A Twisted Vengeance by Candace Robb

Author:Candace Robb
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pegasus Books

When Brigida and Eleanor went down to the hall to pray, Kate wandered out into the summer afternoon. She found Lille and Ghent lying in the shade near Marie and Petra, who napped together in a hammock tied between the two lindens. They were both so precious to her. Kate would do anything to protect her girls from what Dina had suffered. Could Dina’s mother really not have known what was happening under her own roof? How could she value her own safety above that of her daughter? Lille raised her head, sensing her distress. Kate knelt beside her, stroking her back, letting her nuzzle her neck.

Matt sat nearby, whittling. He was good with the children, thoughtfully sharing his favorite things from his own childhood.

He looked up now. “How is Sister Dina?”

“Resting.”

He nodded. “You will want to talk to Jennet. She’s in the kitchen.”

“She has news?”

Matt was not smiling. “Let her tell you.”

In the kitchen, Berend, the sleeves of his thin linen shirt rolled up above his elbows, chopped vegetables for a pottage as he listened to Jennet, who sat across from him shelling peas into a bowl in her lap. Kate’s gaze lingered on the pale down of Berend’s forearms. So strong, yet so gentle, so loving. None of the men in her household—she could not imagine them harming a child even to save their own lives.

“Did Matt tell you about Nan?” Jennet asked.

Kate shook herself, slipped down next to Jennet. “No. Tell me.”

“I told Berend I would go to check her at her mother’s, let him get on with his work. She’s gone. The children—it was only the girls there when I went to warn her about Robin—said that a man came for Nan not long after Agnes left her. Told Nan that Robin was dying and he had asked for her. She must come quick.”

Kate muttered a curse.

“I know. The children—they were so frightened. Their mother is in a bad way, clawing at her throat trying to breathe. I sent two of them to fetch Dame Jocasta. I managed to prop Goodwife Hawise up enough that she could breathe better by the time Dame Jocasta appeared, and shortly after a healer, who made a soothing drink and a paste for Hawise’s chest and throat. She was much better when I left. Dame Jocasta will have the healer stay with them, and a man to watch.”

“Bless her. And bless you for knowing what to do.”

“The children had seen the man before, with Robin. The girls said they did not know his name. But Dame Hawise—I swear she whispered, ‘Bran.’” Jennet scooped up more pea pods. “A woman who has so little breath does not waste it with nonsense. But I know no Brans.”

Berend rubbed his neck, thinking. “No one comes to mind.”

Nor could Kate think of anyone. But Agnes might know. What was the pattern here? The house, Hans, Nan? “It must be theft. Something the sisters brought. We must search for Nan. And I need to talk to Agnes.

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