The Apothecary Rose Read Online Free PDF Page B

this because you might have cause to speak with him. The second knight in this matter was one of Gaunt's men’
    Owen considered this wrinkle. Gaunt was dangerous, noted for his treachery. Owen could well imagine the sort of work Gaunt would give him. To serve him would be an honour, but it would not be honourable. Not to Owen. Surely God had not raised him up from the ashes for such work.
    'I am flattered that two such powerful men offer me employment, and I thank you for giving me the opportunity to choose. But I prefer to serve the Arch bishop and Lord Chancellor. I am better suited to your service.'
    Thoresby cocked his head to one side. 'Not ambi tious, I see. You are a freak in the circles in which you dance at present. Beware.' His look was serious, almost concerned.
    A shower of pain rushed across Owen's blind eye, hundreds of needle pricks, hot and sharp. He'd taken to accepting these attacks as warnings, someone walking on his grave. 'I am a cautious man who knows his place, my lord.'
    'I think you are, Owen Archer. Indeed.' Thoresby rose, poked the fire for a moment, returned to his seat.
    Owen put down the wine. He wanted a clear head.
    Thoresby, too, set aside his cup. 'The puzzle begins thus. Sir Geoffrey Montaigne, late of the Black Prince's retinue, makes a pilgrimage to York to atone for some past sin. We do not know what sin, for while in the service of the Prince, Montaigne's behaviour was beyond reproach. Something in his past, perhaps. Before joining the Prince's army he fought under Sir Robert D'Arby of Freythorpe Hadden, a short ride from York. Montaigne's choice of St. Mary's at York for his pilgrimage suggests that his sin was linked to his time in D'Arby's service. So. He arrives in York shortly before Christmas and within a few weeks falls ill of camp fever - the ride north jarred open an old wound, which weakened him, causing a recurrence of the fever he'd suffered in France -all this according to the abbey Infirmarian, Broth er Wulfstan - and within three days Montaigne is dead.'
    Thoresby paused.
    Owen saw nothing odd in the story. 'Camp fever is often fatal.'
    'Indeed. I understand that after you were wounded you assisted the camp doctor. You treated many cases of fever?'
    'Many cases.'
    'Master Worthington praised your compassion.'
    'I'd had the fever myself but a year before. I knew what they suffered.'
    The Archbishop nodded. 'Montaigne's death would have gone unremarked but for another death at the abbey within a month. Sir Oswald Fitzwilliam of Lincoln, a familiar face at the abbey, making retreats for sins that were only too easily guessed at by all who knew him. Shortly after Twelfthnight he falls ill with a winter fever. It worsens. He sweats profusely, com plains of pain in his limbs, has fainting spells, fever visions, and within a few days he is dead. A similar death to Montaigne's.'
    'A similar death? But it does not sound like camp fever.'
    'Towards the end, Montaigne was much the same.'
    'The Infirmarian poisoned these men?'
    'I think not. Too obvious.' Thoresby took up his cup and drank.
    'Forgive me, Your Grace, but how do you come into this?'
    The Archbishop sighed. 'Fitzwilliam was my ward until he came of age. An embarrassing failure for me. He grew to he a greedy, sly creature. I used all the weight of my offices to get him into Gaunt's service. I did not make friends in doing so. I assume my ward was poisoned. And though I do not pretend to mourn him, I should know his murderer.'
    'And Montaigne?'
    'Ah. As far as I can determine, a God-fearing man with no enemies. Perhaps his death is unrelated.' The Archbishop leaned back and closed his eyes. 'But I think not. The deaths were too similar.' He looked up at Owen. 'Poisoned by mistake?' He shrugged. 'Or was he merely better at burying his business than Fitzwilliam?' He smiled. 'And here's an interesting item. Montaigne did not give his name at St. Mary's. He called himself a pilgrim. Humble and plain. Or sly?'
    An interesting