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.
A forceful knock startled Kate from her thoughts. As her manservant Seth moved past her to admit the guests he whispered that the new servant was spending the evening beneath Griselde and Clement’s bed, just in case one of the men chanced to step out to the kitchen. Carl had still not appeared.
“Pray God he does not arrive in the midst of this celebration,” Kate whispered.
“If he does, I will loudly berate him for coming too late to help with the evening’s event,” said Seth.
“Good man.”
He grinned and opened the door.
“What a night!” Sir Elric exclaimed as he shook his head and stomped the snow off his boots before stepping up to the threshold. He filled the doorway, face ruddy with cold, eyes bright in the lamplight. His fur-lined cloak was thrown back over one shoulder to allow access to his sword, a leather-gloved hand resting on the carved hilt, his hair, shoulders, and boots dusted with snow.
Armed? Well, of course he was, riding through the Forest of Galtres, and in such an unsettled time.
“It was good of you to come in such a storm,” she said. “I would have understood if you chose not to make the journey.”
“How could I miss such a celebration?” He stepped aside, gesturing to the five men crowding in behind him and lining up just within the doorway – Kevin, Douglas, Stephen, Wulf, and Elric’s squire Harry.
Kate welcomed them and motioned for Seth to assist them with their boots.
Douglas waved him away with a laugh. “Many thanks, but we’re accustomed to seeing to ourselves.”
Elric, however, settled on a bench just inside the door and wagged a booted foot. “Harry.” The young man bobbed his head to Kate, then dropped to his knees to unlace his captain’s high leather boots. The leg released from the high boots was clad in dark green wool leggings. A fine, strong leg. Kate was glad Elric was too busy to notice her watching him.
Griselde bustled in with a tray laden with hot dishes, which she placed on a brazier set up near the fire to keep the food warm, as she would soon be leaving to see to the supper of Kate’s wards. With Berend away and the children now so near, she enjoyed fussing over them with special meals. Indeed, earlier in the day she had chosen treats for the children at the market, an attempt to soften the blow of Kevin’s departure. She nodded to everyone and headed back to the kitchen for more items.
“Dame Griselde could use your help,” Kate said to Seth.
He nodded and hurried off to the kitchen.
Leaving his men struggling with their own high boots, Elric crossed the chamber and placed his near the fire circle to dry, then peeked at the food. Griselde had prepared for them a variety of dishes – sliced venison in a spicy sauce and eel in cream, two pies stuffed with cheese, nuts, and onions, a salty bread, roasted nuts, and figs.
“You think of everything,” said Elric.
“I run a guesthouse.” She smiled. “Had I known the weather would turn I would have suggested another date.”
“I’ve ridden through much worse. As have you, I imagine, growing up on the northern border.”
“I have, but only when it could not be avoided. Father did not like us risking the horses.” She noticed that Elric’s men now stood near the doorway in their stockinged feet. “Come, put your boots by the fire and then take a seat. If two of you might put the pies and bread on the table, then Seth will serve the hot dishes.”
Elric surprised her by choosing the chair that would put his back to the door. A gesture of trust? As the food was set on the table he rubbed his hands together. “A feast for the eyes. Berend’s work?”
“Not tonight, not here.” Kate brought several flagons of wine to the table as the men settled. “This is Griselde’s domain, and she is quite a good cook.”
“I’ve not seen Berend since my return,” said Elric. He had ridden with the earl in the army led by Henry of Lancaster in summer, then accompanied his lord to Westminster for the deliberations about the fate of the deposed king and the crowning. He had not returned to Sheriff Hutton until after Christmas. “Is your cook away?”
“On a brief mission for me.” Kate prayed that she was safe in trusting Kevin not to tell his captain that Berend’s departure was unplanned, that she did not know where he was. “Wine?”
“Of course. We must toast Kevin’s recovery.”
As her guest helped himself to a slice of the pie and several pieces of venison, Kate took a few sips of wine to calm herself. She had managed her explanations smoothly, she thought. And the delight on Elric’s face as he tasted the pie bode well. She filled her own plate and took a bite of the venison; Berend’s tutelage had vastly improved Griselde’s skill, particularly in blending spices. And now Kevin and his fellows fell to. For a while the party spoke mostly about the food, the men declaring it better even than the hearty fare at the York Tavern.
“Why is such a splendid cook wasting her talents managing a guesthouse for lovers?” asked Elric. “Griselde and Clement might like spending their elder years away from the bustle of the city.”
“My regular guests often request suppers much like this. I presume Sheriff Hutton Castle still needs a cook?”
“We do indeed. Since our former cook’s departure we have depended on one of the men who is a tolerable cook in the field, when we are desperate, but he can ruin even the finest venison. And as for something such as this pie – he would not know how to begin.”
“A pity,” said Kate. “And you’ve found no one?”
“The castle is remote and the regular occupants soldiers and servants; only occasionally is the cook called upon to prepare a feast for more discerning palates.” Elric shrugged. “For a while the wife of one of the earl’s tenants took pity on us and assisted with dinner a few days a week. With the purpose of teaching our cook his trade. Things improved for a while, but he did not see the point of all the effort and sank back into his slovenly ways. She refused to return.” A pause as he cut another piece of the pie and spooned up more of the creamed eel. “Berend would be a good fit for us. Not many women about, so a man is more appropriate. Griselde could surely cook for your household as well as this one.” He glanced up from his food to see her reaction.
She laughed. “I agreed to provide you with information valuable to your earl, not share my household staff.”
“I can but try. You said he was away on an errand?”
“Yes. And he is missed. Phillip is a picky eater and Griselde’s cooking does not tempt him as Berend’s does. Though he is free to eat with us only on Sundays, Phillip had so looked forward to it.”
Elric nodded. “Growing lads need fuel. Phillip is Hugh Grantham’s apprentice now, the master mason at the minster, is he not? Is it official?”
“He is, and yes, it is official, to his joy.”
“A fine lad. How long will Berend be away?”
Kevin cleared his throat loudly, nodding as Kate and Sir Elric looked his way. “You might talk of cooks another time. Is this not my night? Are we not here to drink to my health and welcome me back into the company of my comrades?”
“Your comrades have made some progress in drinking to your health already,” Elric noted. But he laughed and raised his cup. “To Kevin.”
Silently blessing Kevin for distracting his captain, Kate rose to pour all more wine. After several rounds of toasts, including to Brother Martin’s healing hands and Kate, the men broke out in bawdy songs. Douglas’s barrel chest produced a deep baritone, Kevin carried the tune with Harry’s help, Stephen went high in harmony. Wulf, drunker than his fellows, kept time drumming on his thighs.