A Twisted Vengeance

Midday, Kate’s household chose to take their main meal out in the garden, beneath the shade of the lindens. The sisters and Eleanor’s servant had prepared a cold repast for all, though they chose to eat separately, in their hall. Kate was grateful Berend was relieved of the duty. She smiled down at Petra, who lounged against her, smoothing her curly raven hair, so familiar, so like her own. Kate dropped her hand as she noticed Marie observing them from where she sat beside Jennet. Jealously watching. Yearning. The child ached for a love that was already offered; she could not see it. What she knew was that Petra was Kate’s niece; she envied their blood bond. Needlessly.

Kate patted the bench beside her, but Marie looked away. Such a beautiful child. There was truly nothing of the Neville family in their looks, yet their mother had named Simon the father of Marie and Phillip, and Lionel Neville had sworn it was true. She suspected that Lionel, hoping the knowledge of his brother’s infidelity would break her, might have exaggerated the certainty of the claim. But though she sometimes had her doubts, she had never regretted taking them in. They had enriched her life, and she loved them both as much as Petra.

The rest of the household, including Griffin, sat at a second table a few feet away. All eyes were on Kate and Berend, who had returned from the abbey deep in excited conversation. Though Kate had been tempted to tell Jennet everything at once – this was what they had hoped for, confirmation that Nan’s Robin was the intruder – she had disciplined herself to wait until all were present. Now she nodded to Berend.

“I have spoken to Sir Elric’s man who lies wounded in the abbey infirmary.” Berend recounted what he had learned from Kevin.

When he was finished, everyone began to talk at once, and Kate found herself clapping her hands for order. “One at a time, I pray you. All your thoughts are welcome. Jennet? You have been seeking information about Robin.”

Jennet nodded. Summer had brought out the freckles that ran across her cheeks and nose, making her seem even younger than usual. But she was no naïve youth, and Kate pitied anyone who mistook her for one. “I’ve learned that he is known across the city as a thief for hire.”

Berend leaned forward. “For hire, you say? No ordinary thief, then?”

“As with an assassin for hire, such a thief is caught between the devil and the temptation,” said Jennet, “never satisfied, never at rest. He is not his own man. We must find his employer.” As soon as she had spoken, Jennet covered her mouth, blushing. “Forgive me, Berend. I did not mean to imply …”

He shook his head. “You are right. It needed to be said.”

Kate turned to Griffin. “Did Mother manage to send the Dominicans away, as she planned?”

He glanced up from his food, nodded. “They left not long after you did. The sisters were quiet as they prepared food in the kitchen. Took it back to the hall. All in silence. I was loath to speak. I thought they might be praying for Hans. So I know nothing new.” He shrugged, drank down his ale, poured more.

Jennet fidgeted, a sign that she was annoyed with Griffin. “Did you notice anything about the men who had Hans?” she asked him.

“Only that there were three of them. I was seeing to Severen.”

“He was not so injured that you would have risked his life by following the men,” said Jennet.

“I did not know they were about to murder Hans, did I?”

“You saw someone dropped on the road, apparently lifeless.”

“I thought him just one of the soldiers, falling down drunk. Do you imagine I don’t blame myself for my mistake?”

Shrugging, Jennet took the jug of ale. After filling Matt’s, Berend’s, and her own bowl, she set the jug out of Griffin’s reach. Berend looked to Kate to intercede. He was right. There was no benefit to antagonizing Griffin. She motioned to Berend to change the topic. Petra had rested her head in Kate’s lap and fallen asleep. She preferred not to wake her.

“So we know that Kevin came upon Robin dragging Sister Dina down the alley, and as he freed her he was accosted by a group of soldiers from Toft Green,” said Berend.

“Who know Robin,” Matt added.

“Perhaps as a thief for hire,” said Jennet.

“Nan should be told that the intruder was Robin,” said Griffin. “She should be warned he might seek her help.”

“You think he was able to break away from the soldiers?” Berend asked.

Griffin shrugged. “Anything might happen. We owe it to her to warn her.”

“Unless she set him on us,” said Jennet. “Thieves often band together in support. And to protect one another.”

Berend nodded to Griffin. “Pay attention. Jennet was once one of them.”

Marie whispered something to Jennet, who whispered something back. The child nodded solemnly.

Jennet continued. “They find allies in the servants of the households they are watching. The unhappy ones are the easiest to befriend. And Nan certainly seems to have given her heart to Robin. How do we know what she might do for him?”

Griffin raked a hand through his hair and wiped his forehead with his sleeve, the shade evidently not cool enough for him. “Do you think that is likely with Nan?” asked Griffin. “Was she so dissatisfied?”

“Nan’s home is dark, mean, crowded,” said Jennet. “You see how much she loves color, pretty baubles. Easy to woo when almost any life would be brighter than what she has.”

“Dame Eleanor’s house is comfortable,” said Berend. “And Nan had another sharing the duties. The sisters as well. They all appear to take their turn in household tasks.”

“That might be true,” said Griffin, “but I understand Nan’s discomfort. Dame Eleanor distrusts her, watches her, never has a good word for her. No wonder the woman ran off every night into the arms of a man who promised to take her away from her misery, gave her pretty trinkets.”

“Stolen baubles,” said Jennet. “Possibly provided to him for the purpose.”

“So you think that Nan told Robin about something worth taking from Dame Eleanor’s house?” Griffin wiped his forehead with his sleeve again. “But what? We brought so little with us. Each of the women had a trunk. One trunk each, and not very large, except for Dame Eleanor’s. But that is said to be filled with gowns, should she change her mind about the life of a beguine. She said she had little room for anything but clothing.”