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.
Kate opened her eyes in time to see Elric consider her freckle-faced maidservant.
“I understand you are as well informed about what goes on in the city as Bess Merchet. Keep all ears pricked for information. Even the smallest detail might help. The sheriffs want to calm the city. They will listen.”
Jennet looked doubtful, but she nodded as if agreeing.
Elric glanced round the table. “If Berend is apprehended, leave him to me. I can use the earl’s influence to keep him safe until we can prove his innocence.” He turned to Kate. “He has spent years seeking absolution for his sins. I do not believe he would suddenly commit such an act.”
Nor could she. But others would look at Berend’s bulk, the scars that bore witness to his violent past – why would they trust him? And what, in the end, did she really know of him? Kate looked aside to hide her confusion. “Thank you,” she said as she fought for composure. As if sensing her distress, Ghent came and rested his head on her shoulder. She stroked his back and took a deep breath. “I will call on my cousin William to put his authority behind you as well.”
Elric frowned. “William Frost is hardly the man to defy the king’s men. Not when he owes so much to Henry’s favor.”
She could not deny that. “And you?”
“My lord the earl is also the king’s man, it’s true. But I know Berend and Lady Margery, and I never had cause to doubt their honor.”
“I am in your debt, Sir Elric.” She bowed her head to him.
“How times change,” he remarked as he rose, thanking her for the hospitality and reminding Jennet where he was lodging.
“About that,” said Jennet, as Kate rose to walk out with Elric. “Why the York Tavern? One of the abbeys would gladly accommodate you.”
He laughed. “Best ale in the shire, and Bess Merchet – if I can win her friendship, I’ll not need my men in the city. I can just ride in once a fortnight, drink some fine ale, and hear all that has transpired. Who has visited, who has left, who has secrets my lord would like to hear.”
When Kate and Elric were out in the yard he turned to her, serious once more. “About your cousin William Frost. His election was strongly influenced by the earl and the king himself, letters recommending him as a peacekeeper in the city.”
“William a peacekeeper?” Kate shook her head at the concept. In the past, her cousin’s strategy in uniting the majority of the citizens of York had been to use the minority who opposed his idea as the enemy. Indeed, the rumor that King Henry had pushed for William’s election as mayor had grown out of people’s disbelief. He was not a popular man.
“I question it as well,” said Elric, “not because of any flaw in him but rather that he is such a part of this community, personally involved – such a man cannot truly keep the peace. But as he has been chosen, I need to know him better. Establish a connection.”
A sinking feeling. Here was the truth of Elric’s recent warmth – he needed her influence with William. “And that is how I can be of help to you?” Kate asked.
Do not be so quick to jump to that, Kate, Geoff urged.
“I hesitate to ask it of you,” said Elric, in a chastened tone.
“We will discuss this further,” she said, her tone dismissive.
He flinched.
“Is that true, what you just said?” she asked to change the subject. “Is Bess Merchet so well informed?”
“About the city over all, yes.” He lifted one of her hands, then bent to kiss it. “You are more selective. And I am not so confident that you will ever let me so close to you that I could be sure you were telling me all you knew.” His eyes teased.
Oh, Heavenly Mother, if he could read her mind … Kate forced a smile. “Time will tell.” She deemed it wise to offer something. It was not her purpose to alienate him. “You should know that I have spoken to Berend. He came here, to the house. But he was careful to tell me nothing.”
Elric said nothing for a moment, but the warmth was gone from his eyes. “He loves you. He will never act on it, but he loves you.”
Of all the responses she might have imagined, that was the last thing she had expected him to say. “I am his employer.”
“Is that all that stops you?”
Damn him. She could feel the warmth in her face. This was all wrong, their duplicity with each other. She delighted in his touch, in the warmth of his regard. She did not believe she’d merely imagined the mutual attraction. Yet she could not let herself trust him with her heart. She tilted her head and smiled up at him. “You forget yourself, Sir Elric.” With a little laugh, she wished him a good day. And silently cursed herself for the awkward attempt at flirting.
But it seemed she’d succeeded in confounding him, clear in the questioning look he gave her before bowing and taking his leave.
No more than her own treacherous heart confounded her.
Jennet and Matt had their heads together when Kate finally returned to the table. As she settled back in her chair, they considered her with grave expressions.
“Come, my darlings,” Kate whispered to Lille and Ghent. The hounds eagerly joined her, settling at her feet.
“Multiple stab wounds.” Jennet shook her head. “Berend would not be so clumsy.”
“The slit throat, that could be him,” said Matt, “meaning to put a dying man out of his misery. But who is Merek to him?”
Kate had not yet told them of Berend’s connection with the spice seller. In truth, she had said little about the exchange, too shaken to speak of it. “I am not certain,” was all she said now.
“Shall I find the spot where he was murdered, examine it?” asked Jennet.
Kate should have thought of that herself. “Yes, do. I am going to take the hounds and find out who the customer was who was so irked when Merek hurried away in the market. And then I’m going to call on Jon Horner.”
“What about the body that might be Carl?” asked Jennet.
“I said I would see to that,” said Kate. “But proving Berend innocent of Merek’s murder is our priority now.”
Griselde and Clement greeted Kate with solemn voices and worried expressions. Already the news of Merek’s murder and Berend’s danger had reached them. It was all Kate could do to wave off their questions. She needed information so that she might discover the real murderer, and she needed it now.
Clement nodded. “Of course. I pray you, forgive us our questions, but we cannot believe–”
“Talk to Old Cob, the eel man,” said Griselde, interrupting her husband. “He has the stall next to Merek’s at the market. His little shop is near the river.” She described the place, on Skeldergate, close to the Old Baile. “Tell him– No, of course not, you do not want to be bothered with my messages. God go with you, Mistress Clifford. Come tell us the news when you have a moment.”
“Mary is proving satisfactory?” she asked.
Griselde and Clement exchanged a wry look.
“She finds it difficult?” Kate guessed.
“We all do. But we are managing. Do not concern yourself with us.”
Lille and Ghent enjoyed the pace Kate set over the bridge, bustling with shoppers and aldermen gathering outside the guildhall before a meeting. Though a chill wind came off the river, reaching out to her in between the clustered buildings as she hurried along, even stronger down along Skeldergate, she was quite warm by the time she saw Old Cob standing outside his shop front chatting with a customer. To interrupt or not? To do so would call attention to her mission, but … Her dilemma was made moot by Old Cob’s exclamation upon seeing her.
“Mistress Clifford! It is an honor to see you here. Has Sir Elric requested more eels?”