The Service of the Dead
- Автор: Робб Кэндис
- Серия: A Kate Clifford Mystery #1
- Год: 2016
- Язык: английский
- Год: Pegasus Books
- ISBN: 978-1-68177-175-5
- Жанр: Исторические детективы
Электронная книга - «The Service of the Dead». Краткое содержание книги:
Expertly recreating the social and political upheavals of late medieval Europe and the increasing power of the wealthy merchant class, acclaimed author Candace Robb introduces a new series starring Kate Clifford, a woman forged on the warring northern marches of fourteenth century England.
Political unrest permeates York at the cusp of the fifteenth century, as warring factions take sides on who should be the rightful king – Richard II or his estranged, powerful cousin in exile, Henry Bolingbroke. Independent minded twenty-year-old Kate Clifford is struggling to dig out from beneath the debt left by her late husband. Determined to find a way to be secure in her own wealth and establish her independence in a male dominated society, Kate turns one of her properties near the minster into a guest house and sets up a business. In a dance of power, she also quietly rents the discreet bedchambers to the wealthy, powerful merchants of York for nights with their mistresses.
But the brutal murder of a mysterious guest and the disappearance of his companion for the evening threatens all that Kate has built. Before others in town hear word of a looming scandal, she must call upon all of her hard-won survival skills to save herself from ruin.
“I could not stay behind. He needed me there with him. They were all a little in love with Maud. She was gentle, so kind to everyone. There was space in her heart for all.” Kate closed her eyes. Took a few deep, deep breaths. The scene was there, spread out before her. The warmth of the sun, the breeze coming down off the high hills chilling her legs as she gathered up her skirts and scrambled down the rocks, the tug of the puppies on their leashes. They were so reluctant, hanging back, whimpering. But how could she know they would be safe up above? The bloody Cavertons might be anywhere. They were known for their stealth – one moment you were alone, the next you were surrounded.
“Dame Katherine?”
The hillside dissolved, the kitchen returned.
“The blood had soaked through Maud’s clothing and into the ground. She was already cold. But maybe that was the loss of so much blood. Her jaw was wide open, the blood…” She needed to pause a moment, breathe. “But it was her eyes that frightened me most, the terror in them. They followed me everywhere for days and days.”
“Roland and your twin died avenging her murder?”
Not Geoff, but that was not for tonight. “Her honor, her beauty, her innocence. The brutality. They feared for me.”
“That is why your mother brought you to York?”
“So she said.”
“What of the Cavertons?”
“Two of the brothers are dead, Bryce and James, and their father, Andrew. But young Andrew – I always thought him the worst of the lot, the eldest brother, the heir to his father’s evil – one-eared, scarred Andrew disappeared.”
“Your brothers killed the others?”
She ignored the question. “The Cliffords, the Allens, and many neighbors spent weeks searching for him. But they just drove him farther north, too far across the border for a quick retreat.”
“How has your oldest brother survived up there?”
“Survived? Walter is a walking corpse, Berend. A man possessed. All fear him. He leaves a deathly chill in his wake as he moves across the land. That is what a friend told me a few years ago. His tenants fear him, but stay on in memory of Father, Roland, Geoffrey.” Kate bent to Lille and Ghent, rubbing their ears for comfort. “Alice’s suffering must have been terrible. And her fear that last day. But Maud’s suffering – she lived with the horror for a week before she spoke to me, and then, every snap of a twig, every creak in the house must have terrified her. And to carry her to our property… I had never seen her in that place. She was no climber. So she knew she was being taken to her death.” Kate bowed her head.
Yes, that is enough, Geoff assured her.
Berend quietly thanked her.
“I know that I said far more than I needed to William. But now you see why.”
“I do.” Berend rose, offered his hand to help her up. “It grows late. We have a mass to attend in the morning. And then you dine with Master Lionel.”
Lionel had left a message with Matt inviting Kate to dine with him at an inn on Micklegate the following day. He’d told Matt nothing of his purpose.
