Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon by Nancy Atherton

Author:Nancy Atherton [Atherton, Nancy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Suspense
ISBN: 9780143116585
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 2009-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

what he or she was doing with it. If someone was seen making unnecessary

alterations to the parapet, we may have our culprit.

“I’ll ask around,” I said.

I’d also like to know more about the quintain. Do the knights practice

their skills before displaying them to the public? If so, the saboteur must have

tampered with the rope after the practice session, but before the fair opened.

“If he damaged the rope before the practice session, it would have

broken too soon,” I said, nodding eagerly. “And if he damaged it

while the fair was in progress, he would have run too great a risk of

being seen. The fair was crawling with people almost as soon as the

gates opened, and most of them were just wandering around, taking

in the sights.”

Our culprit may have been seen by one of the performers. Try to find a

witness who can place him in the arena within the proper time frame, prefer-

ably with a sharp knife in his hand.

“I’ll do my best,” I assured her.

I would also urge you to wear your costume tomorrow.

“After seeing Bill and Emma, I don’t need urging,” I said. “I felt

like a party pooper today.”

I want you to feel like a performer tomorrow. Find out if anyone involved

in the fair has a grudge against King Wilfred. People will confide in you

more readily if they think you’re a cast member. Let your costume be your

disguise. It may even gain you access to the encampment.

“I’ll outwench the wenches,” I promised. “But I’ll keep my

clothes on in the encampment.”

116 Nancy Atherton

I’m relieved to hear it. I need hardly tell you to keep an ear open for

general gossip.

“I’m going to have lunch with Jinks the jester tomorrow,” I said.

“He’s promised to clue me in on the scuttlebutt.”

You speak the gossip’s language fluently, Lori. Finch has taught you

well.

“I’ll give Bill a crash course on the way to church tomorrow

morning,” I said. “It’ll be useful to have an extra set of eyes and ears

working for us behind the scenes.”

Will you share your suspicions with him?

I gave the matter careful consideration, then shook my head. “I

won’t put Bill into the picture until I’ve collected more facts. If I

jump the gun, he’ll just laugh at me.”

Your husband is a dear man, but he can be sarcastic at times.

“Yes, he can,” I agreed fervently. “Especially when it comes to

my suspicions.”

If you could discover tangible proof to support your claims, Bill would be

more willing to give credence to them. It’s a pity about the rope, but perhaps

something else will turn up. If it does, please try not to lose it.

“Thanks for the tip, Dimity,” I said, rolling my eyes.

Sarcasm runs in the family, I see. Never mind. I’ve been known to indulge

in it myself on occasion. Back to business. It’s up to you, my dear, to find out

who the saboteur is and—if you can do so without compromising your own

safety—to stop him before he harms the king. It may quite literally be a mat-

ter of life and death.

“Leave it to me, Dimity.” I peered grimly at the journal as I

paraphrased Lilian Bunting’s words.

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