she disturbed a nesting dove. Startled, she lost her balance and tumbled off the wall. Witnesses below said she surfaced so it was surmised that she survived the fall into the water. It is believed that the weight of her gown pulled her under.” Taking a swig of ale, Chaucey swayed to set his cup on the table and missed. Mesmerized by the shattered cup on the planked flooring, he fell silent.
“Anne will see to it,” Leofrick said to regain Chaucey’s attention.
“Oh, of course,” Chaucey lurched upright to resume his thread of thought. “More than a few servants believed the lady took her own life. The justice declared it an accident so she could be buried in sanctified ground.”
“Only you do not think it was an accident, do you?” Talan asked.
“I believe the lady took her own life to free herself from her husband’s intolerable cruelty. She was filled with sorrow in the days leading up to her death.” Chaucey settled watery red eyes on Talan. “I regret not having the courage to reach out to her.”
“Being wed to the justice I am amazed she ever felt differently,” Leofrick said.
“What of the third wife?” Talan pressed. “What happened to her?”
Chaucey closed his eyes. “I dare not speak of it.”
“The justice is about to marry my beloved sister,” Leofrick said, “I beseech you to share all you know.”
“It is a shame he is to wed her, Leo, for I do not think Mylla will live long under the justice’s roof.” Swallowing convulsively, Chaucey grabbed for his cup. “In Lady Kaylein’s case, I believe the justice had committed outright murder.”
Chapter Five
“Tell us what happened.” