A Murdered Peace
- Автор: Робб Кэндис
- Серия: A Kate Clifford Mystery #3
- Год: 2018
- Язык: английский
- Год: Pegasus Books
- ISBN: 9781681779270
- Жанр: Исторические детективы
Электронная книга - «A Murdered Peace». Краткое содержание книги:
England still in tumult at the start of the fifteenth century, as Kate Clifford finds herself working to prove the innocence of her longtime confidante.
It is deep winter in York, 1400, the ground frozen, the short days dimmed with the smoke from countless fires, the sun, when it shines, low in the sky. It is rumored that the Epiphany Uprising, meant to relieve the realm of the Henry the usurper and return King Richard to the throne has, instead, spelled his doom. As long as Richard lives, he is a threat to Henry. So, too, the nobles behind the plot. The ringleaders have been caught, some slaughtered as they fled west by folk loyal to Henry, and the king's men now search the towns for survivors.
A perilous time, made worse for Kate Clifford by the disappearance of Berend, her cook and confidante, shortly after Christmas. Her niece saw his departure in a dream – he said he was honor bound to leave. Honor bound – to a former lord? One of the nobles who led the uprising? Is he alive? She is hardly consoled when Berend reappears, wounded, secretive, denying any connection to the uprising, but refusing to explain himself. When he is accused of brutally murdering a spice seller in the city, Kate discovers a chest of jewels in his possession. Some of the jewels belong to her old friend Lady Margery, wanted by the king for her husband’s part in the uprising. For the sake of their long friendship, and the love she and her wards bear for him, Kate wants to believe his innocence. So, too, does Sir Elric. And he has the powerful backing of the Earl of Westmoreland. All she need do is confide in him. If only she trusted her heart.
Down in the kitchen, she found Kevin sharing an ale with Matt. The latter was yawning and blinking to wake up, but Elric’s man looked as if he had been up a while.
“You’ve heard about Merek?” Kevin asked.
“Only what a passerby was able to overhear,” she said. “I think you might want to find Jon Horner.” She told him what she’d witnessed in the market the previous day.
“Jon Horner?” Kevin looked doubtful. “I would not have seen him as a man prone to violence. He seems a timid sort.”
She saw pain in his expression. Something he did not want to tell her. “What is it?”
“A witness, a baker who lives near where they found the body, says that he saw Merek and Berend earlier in the evening. They were arguing, and Berend seemed the aggressor. So folk will say it likely follows that he is the murderer.”
“No. No, I don’t believe it.”
“Do you think I do? But the sheriffs’ constables are searching for him.”
She was thinking about the market and the angry customer. Perhaps he’d overheard something or had seen what the two had exchanged. She wondered whether Merek told Horner to blame anything that happened on Berend.
“… wanted you to know before he comes,” Kevin was saying.
She shook her head at him. “I’m sorry, before who comes?”
“Sir Elric. He will be coming to talk to you. If you would–”
“I will say I heard it from Jennet. He will never know you were here.”
“Have you seen him? Berend?” Though Kate said nothing and tried not to change her expression, Kevin shook his head. “Have a care, Dame Katherine. Everyone is frightened, fearing what punishment God will rain down on a realm that discards the holy anointed king. I would not have you risk your life even to protect a friend.”
She would have preferred not to, but there was no turning back now. “Did you see Merek’s body?” she asked.
“Not closely. Sir Elric did.”
“He was about in the night?”
“Dame Bess woke him, said there was trouble, wanted him to find out what it was.”
“How did she know?”
Kevin shook his head. “She is as secretive as Jennet about her sources. Maybe Horner?”
“I want to see the body.”
“He’s already been moved. To prevent the murderer from coming back to snatch the body and hide it.” Kevin moved toward the door. “I must go. I will be missed.” He turned as Kate touched his arm.
“Thank you, Kevin. I will not forget this.”
He lifted Kate’s hand and kissed it. “For you, anything.” His eyes held hers for a moment, warming her.
“God help us,” Jennet muttered when he was gone. “I’ll not believe it of Berend. Never.”
“Nor I,” Matt declared.
“Then we need to prove him innocent,” said Kate.
