The Novice's Tale by Margaret Frazer

Author:Margaret Frazer [Frazer, Margaret]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781101651445
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 1993-10-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter

8

WHEN MASTER MONTFORT was through with them, there was need to tell Domina Edith what was happening, and what was likely to come of it. At Dame Claire’s asking, Frevisse went with her, and afterward they stood together in the stillness of the parlor, waiting for Domina Edith to look up from her lap. The dog twitched in its sleep, a fly butted at a windowpane, and after a time Domina Edith raised her head.

“You have no doubt it was murder indeed?”

Frevisse inclined her head even more quickly than Dame Claire had. “Murder meant and planned and attempted twice, failing the first time, succeeding the second.”

“So you think Martha’s death was unintended?”

“I can see no reason for it being wanted.”

“But you see a reason for Lady Ermentrude’s?”

“Being Lady Ermentrude, there were probably any number of reasons and people wanting her death.”

Two days ago Frevisse would have said it wryly, but there was no humor in it now. Someone had truly wanted Lady Ermentrude dead, wanted it badly enough that Martha’s accidental dying had not stopped them, wanted it desperately enough they had tried again with barely a pause.

“What reason does Master Montfort see?”

“I think,” Frevisse said carefully, “that he is still wishing Dame Claire had kept her knowledge to herself.”

Domina Edith nodded gently. “I knew his father as crowner before him. He was another who always wanted his problems kept as simple as might be. And would not hesitate to make them that way if he could.” She shook her head slowly. “People are often said to grow foolish with age, but it seems to me that many of us bring our foolishness with us out of our youth.” She raised her gaze and there was nothing foolish in her own eyes. Her voice changed, becoming direct and firm. “So since he cannot unsay Dame Claire’s words, what is Morys Montfort to do?”

“He says he will set in again to prove us wrong. I am sure he wants to make an end to it, one way or another, before Sir Walter Fenner arrives.”

“Is it possible Sir Walter might hear the death of his mother was murder before he comes within our gates? How widely is it known already?”

Frevisse hesitated and glanced at Dame Claire, who answered, “Once I was sure of it, I told Dame Frevisse. Until Master Montfort’s inquest, only the two of us—and the poisoner”—Dame Claire was always precise—“knew of it.”

“Now everyone who was in the room knows,” Frevisse said. “Father Henry. Thomasine. Two of Lady Ermentrude’s people. None of them are given to talk, I think.”

“But if Master Montfort has gone back to questioning people, as he said he would…” Dame Claire said.

“Then it will shortly be known throughout the priory there was something wrong with the deaths.” Domina Edith said it softly. “And given the ways of servants and the nunnery, it will surely be but little time before word spreads to the village, and beyond. And as it spreads, the tale will grow.”

“I think Master Montfort means to keep it to himself until he has learned more,” Dame Claire said.

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