Brother Cadfael 02: One Corpse Too Many by Ellis Peters Page B

she had seen him in church, and knew him to be a guest here like herself, and stress had turned Shrewsbury into a town where people behaved to one another either as loyal neighbours or potential informers, and of the latter attitude she was incapable. Nevertheless, he saw fit to establish his credentials. 'You will remember I came to offer the king my troth when you did. My name is Hugh Beringar of Maesbury. It would give me pleasure to serve you. And it seemed to me that you were finding cause for perplexity and distress in what we have just heard. If there is any errand I can do for you, I will, gladly.'
    'I do remember you,' said Aline, 'and I take your offer very kindly, but this is something only I can do, if it must be done. No one else here would know my brother's face. To tell the truth, I was hesitating ... But there will be women from the town, I know, going there with certain knowledge to find their sons. If they can do it, so can I.'
    'But you have no good reason,' he said, 'to suppose that your brother may be among these unfortunates.'
    'None, except that I don't know where he is, and I do know he embraced the empress's cause. It would be better, wouldn't it, to be sure? Not to miss any possibility? As often as I do not find him dead, I may hope to see him again alive.'
    'Was he very dear to you?' asked Beringar gently.
    She hesitated to answer that, taking it very gravely. 'No, I never knew him as sister should know brother. Giles was always for his own friends and his own way, and five years my elder. By the time I was eleven or twelve he was for ever away from home, and came back only to quarrel with my father. But he is the only brother I have, and I have not disinherited him. And they're saying there's one there more than they counted, and unknown.'
    'It will not be Giles,' he said firmly.
    'But if it were? Then he needs his name, and his sister to do what's right.' She had made up her mind. 'I must go.'
    'I think you should not. But I am sure you should not go alone.'
    He thought ruefully that her answer to that would be that she had her maid to accompany her, but instead she said at once: 'I will not take Constance into such a scene! She has no kin there, and why should she have to suffer it as well as I?'
    'Then, if you will have me, I will go with you.'
    He doubted if she had any artifice in her; certainly at this pass she showed none. Her anxious face brightened joyfully, she looked at him with the most ingenuous astonishment, hope and gratitude. But she still hesitated. 'That is kind indeed, but I can't let you do it. Why should you be subjected to such pain, just because I have a duty?'
    'Oh, come now!' he said indulgently, sure of himself and of her. 'I shall not have a moment's peace if you refuse me and go alone. But if you tell me I shall only be adding to your distress by insisting, then I'll be silent and obey you. On no other condition.'
    It was more than she could do. Her lips quivered. 'No - it would be a lie. I am not very brave !' she said sadly. 'I shall be grateful indeed.'
    He had what he had wanted; he made the most of it. Why ride, when the walk through the town could be made to last so much longer, and provide so much more opportunity to get to know her better? Hugh Beringar sent his horse to the stables, and set out with Aline along the highway and over the bridge into Shrewsbury.
    Brother Cadfael was standing guard over his murdered man in a corner of the inner ward, beside the archway, where every citizen who came in search of child or kinsman must pass close, and could be questioned. But all he got so far was mute shaking of heads and glances half-pitying, half-relieved. No one knew the young man. And how could he expect great concern from these poor souls who came looking, every one, for some known face, and barely saw the rest?
    Prestcote had made good his word, there was no tally kept of those who came, and no hindrance placed in their way, or question asked of them. He wanted