Echoes on a Cornish River by Kate Ryder

Author:Kate Ryder
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bonnier Publishing Fiction
Published: 2023-01-07T00:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Six

Shortly after breakfast the next morning, Ellinor drives into Tavistock and visits the library. She’s determined to find out more about Richard Edgcumbe and, hopefully, William, although she has very little information to go on where he’s concerned.

The weather continues to deceive people into thinking it’s summer, and after parking her vehicle in the large, public car park close to the library, she makes a small detour. Stepping through an opening in the high stone wall surrounding the parking area, Ellinor emerges onto a pleasant, leafy walkway running alongside a slow-moving river that meanders around boulders and finds it way over pebbled banks. A dozen ducks paddle downstream. It’s so tranquil, and the dappled light playing through the trees and reflecting on the water is calming. It’s hard to believe that the busy road into town is only a short distance away, and she takes a moment to enjoy the peace and serenity, aware of people walking along the path on the other side of the shallow river. After a while, she retraces her steps and makes her way across the car park to the library.

Ellinor enters the building through double doors and gazes around the bright, airy room, in which an unruffled air pervades. She’s arrived early in the day and only a handful of people are browsing the shelves. Over in the far corner, sitting on small chairs, a group of pre-school children listen attentively to a young woman reading them a story. She’s obviously captured their imaginations as there’s hardly a peep out of any of the youngsters. Crossing over to the reception desk, Ellinor enquires where the history books are located, and a helpful assistant, whose name badge states Wendy, accompanies her to a section over by the windows.

‘What period are you interested in?’ the woman asks.

‘Late fifteenth century,’ Ellinor explains, ‘around the time of the Princes in the Tower. I’m particularly interested in Richard Edgcumbe’s involvement with the revolts that took place following the princes’ demise.’

‘Ah, the Wars of the Roses,’ the library assistant confirms. ‘We have several books covering that period. You’ll find them on these shelves. If you have difficulty locating what you’re after, please don’t hesitate to come and find me.’

‘Thank you.’ Ellinor gives Wendy a smile.

‘Take as long as you want. We won’t usher you out of the building, unless of course you’re still here at closing time!’

‘Hopefully I’ll find what I’m looking for long before then.’

As Wendy walks away, Ellinor gazes at the rows of books. Somewhere on these shelves there may be answers. Perhaps today she will discover who the mysterious William is.

Three hours later, as she sits in one of the comfortable chairs provided for library users, Ellinor stares at the many tomes open on the table before her. She’s discovered plenty about the battles during 1455–1487, which tore England apart in Civil War, and she’s learned that at the time this was known as the war between Lancaster and York, more popularly referred to since the nineteenth century as the Wars of the Roses.

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