The Malice of Unnatural Death: Read Online Free PDF Page A

course,’ Simon assured him with his enthusiasm driving any note of dishonesty from his voice.

Exeter Castle
    There was
no
mistaking it! Holy Mother Mary, but she couldn’t have mistaken that. There was a look in his eye that showed her he loved
her, and the way that he held on to the bowl when passing it to her, keeping hold just for that moment too long, as though
worried she might drop it, but really only trying to keep her close … it was a miracle others didn’t see it as well!
    Jenplaced the bowl gently on the tray with the other bits and pieces from the meal, and walked carefully from the hall.
    This was the best thing that could ever have happened to her. She had been raised, like Sarra, on a small farm at Silverton,
and she’d never thought she’d ever have a job like this one. The opportunity to come and work in the city, when Sarra’s message
came to her, was exciting, but only because it was such a wonderful place to live and work. She’d never dreamed that she might
fall in love as well.
    He was so handsome, so tall and straight, and he had that wonderful confidence that came from his position in the world. It
was marvellous to see him sitting there so languidly, as though he hadn’t a care in the world. Whereas after seven months,
now Jen knew he suffered, really. It was that poisonous bitch of a wife of his. Everyone knew it: the woman tried to do all
she might to ruin his self-esteem, carping on about this or that, making his life a misery. He’d be quite within his rights
to bind her to a post and beat her unmercifully. If Jen was his wife, she’d just want to sit and gaze at him adoringly all
day long … and make his life a pleasure by being on hand to fetch his drinks or foods. She would make him sweetmeats and
bring them to him at his table so he could enjoy them without rising. She would make his bed such a place of joy as he could
never have imagined. She would adore him.
    And now, now she knew that he loved her too. It was in his eyes.
    Sir Matthew de Crowethorne sat back in his chair and looked about him with that sense of satisfaction mingled with fear that
was so much a part of his life recently.
    Hisclimb to success had hardly been meteoric, but if all went poorly his fall would be infinitely swifter.
    When he had been made sheriff, this hall had been like the rest of the castle, dilapidated, decaying rapidly, the paint fallen
off the walls, the ceiling rotten … he had been forced to spend much of his treasure to put it into some sort of order. Now that it was complete, he was forced to contemplate losing all.
    Sir Matthew had been a loyal supporter of Despenser for many years. Their fathers had known each other, and as the Despenser
star rose after the death of Gaveston, so too had Sir Matthew’s. Despenser had looked after those whom he trusted – for so
long as they had nothing of value which he coveted, anyway. Those who had trinkets or lands he desired could all too easily
discover that their possession was fleeting. Whether they chose to give them away, or waited until Despenser had contrived
to force them to give them up, was all one. Despenser was the most powerful man in the realm after the king. Some thought
he was more powerful even than the king himself.
    His greed had become known to all. Even the peasants spoke of him in hushed tones. It was no surprise that men wished to remove
him. The writs spoke of a necromancer who had intended to kill the king, Despenser and five others. James of Wanetynch, the
messenger, had brought them together with the other notes, including those from his peers. At first Matthew had been appalled,
but then, as he began to consider the idea, it became apparent that he should act.
    In Exeter, as he knew, there was one man who had the experience and expertise to help with matters of this kind. Walter had
been used before, when the king had needed to clip the wings of a merchant, and he had succeeded somagnificently that a threatened mutiny