“No doubt Fitch’s misadventure inspired it,” said Kate. “I shall enjoy watching Lionel make his excuses.”
Berend snorted. “I should like to hear it. I do not suppose I might serve the two of you?”
“I need you at the house on Petergate, the house Odo has neglected. I have neglected. You must arrange for the workmen, show them what to do.” She shook out her skirts. “And you and Clement need to do an inventory of the stores in the undercroft. Find out how long it has been since Lionel was there.” She thought of the filth in which the tenant had been living. “Poor Odo.”
“He was not your responsibility, Dame Katherine. He was a tenant, nothing more.”
“Then I should have paid more attention to the state of my property.”
Berend did not disagree.
Wrapping her cloak round her, Kate called the dogs to her and wished Berend a good night. Out in the quiet garden, she paused to gaze up at the stars. Maud, Roland, her father, Geoff–
No. I am right here.
“Yes, you are,” she said aloud. “Though I know not how. But so many are not. And now Hubert Bale, Alice, Connor have joined them.” She crossed herself and continued on to the hall door, where Lille and Ghent waited.
Matt snored by the hearth fire, but reared up as she entered. He clutched a knife. “Who goes there?”
“It is Dame Katherine and the dogs, Matt. Be at ease.” She waved him quiet as he began to apologize. “I am glad to see you so ready to defend the household.”
The dogs settled down near Matt. Kate lit an oil lamp and wished them all a good night, then climbed up to the solar, Matt’s snores fading, Jennet’s growing louder. She prayed they might all make it safely through the night.
14
A Requiem
A thick mist enveloped Kate and her companions as they stepped out onto Castlegate before dawn. Her pattens clicked on the wet cobbles, and she held her skirts away from the piles of slushy snow that had been pushed about by passing carts. It was a mild morning, such a contrast to a few days earlier when she had hurried beside her uncle’s secretary. The cobbles had been icy and treacherous then, and the cold had numbed her face. Now it was the stench that assailed her, weeks of dung, piss, and refuse uncovered by the thaw. Jennet and Berend carried lanterns, but their lights did little to distinguish between puddles and rain-slicked cobbles.
As they passed a garden she heard an owl cry, then the shriek of a small animal. Past Ousegate, two cats bolted across their path. Jennet crossed herself. Berend teased her. A drunk argued with a watchman in St. Helen’s Square, two apprentices knocked on a goldsmith’s shop, the opening door throwing light and warmth out onto Stonegate for a moment.
The dean’s cook and housekeeper welcomed them at the deanery door with small bowls of ale, inviting them to get warm by the roaring fire in the hearth. A servant would come to escort them across to the minster when the dean and his servers were ready for them.
Slowly they were joined by Connor’s fellows from the stoneyard. They wore their work clothes, for it was the start of their week, but all had made an effort to brush the stone dust from their clothes and drag wet combs through their hair for the solemn occasion. One young man carried sprigs of holly heavy with bright red berries.
He shrugged shyly as Helen admired them. “No flowers yet, so I thought these might brighten the chapel.”
“You are a dear.” Helen patted his cheek. “Oh, there are the young ones.” She lowered her voice and leaned toward Kate. “They have fallen out with each other and are quite snappish this morning. Just a warning.”
Kate’s wards stood in the passage that led from the kitchen, searching the crowd with their eyes. Marie was the first to see Kate, hurrying over without a word to her brother.
“I do not want to stay here,” she announced. Chin high, she glared at Phillip as he joined them.
Phillip gave Kate a little bow and interrupted her response to Marie to thank her for rising so early.
Kate nodded to him and was telling Marie they would discuss her wishes later when a small company burst into the hall – Lady Margery and Dame Jocasta, with several servants following. The stonemasons parted to allow the women passage.
“Our parties converged in the yard,” Lady Margery exclaimed. She wore a deep red cloak lined in pale fur. “I sent word to Dame Jocasta last night that this morning’s mass is for both Alice and Connor.”