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.
You might be right. But quiet now, Geoff. Mother might sense your presence. I do not want more of her lectures about letting you go.
“So Sir Elric’s men are not our enemies but our allies,” Eleanor noted with a small smile.
“Matchmaking again, Mother? You should know better by now,” Kate warned, but she was relieved that her mother’s preoccupation with having a knight for a son-in-law drowned out any tingle she might have sensed from Geoff’s presence. “You mistake the man for the man he serves. Kevin, who lies wounded in the abbey infirmary, is our ally, it seems, but I would not be too quick in extending that to Sir Elric or the other men.”
Eleanor wagged her head, unconvinced. “I will send Griffin to the priory with a message for Friar Adam, informing him that we have found another spiritual guide,” Eleanor said. “But who? Would Richard Clifford reconsider? As Dean of York Minster, your uncle has power in the city. He might fend off any trouble from the Dominicans.”
Kate was shaking her head. If her mother only knew how impossible that was! “He will not reconsider. If we have any trouble with Friar Adam or Prior Norbert, I will bring it to the attention of His Grace the archbishop.” She told her mother about their alliance.
“My. You do know how to bargain with the mighty.” Eleanor shook her head at Kate, her expression one of wonder. Leaning over, Eleanor adjusted the sleeve on Kate’s gown, tugging it down over her wrist, then reached for her hand, studying her fingernails. “I do wish you would pay more attention to your appearance.”
“I am not a child for you to poke and prod and correct.” Kate withdrew her hand.
Eleanor raised her eyebrows as if to say that was debatable.
Kate regretted her outburst. She’d hoped that her mother’s compassion for Sister Dina might inspire her to be more forthcoming about whatever frightened her. Taking a deep breath, she apologized, taking heart as her mother patted her hand. Perhaps it was an opening. “Is it possible that the intruder and Hans’s murder are connected through Ulrich?” Kate asked quietly. “Might someone suspect you carry something of his, something Hans might know about, that is valuable? Value of any sort – information, gold?”
Lips pinched, eyes pressed shut, knuckles white as she clutched the arms of her chair, Eleanor was a study in unease. “You are determined to lay the blame at my feet.”
“That was not my intent. It is a question that arises naturally out of the facts. And as I know nothing of what happened to Ulrich, what brought you back here in such haste, I ask in the hope that you will confide in me. Help me, Mother, before someone else comes to harm.”
Silence. Tears stood at the corners of Eleanor’s eyes, and her breathing was ragged.
“Mother?” Kate said softly, laying a hand on one of Eleanor’s.
A rustle of silk. Eleanor caught her breath, opened her eyes, blinking in the light from the window. “What about a Franciscan friar? The friary is close, just over there.” She gestured to the right, toward the river.
Silently cursing at her mother’s continuing secrecy, Kate bit back a retort and just nodded. “My friend Jocasta Sharp might be willing to speak with her spiritual counselor there, ask him to recommend someone.”
“Jocasta Sharp. You have mentioned her before. You respect her.”
Eleanor’s voice trembled. Whatever Kate’s questions had conjured had brought up strong emotions. How she yearned to ask more. But the change in topic was her mother’s way of slamming the door on further discussion. Perhaps if Kate kept her talking, another opportunity might arise.
“Yes, I respect and admire Jocasta,” said Kate. “Much as the beguines, she has answered a call to help the neglected members of the community. She does it in such wise that she wins their affection and loyalty. They will do anything for her. According to Agnes, Jocasta has been seeing that Nan’s mother and the children have a good meal each day. Perhaps …” She heard someone leaving the bedchamber next door. As Brigida appeared, Kate asked after Dina.
“I believe she will sleep,” said Brigida. She sank down on the bed, drawing a piece of linen from her sleeve with which she dried her sweaty forehead. “How is it that we were all so blind? Our families were friends. I knew her father when I was small. I never guessed. Everyone treated him as if he were the best of men.”
“Of course he knew the enormity of his sin,” said Eleanor. “You heard Dina, he frightened her into silence. And anyone who guessed would be threatened as well, you can be certain. I imagine he presented himself to the world as a most honorable man with a horror of sin.”
Kate watched her mother’s face, the pinched mouth as she paused – she described someone she’d known. But of course – hypocrites were legion.
Brigida stared down at her hands. “The apostle John said that God is love, and anyone who lives in love lives in God, and God lives in him. Yet God permits such sins against children, in whom he dwells. Nor does he strike down such a monster as Dina’s father. I do not understand.” She looked up at Eleanor. “Friar Adam cannot hear Dina’s true confession, nor could I ever confide in him. He – We all felt judged. For my part, I did not sense God dwelling within him, though I know that he must. The apostle John–” She broke off, eyes closed, shaking her head.
“Would you consider a Franciscan friar?” Kate asked. “The friary is so close, and I know someone who would commend you to them. Her confessor is a grayfriar and a kind, gentle soul. I have met him.”
Sister Brigida nodded. “Thank you. I will ask the others, but I believe they will all be grateful. Agnes had suggested the grayfriars.”
“What of Agnes?” asked Kate. “Is she to bide with you?”
“For the nonce. As we would with anyone new to the house, we will watch her, guide her, and, in time, we will know whether or not she is suited to this life. It would help to have a confessor who is a guide, not a judge.”
Eleanor had sniffed when Brigida said Agnes would bide with them for the present, but she’d held her tongue. Now she shifted, her gray silk gown rustling.
“You do not agree, Dame Eleanor?”
“I cannot trust the woman.”
“What has she done that you cannot forgive?” Brigida asked.
“She hid the truth of who owns this house. What else might she be hiding?”
“Have you never held something back for fear that you might be shunned? Denounced? Might lose everything?”
Kate watched with amazement as her mother crumpled in the face of Brigida’s gentle rebuke.
“Once again you guide me to the light, Sister Brigida. My old ways are rutted and too familiar.” Eleanor pressed her hand to her heart and bowed to the beguine.
Speechless, Kate turned to gaze out the window.
When Brigida and Eleanor went down to the hall to pray, Kate wandered out into the summer afternoon. She found Lille and Ghent lying in the shade near Marie and Petra, who napped together in a hammock tied between the two lindens. They were both so precious to her. Kate would do anything to protect her girls from what Dina had suffered. Could Dina’s mother really not have known what was happening under her own roof? How could she value her own safety above that of her daughter? Lille raised her head, sensing her distress. Kate knelt beside her, stroking her back, letting her nuzzle her neck.
Matt sat nearby, whittling. He was good with the children, thoughtfully sharing his favorite things from his own childhood.
He looked up now. “How is Sister Dina?”
“Resting.”
He nodded. “You will want to talk to Jennet. She’s in the kitchen.”
“She has news?”