The Unconventional Maiden by June Francis Read Free Book Online

if he told her that Mary had borne him a son, but the boy had died? How in the weeks that followed he’d had to contend with Mary’s coolness and impenetrable silences. He had tried to reason with her and get her to talk about their loss, but that had been a waste of time. Once he had discovered there was another man involved, it had caused him to wonder how long she had been making a cuckold of him and whether the boy had truly been his son or this other man’s child. He had tried to be a good husband to her—never had he beaten her or forced her to bend to his will as she had told him her father had done. Gawain had treated her with respect and warmth as he remembered his father treating his mother. There had been great love between his parents, but still it had been a terrible shock when his father had died on the hunting field not long after his mother had passed away. Although he had left no message, Gawain was convinced his father had notwanted to live after his mother’s death and had recklessly taken one risk too many. As if it had not been painful enough to lose his mother, he had felt utterly abandoned when his father died.
    ‘I must speak to my servants, Jane and Sam,’ said Beth, rousing Gawain from his reverie.
    ‘My man, Tom Cobtree, and the lad, Michael, should be here soon,’ he said, lifting his head. ‘I will instruct them on how to find your tent. Hopefully, your servants will have returned and Tom will have your maid pack your possessions and bring them here. It is best you sleep in this tent tonight. You and she can have my sleeping quarters. I want the men to make a thorough search of your tent and its vicinity in the hope of finding the dagger and any other clues that might point to the identity of the murderer.’
    Beth accepted Gawain’s plan. She had no desire to return to the other tent where her father had met his death.
    Within the hour, Tom and Michael had arrived; after a low-voiced discussion with Gawain, they left. Thankfully, Beth did not have to wait long before Jane came with some of her mistress’s baggage. Gawain excused himself and left the two women to rearrange the sleeping quarters.
    Jane was old enough to be Beth’s mother and they were fond of each other. She was a widow and had lost two children in infancy. ‘What a terrible thing to happen, Mistress Beth,’ she said, dabbing her wet eyeswith her sleeve. ‘What is the world coming to? How will we manage?’
    Beth placed an arm around her. ‘I’m sure we will cope, Jane. It isn’t as if I was unaccustomed to running the household and, despite what Sir Gawain says, I am determined that my father’s business will not be sold.’
    Jane’s face brightened. ‘That’s the spirit, Mistress Beth, although, I will say that I deem it a good thing that the master thought to enlist him to keep an eye on you.’
    ‘More than just an eye, Jane,’ said Beth, scowling. ‘Father asked him to find a husband for me. You can imagine how I feel about that.’
    ‘Your father only wanted what was best for you, Mistress Beth,’ said Jane, picking up the bundle of bedding she had brought with her.
    ‘What he thought was best for me,’ corrected Beth. ‘But he didn’t really know me. Even so, I’d like to go to the Church of the Nativity of Our Lady in the village and speak with the priest and have masses said for his soul. You can accompany me after we’ve finished here. I know some French and am sure I will be able to make my wishes known.’ She sighed. ‘Let’s hope that Sir Gawain and the other men will find some clue to the murderer’s identity.’
    Gawain took the dagger from Tom and fingered the amethysts embedded in the hilt. ‘Where did you find it?’
    ‘In the corner over there,’ said Tom. ‘The grass hasn’t been flattened by the groundsheet and the clothit was in was the same colour. Definitely worth a bit,’ he added with fine understatement.
    ‘I’ve a feeling I’ve seen that dagger before,’