Templar Knight 07 - The Canterbury Murders by Maureen Ash

Author:Maureen Ash [Ash, Maureen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery
Amazon: B009NY42EE
Goodreads: 17346239
Publisher: InterMix
Published: 2013-06-17T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

By the time Bascot and William Marshal had finished questioning de Ponte and his employees, snow was falling heavily and beginning to lie thick upon the ground. As they rode out of the bail, the Templar said that before he went to the royal townhouse to conduct further interviews with the servants, he would return to Watling Street to learn the outcome of Miles and Gianni’s visit to Mistress Cooper. The earl decided to accompany him. “Perhaps if I linger long enough,” he said, only half in jest, “Lady Nicolaa will invite me to stay for the midday meal. There are few travellers in the guesthouse at the moment and it will be pleasant to share the company of those who have a degree of bonhomie. The good brothers at the priory show me every courtesy, but are far from mirthful.”

Giving Bascot a sidelong glance, he added, “I mean no disparagement of your calling, de Marins. The fault is mine. I fear my temperament is not suited to gravity.”

The Templar smiled and took no offence at the statement. He had a liking for Marshal and welcomed his company.

Shortly after they arrived at Watling Street, Gianni and Miles came in and joined them in the hall where they were sitting with Nicolaa, Gilles de Laubrec and Clare. Over a cup of mulled wine, Miles related what had passed during their visit to the washerwoman’s sister and how they had been told that Inglis had a paramour. He then went on to relate the details of their interview with Cecily Wattson, and her witness of what appeared to be an argument between her lover and the washerwoman.

“She also said,” Miles added, “that a man joined the pair during the quarrel and her description fits Guillaume Aquarius, the bath attendant.”

“If I recall the information in Gianni’s notes correctly,” Bascot said, “did Aquarius not say, during your interview with him, that he had no knowledge of any person with whom the washwoman was at odds?”

“Yes. It is obvious he is lying, but I cannot fathom why. It could not have been to protect the steward from suspicion, for he, too, has since been murdered.”

“Nonetheless, there must have been a reason,” Bascot said. “And one that must be found out. I will take the matter up with the bath attendant when I go to the townhouse.”

At that moment, Dauton entered the chamber and announced that the midday meal was ready to be served. As the earl had hoped, Nicolaa invited him to join them and they all sat down to the repast, Gianni and Clare at the bottom of the table as befit their lower stations.

All of them ate with relish; there was beef roasted over a spit and glazed with a crispy layer of fat, coney pie and a hearty lamb pottage, accompanied by small loaves of manchet bread and a wheel of creamy cheese. Once they had finished the main course, bowls of winter apples and preserves of apricot, apple and plum followed along with a huge platter of oatmeal griddle cakes.

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