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.
Kevin finished cleaning Horner’s face as Kate joined them. She leaned past him to close Horner’s eyelids. “If only I had called on him earlier,” she said.
Kevin shook his head at her. “And been caught by the murderer? God be thanked you delayed.”
“So you think this is murder, not that he chose to end his life?” asked Wulf.
“Look at the room,” said Kevin. “Are you thinking he made this mess and then drank down some poison?”
“A man who drinks poison is not thinking clearly, eh?” Wulf countered. “No telling what he might do.”
“He’s dressed as if going out, or just returning,” said Kate. “Look how his boots soaked the bedclothes.” Wulf grunted. “He began to feel ill and headed home?” she suggested.
With the owner of the costly glove? Geoff asked in her head.
Indeed.
Lille barked, a quiet bark, warning of someone approaching, but no one she considered dangerous. Still, Kate stepped back from the bed and fingered the dagger hidden in her skirts as Ghent and Lille parted to allow the housekeeper through.
“Mother in Heaven, what has happened here? Has he gone mad? Does he think I’m–” As Tibby focused on the bed she stopped. “Is he–”
“Dead, Goodwife. Murdered,” said Kate. “How long ago did you leave for market?”
A hand over the small mouth, eyes flitting this way and that, not wanting to look. “Early. Very early. My sister’s abed. Going to give birth any hour now. I stoked the fire and woke her lazy husband and her little ones. Oh, sweet Master Jon. Who would want to harm him?”
“I hoped you might know,” said Kate.
“No,” Tibby whispered, backing away. “He was always good to me.” She surveyed the messy room. “I will never get this clean again.”
“Do nothing just yet,” said Kate. “Leave it as it is.”
The goodwife put a hand over her mouth as Kevin proffered the sheet he had used to clean the vomit from Horner’s mouth. “This you might want to launder,” he said.
She tucked her hands behind her and stepped back. “Put it out on the dung heap.”
With a warning glance at Kevin, Kate slipped an arm round the woman and walked her out into the hall.
“Men can be such lackwits. You have just discovered your employer dead in his chamber and he– I pray you forgive us, Goodwife Tibby. Might I get you something? Is there brandywine in the house?”
A little shake of the head. “I’ve too much to do. With my sister–”
“Oh, of course, you said. Forgive me, but might I just ask whether you noticed anything unusual about Master Jon this morning?”
“As I said, I left early.”
“Anything last night?”
Tibby’s nose and cheeks had reddened with emotion. “No,” she whispered. “Nothing.”
“A visitor perhaps?”
Swiping at a tear falling down her cheek, the woman shook her head. “I saw no one.”
“And you would?”
A teary glare. “Did I not see to you?”
“You did. It is plain you took good care of Master Jon.”
“I did that. He was good to me, bless him. A good man, God rest his soul.” A sob escaped with the last words.
Kate patted Tibby on the back. “Perhaps it is best you go to your sister’s.”
A sniff. “I believe I will.” She shuffled off.
When Kate returned to the room, Kevin apologized. “Wulf and I will raise the hue and cry after you leave,” he added.
“Leave?”
His dark eyes pleaded. “I pray you, we do not want you implicated in any way. You will be of no use to Berend if you are a suspect in a murder.”
She agreed, but she did not trust the housekeeper. “What about the goodwife?” Tibby had no loyalty to Kate. Her master was dead, an apparently undemanding master. “She means to seek refuge with her sister. If she mentions me …”
“I will escort her, and while we walk I will make it clear to her that if anyone should breathe a word of your presence, the blame falls on her, and she will regret the day she so misspoke.”
Kate considered. “While you wait for the sheriffs’ men, there is something you could do.” She told him what Coffey had told her, describing the small shiny item passed from Merek to Horner, something Merek did not wish Horner to flash about. “I would guess that item is what someone sought–” She gestured round at the mess. “Or a document. He offered his services as a scrivener.”
Kevin agreed. “We will search. Now I pray you, Dame Katherine, leave us to it.”
Gladly. She had too much to do, and clearly no time to waste.
Considering the fact that Merek’s lodgings had likely already been searched and were now being watched by the sheriffs’ men, Kate decided to head for her brother-in-law’s house across the Foss Bridge. But first she stopped at home to trade discoveries with Jennet and Matt over a hasty dinner. A hasty, tasteless dinner – Jennet was no cook without Marie’s help. The meal was not the only disappointment; neither Jennet nor Matt had learned much of use.
As she rose from the table, Kate asked Jennet to put a watch on Coffey and the chapel. A murderer was abroad in the city. She did not want anything to happen to the blacksmith or the priest.
Jennet was happy to oblige, but concerned about Kate. “Would you consider taking Matt with you? All the following and murdering, does it not make sense to be more cautious?”
“Then you will be here alone.”
“One of my lads is due here any moment.”
“I have the hounds. And Elric’s squire is watching Lionel’s house.”
“You do have the hounds, but these are not ordinary times. As for Harry, he can help you only once you reach your destination. And besides,” Jennet wrinkled her nose, “Matt is feeling useless.” She winked at Matt, who had perked up at the suggestion.
“We would not want that,” said Kate with a laugh. She might make light of it, but she did see the wisdom in Jennet’s argument. She nodded to Matt. “Come along with me.” She was rewarded by his beautiful smile.
“When will you tell your friend that her servant was murdered?” Jennet asked.
“After I talk to Lionel.”
As they crossed the Foss Bridge, Matt asked, “What if it’s clear Master Lionel is lying? Will you confront him?”
“We shall see. I need to know whether or not he is injured, whether he might have been involved. I hope to ascertain that without challenging him, or letting him know what I know. Let him stew. Cowards are best left to their imaginations.” As they neared Lionel’s home she warned Matt to wipe the grin from his face and quietly observe. “I depend on you to hear what I might miss.”
Straightening to the full extent of his considerable height, Matt cleared his throat and did his best to present a blank visage, but his eyes belied him, lit as they were with his excitement.
Well, she could but advise him. Kate took a tight hold of the hounds’ leads as she led them into the yard.
It was a large house, grand in its sprawl and the stone gateway leading into the yard, but lacking the attention that would make it truly gracious and inviting. The shutters needed painting, the oak standing in the center of the yard was scarred where branches had broken off, the splintered stumps giving a forlorn air to the place, saved by the clutter of abandoned toy swords and daggers and a headless doll lying in the dirt beside the grand door to the hall. Glancing round, she caught sight of Sir Elric’s squire Harry doing his best to blend into a small stand of trees by the river from which he was watching the entrance to the house. He had much to learn, as did Matt. Harry nodded, but no more. She did not do even that.