The Riddle of St. Leonard's by Candace Robb

Author:Candace Robb [Robb, Candace]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severn House
Published: 2015-07-28T00:00:00+00:00

As Owen knelt in the infirmary chapel, gathering his thoughts and praying for guidance, footsteps approached from behind, paused, and retreated in haste. A reaction to his presence that Owen found interesting. He slipped into the shadows and followed the footsteps down into the undercroft of the chapel. But instead of entering the room in which the children were at supper, the footsteps went out of the undercroft door. The early evening sun did not reach the walled yard, but there was enough light for Owen to recognise Don Cuthbert carrying a bundle the size of a blanket. Owen watched with interest as the cellarer disappeared into a storage shed built against the far wall. He emerged empty-handed. The behaviour of a thief?

Owen had planned to meet with Cuthbert on the morrow, but the circumstances changed that. He was about to step from the undercroft door when someone came up behind him.

‘Captain Archer?’

Owen spun round.

‘Benedicte, Captain.’ The quiet voice belonged to the lay sister Anneys. She must have been one of the women sitting with the children.

He bowed slightly. ‘God go with you.’

‘And with you, Captain.’ Anneys gestured behind her. ‘Did you wish to see the children?’

‘No. I was up in the chapel, I wondered where the stairs would take me.’ And where they had taken the cellarer, who is now lost to me by your courtesy.

‘They tell me you have your countrymen’s gift of song, Captain. The children are fond of singing.’

Owen found the woman’s forthright manner at odds with her humble station. One might mistake her for the nun in charge of the Barnhous. ‘I have no time for such pleasant pastimes at the moment. Might we speak?’

‘Now? I am sorry, but I am helping with the children tonight. One of the sisters is ill.’

‘Pestilence?’

Anneys crossed herself. ‘The first among the sisters, praise God.’

‘She looked after the sick children?’

‘Yes. I shall do so now.’

‘May God be merciful.’

‘I do it willingly. I sat with another victim and did not fall ill: Master Taverner.’

Should he tell her that Julian had not died of plague? Did it matter? Owen had buried victims and he was still healthy. ‘Might I speak with you tomorrow, then?’

Anneys nodded. ‘The children rest just before vespers. I could meet you in the minster yard. I often walk that way.’

‘I shall be there.’ Owen retraced his way up the steps. He was uneasy. Cuthbert might have seen them talking. An innocent pastime. However, if he was the thief he might now know that Owen had followed him. He already knew Owen’s business at the hospital. It was most unfortunate that Anneys had interrupted him.

He noted that there had been no hesitation in the lay sister’s arrangement to meet him on the morrow, no withdrawal to ask permission. It was plain she had not been a servant for long.

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