02 Blood Libel by Joyce Lionarons

Author:Joyce Lionarons
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Mystery & Detective - Middle Ages
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Published: 2018-02-09T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Cordwainer stared at the ice that covered his wash water in the basin and tapped at it with his forefinger where a bubble had formed and he judged the ice to be thinnest. Not a single crack. He steeled himself, imagining his knuckles plunging through the ice, the cold sting of the frigid water, and shivered. Nay, he would not. Splashing his face with the freezing water under the ice was unimaginable, not on a morning when he was already cold and need not rush to go out. He would wait to wash till after he had broken his fast. Placing the basin next to the fire to warm, he threw another log on for good measure and stood watching, waiting for the new wood to burn. Finally, a flame leapt up at one end, and he nodded in satisfaction. He descended the dim staircase, careful not to slip in his leather house shoes, to find Thomas waiting for him with a bowl of hot porridge.

“I thought you might like something warm today,” said Thomas. “There’s honey on the table.”

“Aye,” Cordwainer replied. “The wash basin is covered in ice again.”

“Tis February still. I’ll bring you some hot wine,” said Thomas, turning towards the kitchen.

“Well watered this morning, please. February or no, I want to visit Jacob today. It has been what, eight days since Solomon was killed. Perhaps Jacob knows if his brother loaned money not in the records.” He sat at the table and took the lid off the clay honey pot.

“I shall come with you, then,” said Thomas. “The streets will be slippery.”

Cordwainer snorted. Of course, his manservant should come with him, he thought. Twas not that he was an old man who could not walk the streets in winter without help. And yet he feared that it was just that, remembering the day in January when the apprentice butcher Theo had found him gasping on Petergate and carried him home in his cart. A day just like today, cold and icy. He said a silent prayer of thanks for Thomas, then pushed the thoughts aside. He spooned a dollop of honey into his porridge and stirred, watching the amber liquid melt into the grey mass of oats. If the Crown had not yet taken possession of Solomon’s house, perhaps Jacob could find his brother’s records, and he would have some idea which of the Mercers had taken illicit loans. His investigation could move forward. He ate quickly, then took the wine from Thomas and drained the cup. Twas time to wash and move on with the day.

He was halfway up the stairs when the knock came at the door. As always, he prayed that it would not be a death. He waited as Thomas opened the door to admit Rolf, who hurried to the fire to warm himself. “Have you found Benedict Wotton, then?” called Cordwainer. “Or has another body washed ashore?”

Rolf turned around, uncertain where the voice had come from. When his eyes found Cordwainer on the shadowy staircase, he replied, “Nay, tis not a drowning, and aye, tis Wotton.

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