The Muscovy Chain (Thomas the Falconer Mystery Series Book 7) by John Pilkington

Author:John Pilkington [Pilkington, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sharpe Books
Published: 2020-01-12T22:00:00+00:00

Having slept on the matter, Sir Robert was adamant: the news must be broken gently to Lady Jane Rooke, and he would not do it. The only one who had sufficient delicacy for such a task was Lady Margaret.

Thomas stood before his master, his mistress and Martin in Sir Robert’s private chamber. The morning was misty, with no breeze to disperse it. A silence had fallen, as the knight read the paper Thomas had given him for what seemed like the fifth time. Finally he sat back and threw it on the table.

‘So – he’s a married man. Here’s the testimony from the parson who performed the ceremony!’ The knight turned to his wife, but Lady Margaret said nothing.

‘Small wonder the wretch wished to keep it a secret,’ Sir Robert went on. ‘For to gain Lady Jane’s affections, let alone flirt with her, he must appear a bachelor… which also allowed him to pursue others. Including your daughter, I hear, Thomas!’

Thomas made no reply. But Martin coughed, in meaningful fashion.

‘Surely what’s most important, sir, is the fact that he was wed to the daughter of a fencing master,’ the old man said. ‘From this, all else follows.’

No-one needed reminding. The document Thomas had read by candlelight in Doggett’s chamber was plain enough: a testimony bearing the name of the parson of St Helen’s church in Bishopsgate Ward, London, proving the marriage two years ago of John Doggett to Emilia Saviolo, the daughter of Baptista Saviolo, fencing master. It fitted: Cutler’s acquaintance with Doggett, through the fencing school… he must have learned that Doggett had left his wife and joined the household of a rich widow. The man was indeed ripe for blackmail… and another thought struck Thomas. Had it been Doggett’s suggestion that Lady Jane quit London for the summer? Perhaps Cutler had already threatened him, then found out where he was and followed him all the way to Petbury. The man was persistent, if nothing else… he looked up to see Lady Margaret’s eyes upon him. Taking a breath, he told his thoughts.

‘I believe you are right,’ Lady Margaret said, and turned to her husband. ‘It was Doggett’s idea that Lady Rooke should take the Downland air - for her health, he said. She spoke of it herself.’

Sir Robert shook his head. ‘The boldness of the fellow! But what’s worse, is that when this rogue Cutler catches up with him, he sends word to meet him in the Petbury gardens – by one of my own servants - then kills him in cold blood!’ The knight was fuming. ‘I’ll have the county scoured from border to border! And if the sheriff can’t catch the devil, I’ll hunt him down myself!’

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