Study of Murder, The (Five Star Mystery Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

told the man what he had seen, and then blurted out, “My man, Muirteach here, has a good head for solving mysteries. He has helped my father, who is a great lord in Scotland. The Lord of the Isles.”
    I groaned inwardly, wishing my charge had kept his mouth closed tight.
    Undersheriff Grymbaud did not look overly impressed, but Donald continued, undeterred. “He can be of assistance to you, I am sure. You are welcome to his services.”
    The man looked thoughtful; I strove to avoid this awkward situation. “I apologize, sir. The lad is somewhat forward. I do not seek to do your duty for you.”
    “No, you might be of some use,” Grymbaud replied. “Since you are at the college, perhaps you can keep an eye on this Phillip Woode for me. Just let me know if you see anything suspicious in his movements, or such. That would indeed be of help. Townsfolk are not overly welcome in the schools, and if a university man commits a crime the university chancellor has jurisdiction. But I will question him, all the same. Perhaps we will learn something of use.” He gave orders to several of his men to go and fetch Woode to the castle to “assist in inquiries.”
    Donald and I finished our ale, although my throat was tight and I could barely swallow for all the anger that I felt. Phillip seemed a nice enough man, and now he would be painted with suspicion, and it seemed he was already not on good terms with the master of the college. And Donald himself had landed me in a difficult spot. For if I helped the authorities search for the missing lass, I would not be watching over my charge.
    Donald, however, seemed pleased with himself. It was with bad grace that I threw a penny on the table for our ale and tried to hustle Donald back to our lodgings. He had schoolwork to attend to. We were not here to solve mysteries.

C HAPTER 3
----
    When we got back to our lodgings I found Mariota busily sewing with Widow Tanner, working on the linen she had purchased yesterday in the market. It looked to be a shirt. We told her and the widow of Jonetta’s disappearance.
    “What a sad thing. She’s a bonny lass,” Mariota murmured. The widow rushed off, saying she was away to church to pray for the poor girl. This left Mariota, myself, and Donald, and I found I did not much want to be spending the rest of the day with Donald, still annoyed as I was with him.
    “Go and get that old parchment we bought yesterday. Take it out and soak it in some water, it must soften for a time. The widow’s serving man will have a bucket. Or get one from the cook. We will have to scrub the parchment clean before you can use it, with bran and milk; and you must learn how to do it.”
    Donald opened his mouth to protest, but I gave him a glare and he shrugged his shoulders and complied, leaving the room with an unpleasant swagger.
    I told Mariota what Donald had done, and how now I was to help the undersheriff search for Jonetta. “And I’m thinking Donald is pleased with all of this, for I’ll not be there to chaperone him as much—indeed, that was probably behind his suggesting it,” I fumed.
    “You do not think he could be truly concerned for the lass?” Mariota suggested. “And was thinking you could be of help? You have helped his father, you know.”
    “Perhaps, but I had you to help me,
mo chridhe
,” I replied, somewhat mollified.
    “And am I not here now as well? For Muirteach, I cannot sit here and sew with Widow Tanner every day, I shall go mad.”
    “I do not want you to involve yourself,
mo chridhe
.”
    The set of Mariota’s jaw did not look promising to me. We dropped the subject and spoke of other things.
    Just then Donald entered the room. “I’m away to the college. I want to see if that Phillip has confessed to the crime.”
    “There’s been no crime proved as yet. We do not know what has happened to the poor lass. Best to remember that before making wild accusations.”
    Donald scowled and I wondered whose company was