Poison for a Poison Tongue by Sarah Waldock

Author:Sarah Waldock [Waldock, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-03-03T05:00:00+00:00

I paused in my investigation, of course, to make a quick study from memory of Fanny magnificently angry.

I was an artist first, after all.

Chapter 12 Still on the ocean wave

I had intended to talk to Mistress Pettiman before the Signorina, but the latter had forestalled me. I gave Mistress Mary a friendly smile when I asked her to join me, which she did not return. I was relieved to note that it was more that she was abstracted than that she seemed in any way chilly towards me for my unwelcome declaration of Marsh’s last inconvenience to the passengers.

I thought by the slight redness of her eyes that she might have been crying.

“This – this is all preposterous!” she burst out. “Surely it must hev bin an accident? How come we all get questioned as though we be criminals?”

I bit my lip. I liked Mary Pettiman with all her homely English prejudices, and I was loath to lose that friendship.

Yet this terrible enquiry might do just that, aye and lose my master his commission too. I had no doubt that Master Robin would make it all right with Master Pettiman; he was as popular with other men as he was with the ladies, and has a way of inspiring confidence in his abilities. He was truly likeable, I think because he truly liked his fellow men. Even Signor di’ Piccolo would soon forget and forgive our current little trouble if we left a decent interval before our return; for Signor Niccola would miss the long and erudite conversations with my master more than he regretted the loss of his niece’s maidenhead.

If indeed he ever found out about it. But if Mistress Mary took against us, it would be extremely uncomfortable. And having so recently found a friend in an older woman prepared to treat me almost like a younger relative it would hurt to lose that friendship.

I smiled again at Mary, I hoped reassuringly.

“Yes, in a way it’s quite ridiculous.” I agreed. “But it was not an accident; and we must find out who did it before we get to England. When we dock at Portsmouth we will all be well away from home and be unlikely of a kindly hearing from the authorities who will know us not. It were better to discover what happened.”

“But could ut not hev bin an accident?” She asked, thoroughly frightened. “Are yew so sure that rat poison could not hev got accidental-loike into that man’s drink? He were not a careful man.”

“If I am wrong and that is what happened, it will be discovered by holding inquisition thus,” I said firmly. “But to protect ourselves, we must find the truth. Come, Mistress Mary! You rarely leave your goodman’s side. Surely you were together?” I had seen her alone; but I wanted her story.

She shook her head in dumb misery.

“Roger tell’t me as how he hed accounts tu check with Ambrose – his secretary, yew know – but I seen Ambrose not long arfter thet, mardlin’ with one of them ow’ sailors” she blurted out unhappily.

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