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.
“The minster is magnificent, and the homes along Micklegate are very fine. But I prefer the countryside, the moors and dales.”
“Ah. You are familiar with the North? I thought I detected a bit of it in your speech.”
“Durham.” He bobbed his head. “Have you been there?”
“No, I have not. Would I like it?”
“I would need to know you better in order to answer that.” A dimple had appeared in his left cheek.
How sweet. She had charmed him. Good. He might be less inclined to think ill of her.
“Ah.” She spied Gwenllian Ferriby again and was about to excuse herself.
“Your kinsman’s knight did us a favor this morning. I believe you will be comforted to hear that the men who so rudely intruded on you a few nights ago have been apprehended. Salisbury’s men, Parr and Sawyer.”
She had been confused for a moment at the mention of her kinsman’s knight – so far removed from Ralph Neville, the earl of Westmoreland, had Elric become to her. But of course this man would think of her in relation to her late husband’s family. “Oh indeed? I am relieved to hear of it.”
“So you had not heard?”
She dazzled him with her smile. “This morning my three wards woke early, wanting to be here before everything began. I’ve had little time to hear about more serious issues, Captain Crawford. When you have children, you will understand. Now, forgive me, but I must have a word with the apothecary.”
He bowed and expressed his desire to know her better. She waved prettily, as she imagined Philippa Atterby might, and hurried after Gwenllian. Thinking about Cecily Wheeldon and the rumors Thomas Holme reported, Kate was curious. Spying her three wards, she caught them up and introduced them to Gwenllian and the two girls who moved in her wake. A boy suddenly appeared, her son. All six scurried off to watch the puppets.
“Your niece looks so like you,” said Gwenllian. “I can see that all three are dear to you.”
“They grace my life with joy every day,” said Kate.
“How can I help?”
“Forgive me, in the midst of the festivities I should not approach you with serious matters.”
“I welcome it.”
They had walked over to the edge of the crowd, beyond the pavilion.
“I am interested in what you might know about the death of Ross Wheeldon.”
“Ross?” Gwenllian looked startled. “What is your interest in him?”
“My partner’s nephew hopes to wed his widow, and I am concerned. Her name arises in all my inquiries about Merek Lacy’s murder. She had business dealings with him and used Jon Horner as an accountant.”
“Horner? Did she?” A flash of a smile. “Tell me more.”
Kate described to her the odd ball she had found in Horner’s house, possibly a bezoar stone.
“Ah, yes. Most likely the one his housekeeper purchased for him not long ago.”
“Goodwife Tibby?”
“She had quite a fancy for him, doted on him, though I suspect he had no idea. She did not like the arguments she overheard between him and his mistress, and she took it upon herself to protect him.”
“His mistress?”
“It was not my place to ask her name, though I was uneasy when I learned he had been poisoned – or poisoned himself. How has Goodwife Tibby taken the loss, do you know?”
Kate cursed herself for not thinking to talk to the housekeeper. “I have not seen her since the morning of his death,” she confessed.
“You might want to. She can be difficult to approach. If you say something kind about Jon Horner, she might be talkative. But you were asking about Ross Wheeldon’s death. I was stunned when I heard. He was doing well.”
As they spoke, Cecily Wheeldon and Leif Holme strolled past.
“We might speak further about Ross. But not here. Too many ears,” said Gwenllian.
“Might I come to the apothecary after I take the girls to school in the morning?”
“You will be feasting long into the night. Are you sure?”
“The girls will be up, and so will I.”
“Of course you will, as will I. Come to my home. I will have my apprentices see to the opening of the shop. We can talk without interruption.”
“Sheriff Wrawby ordered us to search the barge before you depart.” The man stood with his forehead jutted out as if he meant to use it to butt Elric’s.
Or was it to protect an unusually large nose? Elric, in turn, leaned even closer, close enough to smell the man’s sweat. “Search for what?”
The man drew back. “Lady Kirkby, sir. He wants to ensure that she is not on the barge.”
Something was wrong about this. Wrawby’s fear of Katherine exposing his patronage of her guesthouse had been real yesterday. Elric had no doubt the man meant to keep his word. So who sent these men? Cottesbrok? Should Katherine have threatened him as well? No, Elric could not believe she would be so careless, not where Berend’s safety was concerned. Had it been Elric in trouble, she might have … No, not even then.
“I am in York on the orders of the Earl of Westmoreland,” said Elric, “my mission to find whether Lady Kirkby is hiding in the city and, if she is, to take her to Sheriff Hutton to await the king’s pleasure. Are you questioning my honor?” He used his quiet voice. His men usually found it menacing.
“I– I just follow orders, sir.”
“And these orders were?” With a strong grip on the man’s shoulder Elric prevented him from turning toward his companion. “You will answer me.”
“We are the sheriffs’ men–”
And they had been steered away from interfering in anything Elric and his men might do. So why were these two following him?
“Wrawby and Cottesbrok know my mission. They would never give such orders. Who has bought you?”
“It’s not like that–”
The other man stepped forward. “Sir Peter Angle offered us a sovereign each to follow anyone we thought suspicious during the festivities. When we saw you following a woman, we–”
Wulf started laughing. Elric joined in.
“You fools,” he said. “Have you ever seen Lady Kirkby? She is fair, straight-backed, and graceful. You mistook the elderly goodwife for such a woman?”
At that moment Harry led Berend into view on the barge. “Goodwife Sarah wishes to see the men who paid her such a compliment.”
“Goodwife Sarah” made a clumsy curtsey, then limped back out of sight.
Elric shook his head at his men, who looked fit to burst. Berend’s mime was amusing, but he doubted it would dissuade two men eager for their money. Yet by some miracle, it worked. Red-faced, the two men begged Elric’s pardon and headed back up Hertergate.
God led me, Berend had declared. Was it true, then? Did God watch over Lady Kirkby?
Boarding the barge, Elric quietly told Harry and Douglas where they and Kevin would find the horses to ride back to York. But they would not find their fellows in the city. “When those two discover their injured comrades, there will be hell to pay.” He would order Wulf and Stephen to round up the others and return to Sheriff Hutton. “Their work is finished. We delivered Parr and Sawyer, and are satisfied that Lady Kirkby is not in York.”
“And Dame Katherine?” Berend asked.
“I will offer reparations to the sheriffs, and stand up to Sir Peter,” said Elric, “make certain that he does not suspect Dame Katherine had a hand in your escape.”
Berend nodded to him.
“Do you all understand what you must do?” Elric asked his men, who assured him he could count on them. “Good. I will leave you then.” About to disembark, he thought better about that, and ducked behind the barrels to shake Berend’s hand. “I promise you Katherine will be safe.”