knelt on a cushion before the altar. After a few Hail Marys, she silently asked, If you did not wish me to do this, my Lord, why did you not give me a sign before I plucked these good women from their home in Strasbourg? Punish me, not them, I pray you. She bowed her head and waited. A sharp pain in her right knee jolted her upright. As she shifted on her cushion she felt a flush of warmth and her mind cleared. This was merely a test, a trial, all part of the path. I hear you, my Lord. I will go softly, with care.
As she rose, crossing herself, she was surprised to find Sister Clara still perched on the edge of her chair.
A gentle smile. “You are reassured, Dame Eleanor?”
“I am, Sister Clara. I will send for Katherine and Griffin.”
“He is already here, in the kitchen. You sent for him earlier?”
“Ah. So I did.” Eleanor shook out her skirts. “So. Time to face my daughter.”
Kate and Griselde were up on the landing outside the guest bedchambers shaking out the cushions when they heard Lille and Ghent barking a welcome down in the yard. Jennet stood by them, looking up, shading her eyes.
Kate called down to her. “Have you news?”
“Not from me. I believe Dame Eleanor has something to tell you. She says she needs to speak with you. A matter of some urgency, she said.”
“That does not bode well,” Griselde muttered.
“No. No, it does not.” Kate turned away, thinking. “I did want to stay until Berend returned from the abbey. And to help you with this.”
“Oh, do not stay on my account, mistress. I do not have so much work at present that I cannot shake out the cushions in good time. We’ve only one room occupied tonight. No one is here tomorrow night. I can manage. I will send Berend straight to you when he returns.”
Kate nodded. “I would rather stay, but if I linger I will begin to spin a web of horrific possibilities regarding Mother’s ‘matter of some urgency.’ I did hope to find something that might keep me busy in the alley so that I might chance to overhear what my knightly tenants discuss next door.”
“I could give Seth such a task,” Griselde suggested. Young Seth Fletcher assisted Griselde and Clement with the more strenuous tasks.
“I’d not thought of Seth. Where is he today?”
“Have you not heard the hammering? He is repairing the garden shed. He loves to keep busy, that young man. A blessing he is.”
“Good. Try to find him some quiet task in the alleyway so that he might hear conversations.”
Griselde plucked the cushion from Kate’s hands. “I will, mistress. And you will send word with anything we should know?”