“What of Lionel?” Matt said. “Merek’s been asking questions of him. Would Lionel have cause to attack Merek?”
“I thought of that, and I would love to point the finger at him,” said Kate, “but who would believe it of that coward? He likes to attack, but whines and runs when his victim turns on him.”
“What if Sir Elric was told to take care of someone asking too many questions about Lionel, a Neville?” asked Jennet. “What if he murdered Merek? Would he step forward to save Berend?”
Would he? Could she trust him to do the honorable thing?
Matt looked relieved, as if the idea were the answer. “If Sir Elric had been obeying an order from the Earl of Westmoreland, the sheriffs and the council would likely express their irritation but do nothing.”
Kate rubbed her eyes. “Pour me some ale.”
7
Passions and Potions
Early in the morning, as a wan sunlight lit up the bare crown of the oak, Kate stepped out onto Petergate with Lille and Ghent. Calling out greetings to neighbors as she crossed the intersection with Stonegate, she headed toward the little school in the yard of the church across from the guesthouse. She had decided the girls were safer with her mother for a few more days. The schoolmaster clucked at her as she explained that they were away for the nonce. This was one of the blessings of children in the household, how they pulled her into the ordinary tasks – this morning, dealing with their quarrelsome schoolmaster.
“They missed an important reading yesterday, Dame Katherine. Would it not be better to bring them every day? Let them take their French lessons in the evenings?”
“What if I come to collect the reading at the end of the school day and see that they work with it?” she said.
Master Jonas recoiled. “Let my books leave the schoolroom?”
“My tutor had us copy out our readings.” Thankful for the memory. “You might consider that.”
“What of the cost of parchment and ink?”
Worried about the cost – not in lives, but in halfpennies. “They could use their wax tablets. They might at least copy out the most important passages.”
Jonas shook his head, his oversized felt hat wobbling comically from side to side, along with the wattles hanging from his chin.
How the children must poke fun at him. It would not be easy, teaching impertinent young scholars. But this morning she blessed him for lightening her heart ever so slightly, enough that she bit back a smile. “When the days lengthen I will consider how I might rearrange their schedule. But they are good students, are they not?”
“They are competent when they wish to be.” More comical head wagging. “It is not my place to tell you how to order your household, Dame Katherine.” He closed his eyes and sighed as a shriek sounded from the classroom. Bobbing his head in farewell, the schoolmaster shuffled into the classroom, shutting the door behind him.
“Are you wild beasts?” He roared so loudly Kate heard it through the heavy door.
As she turned away, she discovered Lille and Ghent eyeing Sir Elric, who stood near her, leaning against the wall of the school. His nearness brought back the memory of his touch the evening of Kevin’s celebration, the strong attraction. His blue eyes seemed to shift to a warmer tone when he looked on her and his smile dimpled his chiseled cheeks.
“All schoolmasters are burdened by a belief in the perfect classroom,” he said, gracefully pushing from the wall and lowering to a crouch so he might greet the hounds. Strong legs, strong back.
Kate was glad he was so busy with the hounds he did not see her blush at the pleasure she found in observing him. Lille and Ghent had grown fond of him. And she? She was more confused than she cared to admit to herself. Should she trust the hounds’ judgment? They’d never led her astray.
“I’ve no need to ask what brings you here on this frosty morning,” she said, pleased to hear the confident ring in her tone.
He straightened, the smile gone. “I should have guessed Jennet would have already told you.” He bowed and crooked his arm, inviting her hand. “Might we talk in your kitchen? I would welcome a few moments by the fire.”
They walked in quiet companionship until they neared Kate’s house, where Elric expressed sympathy for Matt, who was shoveling horse dung from the area near the front door.
“That was my morning and evening chore as a lad. I hated it,” he said.
“Not a task anyone could face with enthusiasm,” said Kate with a little laugh. She imagined a boy with bright blue eyes, itching to run in the fields or go riding, and in that moment she felt a fierce regret for her deception. “Do you mind if Matt joins our conversation?” she asked. When Elric seemed puzzled, she explained, “Jennet and Matt are more than servants, you know that.”