The Canterbury Murders by Maureen Ash Read Free Book Online Page A

pilgrims at this time of year, and only a few were on the streets, distinctive of notice by the medals depicting an image of the saintly Thomas Becket pinned to the crowns of their broad-brimmed hats.
    As they rode across the town, Miles said to Gianni, “I am looking forward to this duty. While I regret the woman’s death and the threat it poses to the king, I am intrigued to be involved in the mystery that surrounds it. As you know, I was with de Marins when he arrested the man who murdered the clerk in the quarry, and afterwards he took the trouble to explain to me how he had discovered the mistakes the culprit had made. I was fascinated by the insight with which he made his deductions.”
    He looked down at Gianni with a smile. “The Templar also told me that you were of great assistance in untangling the riddles that confronted him, so I will take your lead, youngster, and learn as I go.”
    Gianni lifted his head a little higher as Miles repeated the Templar’s praise, but then he reminded himself not to be caught up in the sin of pride. He must go carefully and ensure he was not blinded by unwarranted confidence and so, with firm resolution, he turned his thoughts to the manner in which they would proceed after they arrived at the townhouse. During the rest of the short journey, and by means of questions from Miles and gestures and nods of agreement or negation from Gianni, they discussed how they would conduct the search for evidence and the questions the servants were to be asked. The knight’s suggestions and comments were perceptive and the lad felt certain that he and Miles would work well together.
    The royal townhouse was a large one, built of stone, and three stories high, with a kitchen at the back and stables and several outbuildings in a large yard. As Nicolaa had said, a guard was stationed outside the premises to keep the servants’ confinement secure, not mercenaries this time, but castle men-at-arms, all wearing the Canterbury badge of three choughs—a member of the crow family—on their tunics alongside the royal insignia. When they went up the steps and Miles told the soldier on guard at the entry the nature of their business, he opened the door and called for the steward of the property to attend them.
    The steward, whose name was Inglis, was a middle-aged man with thinning brown hair and wearing a tunic of rich brown velvet lavishly embroidered at collar and cuff. His attitude was haughty and the complete antithesis of Dauton’s warm civility, as he regarded Miles with a disdainful air and overlooked Gianni completely while waiting for the knight to state the purpose of their visit.
    Miles responded in kind. “I am Miles de Laxton, knight in service to Lady Nicolaa de la Haye of Lincoln and sent by the king to make an enquiry into the death of his servant,” he said aloofly. “I require to be shown the chamber where she was killed and to question all of the servants that are employed here.”
    Mollified by the knight’s status and his commanding tone, Inglis gave a deferential nod of his head and stood aside so that Miles and Gianni could enter the house. The entryway was large, with a number of doors along its length before it debouched into a passage that led to the back of the house. A set of stairs was situated at one side and Inglis, in a slow stately manner, led the way up them. Once the steward’s back was turned, Miles glanced at Gianni with a look of concern, fearful that Inglis, by ignoring his presence, had offended the lad. But Gianni gave him a wide smile. He had not been upset by the incident; being overlooked had, during previous investigations, often worked to his and the Templar’s advantage, enabling him, without notice, to make surreptitious searches for evidence or overhear incriminating words uttered by a suspect who discounted the listening ears of a young, and seemingly unimportant,