The Easter Sepulchre by Mel Starr

Author:Mel Starr [Starr, Mel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sort3
ISBN: 9781782643074
Publisher: Lion Hudson LTD
Published: 2020-08-28T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

Wednesday morning dawned cloudy and misty. John, as is his custom, awoke with first light and demanded to break his fast. So Kate was up and about when Adela appeared at the door of Galen House. I heard Kate lift the bar to admit Adela, and moments later I heard the lass ask if I was yet abed. I was, but not for long. Adela would not have asked but that she had some matter to tell me. I hastily drew on chauces and cotehardie, ran a comb through my hair, and clattered down the stairs.

I found Adela and Kate in the kitchen, sharing a loaf. I went to the sideboard, poured myself a cup of ale from the ewer, and asked Adela what she wished of me.

“Last night I came late to my father’s ’ouse because you ’ad not yet returned from the castle.”

“Aye,” I agreed. “’Twas near dark when we sent you home.”

“I saw the man again.”

“The man you saw creeping about Reynold Wyle’s house?”

“Aye, sir. Him what wears a long robe.”

“And did he, as before, approach the Weald from Bridge Street?”

“Aye, ’e did. Wasn’t Roger Folewye, unless ’e passed by Rosamond’s ’ouse in the dark, then come back.”

“Unlikely,” I said. “And you are sure the fellow wore a long garment, as do priests and clerks and such?”

“Aye, sir. Saw ’im clear against John’s ’ouse.”

“Did the fellow know he was seen?”

“Don’ think so. When I knew ’e was about I ’id behind some bushes ’til ’e’d passed.”

“Did you see him go past Reynold Wyle’s house?”

“Nay. ’E went behind Reynold’s ’ouse an’ I never seen ’im again.”

“Did Rosamond appear?”

“Nay. There was a cresset lit in Reynold’s window. Likely ’e was not abed, so Rosamond couldn’t sneak out.”

“Aye… likely,” I agreed.

“Who d’you think it is I been seein’?”

“I know who it was not. ’Twas neither Odo nor Ernaud.”

“Mayhap then Peter Bouchard, or one of the priests?”

“Mayhap. But not likely a priest. The vicars of St. Beornwald’s are too old to go about in the night seeking a lass.” Probably.

Kate had listened silently to this conversation. Now she spoke. “Could it be that this nocturnal prowler has something to do with Odo’s murder?”

“I cannot see what the association would be, but ’tis a great coincidence that the events, if unjoined, are happening at or near the same time. Just because I do not see a connection does not mean there is none. If I knew who Adela has been seeing I could arrest him for violating curfew, even though it’s the bishop’s lands he’s been seen upon, and press the fellow about what he has been doing, and why. I might not discover who slew Odo, but I might learn who did not. But first I must seize him.”

“How will you do that?” Kate asked.

“I will don my dark gray cotehardie and blend with the night; then seek bushes and shadows and discover who it is Adela has seen. Mayhap, if I have no success, I will confront Rosemond. Although I doubt I would get a straight answer from her.

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