The Westminster Poisoner by Susanna Gregory Read Free Book Online Page A

What about you? What do
     you think?’
    ‘That Greene did not leave his house last night, so he cannot have killed Vine.’
    Turner looked pleased. ‘We think alike, you and I.I imagine we share the same taste in women, too. As far as I am concerned, they only need one qualification to secure my favour:
     they must have teeth. I cannot abide making love to bare gums. I am sure you will agree.’
    He sauntered away, whistling to himself, before Chaloner could frame a suitable answer.

Chapter 2
    The Earl’s White Hall offices comprised a suite of rooms overlooking the Privy Garden. They were sumptuously furnished and
     snug, with the exception of one: Secretary John Bulteel occupied a bleak, windowless cupboard that was so cold during winter
     he was obliged to wear gloves with the fingers cut out. He glanced up as Chaloner walked past and gave him a friendly wave,
     baring his rotten teeth in a smile as he did so. He was a slight, timid man, who was not popular among his colleagues, although
     Chaloner liked him well enough. His wife baked excellent cakes, and he often shared them with the spy – a diffident, shy gesture
     of friendship that no one else at White Hall ever bothered to extend.
    Bulteel took a moment to blow on his frozen hands, then turned back to his ledgers, looking like a scarecrow in badly fitting,
     albeit decent quality, clothes. Chaloner often wondered why the Earl treated him so shabbily, when he was scrupulously honest,
     hard-working and loyal, and could only conclude it was because Bulteel was so singularly unprepossessing – that the Earl could
     not bring himself to show consideration for someonewho was not only physically unattractive, but socially inept, too.
    In contrast to his secretary’s chilly domain, the Earl’s chambers were sweltering, heated not only by massive braziers, but
     by open fires, too. They had recently been redecorated, although Chaloner thought the man responsible should be shot. A massive
     chandelier now hung from the main ceiling, and while the Earl was short enough to pass underneath it without mishap, anyone
     taller could expect to be brained. Meanwhile, the walls were crammed with paintings from the newly retrieved collections of
     the King’s late father – Cromwell had sold these after the execution of the first Charles, and the Royalists were currently
     in the process of getting them all back again. Chaloner found the sheer number of masterpieces in such a small space vulgar,
     although no one else seemed bothered by it.
    He walked through the open door, ducked to avoid the chandelier, and approached the desk. The Earl leapt violently when he
     became aware that his spy was standing behind him.
    ‘How many more times must I tell you not to sneak up on me like that?’ he snapped angrily, hand to his chest. ‘I cannot cope
     with you frightening the life out of me at every turn.’
    ‘I am sorry, sir. It is these thick rugs – they muffle footsteps.’
    ‘They are for my gout. Wiseman says soft floor coverings are kinder on the ankles than marble. He also said I would be more
     comfortable if I was thinner. I confess I was hurt. Do you think me fat?’
    ‘I have seen fatter,’ replied Chaloner carefully. He did not want to lie, but suspected the Earl would not appreciate the
     truth. He changed the subject before thediscussion could become awkward. ‘I interviewed Vine’s family last night. They do not seem overly distressed by his death.’
    ‘That does not surprise me. Young George is a nasty creature, and I do not believe he tried to assassinate Cromwell, as he
     claims. I suspect he made up the tale, to curry favour with us Royalists.’
    ‘There was no love lost between father and son. They—’
    ‘George did
not
dispatch his father,’ interrupted the Earl, seeing where the conversation was going. ‘Vine was killed in an identical manner
     to Chetwynd – with poison. Since there cannot be two murderers favouring the same method of