The Nun's Tale by Candace Robb

Author:Candace Robb [Robb, Candace]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: Crime, General, Mystery & Detective, Historical, Fiction
ISBN: 9781446440711
Google: Rd4DyKE8AykC
Amazon: B004I8WLE8
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2011-01-10T18:30:00+00:00

The next morning, bristling with impatience, Owen sat on the bottom of the steps to one of the outer towers, glumly nursing the fist he’d put to a post in the stables. He had meant the pain to distract him from thoughts of Lucie’s silken hair, the curve of her hips, her white breasts. It was not working. He was ready to put the other fist into someone’s face.

‘I should not like to cause such a dark look on so obvious a fighter,’ a voice said.

Owen focused his good eye on the approaching man, backlit by the sun. He recognised the short, round figure before he could clearly see the face. ‘Master Chaucer.’

‘Captain.’ He gave a little bow. ‘May I join you?’

Owen shrugged.

The little man settled on the step above Owen, bringing his line of sight even with Owen’s. ‘Is it your beautiful, accomplished wife you are missing?’

‘How do you know of her?’

‘Sir Nicholas is a talker.’

‘He is a chattering jay.’

Chaucer chuckled. ‘And Ned told me of her background, how you met. A fascinating story.’

Owen frowned still. ‘I am attempting to forget my longing at the moment, Master Chaucer. Pray tell me something of your wife.’

The poet gave a little bow. ‘Fair enough. You should know as much of me as I of you. Let me see. Something of my wife. We wed shortly after my father died this spring. She is Phillippa de Roet, an attendant of Queen Phillippa’s chamber. Her father was a Flemish farmer, knighted on the battlefield. He died shortly thereafter and his daughters were taken in by our Queen, kind-hearted and loyal to her fellow Flemings. My wife’s sister, Katherine, young and sickly, was sent to the convent of Sheppey, but Phillippa already showed signs of formidable tidiness and practicality, so the Queen found her useful. Phillippa is round and plain like myself.’ He shrugged. ‘And she has little patience with my poetic endeavours. That is all there is to tell.’

Owen did not detect much affection in the summation. ‘Do you yearn for your Phillippa on your journeys?’

Chaucer considered it. ‘I was about to say that I am married too recently to answer that; but, now you ask, I do miss her – when a button goes astray or I misplace something. And the bed sport is to my liking.’ He slapped his thighs. ‘Faith, I nearly forgot my mission. I am to bring you to my lord Duke. He made note of your desire for haste and wishes to give you your orders and send you off.’

Owen was surprised to find Ned sitting with Louth in the Duke’s parlour, looking very pleased with himself. ‘We are to travel together, old friend.’

‘You are coming to York?’

Ned grinned. ‘I look forward to meeting your fair Lucie.’

Owen glanced at Louth, but could read nothing in his expression.

The Duke entered the room, looked round. ‘All present. Good. I shall be brief. This matter of Longford and Sebastian being tied together with your nun . . . I think

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