Constant Lovers Read Online Free PDF

looked as if he’d be glad to be relieved of its grievous weight.
    Kenion’s clothes might have been crisp, the cut and the material of his coat a subtle sign of his wealth, but the dark shading under his eyes showed the toll of long hours and responsibility, and his belly bulged further than before against the rich brocade of his waistcoat. It was a thankless job, Nottingham knew that, an ill reward for service to the Corporation. Some men paid a fine rather than take the post.
    â€˜What is it, Nottingham?’ he asked sharply, barely glancing up from his papers.
    â€˜I sent you a report about the girl out in Kirkstall.’
    â€˜Aye, I remember. You didn’t know who she was.’
    â€˜I do now. Her husband was just at the jail. He has a farm out towards Horsforth. Probably an estate, from the look of him.’
    Kenion looked at him wearily from under bushy eyebrows. ‘Is that it?’
    â€˜No. He said the girl’s father is Lord Gibton.’
    The mayor threw down his quill. ‘Bugger. Do you know who he is?’
    Nottingham shook his head. He’d never heard the name until a few minutes before.
    â€˜God knows how long ago or why, but one of our kings made Gibton’s ancestor a baron,’ Kenion explained. ‘Along the way one of them lost all the estate and most of the money. About all they had left was the title and a little bit of land. They scraped by, from what I heard, poor by the standards they’d known before.’ He waved his hand. ‘A year or so back they got some money from somewhere. Now you’d think they always owned half the county from the way they act. He’s bad enough but his wife is even worse, a shrew. This means I’ll be hearing from them soon.’ He sighed. ‘I hope you can bloody well find his killer fast, Constable.’
    It was half wish, half command.
    â€˜Sarah Godlove,’ he told Sedgwick when he returned to the jail. The deputy was there, practising his writing with a small piece of chalk and some slate. Nottingham had taught him his letters, preparing him for the role of Constable some day in the future.
    Sedgwick cocked his head.
    â€˜That’s the name of the dead girl. Her husband came in.’
    â€˜Rich?’
    â€˜He is,’ Nottingham answered. ‘But it’s worse than that. Her father’s a baron. I’ve just been to tell the mayor.’
    â€˜Fuck,’ the deputy muttered.
    â€˜Except they haven’t had much wealth for a long time. They’ve just come into money, evidently.’
    â€˜Poor nobility?’ Sedgwick snorted. ‘Pigs fly too, do they?’
    The Constable smiled briefly. ‘That’s the story, anyway. You’d better have her exhumed and take her out to the husband tomorrow. He’s out at Horsforth. See what you can find out from him.’
    â€˜What did he tell you, boss?’
    â€˜She left on Thursday, going over to see her parents in Roundhay. It was meant to be a surprise visit. She was on horseback, had a maid with her. She never arrived.’
    â€˜So where’s the maid?’
    â€˜I wondered that, too. Gone, apparently.’
    The deputy looked thoughtful.
    â€˜What is it?’ Nottingham asked.
    â€˜Nothing, really. Had the maid been with them long? It could be the service lay gone wrong.’
    Nottingham shook his head firmly.
    â€˜According to the husband, the maid had been with the girl a long time. I’m going out to Roundhay tomorrow to see the Gibtons. We should know more after that.’
    â€˜How did the mayor take the news?’
    â€˜I think he’d have been happier at his own funeral. He doesn’t seem to care much for Lord Gibton or his wife.’
    It was brushing twilight when Sedgwick returned to his room. There was dirt on his hose from where they’d opened the grave, and he could still feel death cloying in his mouth.
    It had been hard to watch the coffin pulled up from the