The Saint John's Fern by Kate Sedley

Author:Kate Sedley [Sedley, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: rt, blt, _MARKED
ISBN: 9780312276836
Amazon: 0312276834
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Published: 2002-08-13T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

She did not see me at first. Her eyes were fixed upon her mistress.

‘The horses are growing restless. You’ve been a long time,’ she said.

‘I stayed behind to pray after the rest of the congregation had left,’ Berenice replied. ‘I lit a candle for Great-Uncle Oliver.’

I saw Katherine Glover’s unguarded look of astonishment and her open mouth, as if she would make some remark. But then she noticed me and her expression turned to one of shock, then of resentment.

‘What are you doing in Modbury, chapman? Are you following me about?’ Without waiting for my answer, she turned to Berenice. ‘This is the pedlar I told you of. The one I met at the Bird of Passage Inn. The one who’s so inquisitive concerning our affairs.’

Her mistress regarded me quizzically. ‘So you’re the man, are you?’ The dark eyes were filled with sardonic amusement. ‘But you omitted to tell us, Kate, how extraordinarily handsome he is.’

I felt the beginnings of a blush, and in order to change the subject I said quickly, ‘When you refer to “us”, Mistress, I take it that you mean yourself and your betrothed, Master Bartholomew Champernowne.’

The laughter vanished and the strongly marked eyebrows rose. ‘Now how do you know that?’ she asked.

‘As far as your betrothal goes, I was told by someone in Plymouth that you and he were to marry. And because of what happened afterwards, I’m sure that he was with you when Mistress Glover returned home after our meeting at the inn.’

This time the eyebrows drew together in a frown.

‘What happened afterwards?’ Berenice demanded, and listened intently to my explanation. ‘The fool!’ she burst out angrily when I had finished. ‘If any of this – the suborning of witnesses, attempted murder – comes to the Sheriff’s ears, Bartholomew will be in very deep trouble indeed.’ She glanced anxiously at me. ‘Can I rely on your discretion, chapman, not to mention this story to anyone else?’

Wishing to conceal the fact that I had already confided in Anne Fettiplace, I prevaricated.

‘I wasn’t the only person involved, Mistress, as I’ve told you. But I assure you I have no intention of approaching any officer of the law.’

She mulled this over for a moment or two, before asking, ‘What do you know of this man in whose cottage you were staying? This … This…’

‘Jack Golightly,’ I supplied.

Berenice nodded. ‘This Jack Golightly. Is he likely, do you think, to make a report to the Sheriff’s officers next time he visits Exeter or Plymouth?’

I shook my head. ‘I should deem it highly improbable. The truth is that although, in general, he bears a grudge against all Champernownes, and wouldn’t be averse to doing one of them a serious mischief if he could, he would be far happier committing that mischief himself. If you wish to keep your betrothed safe from harm, you’d do well to advise him to steer clear of Jack Golightly.’

‘I shall certainly do so,’ she answered. ‘And I shall make it plain to him how exceptionally foolish his behaviour has been.

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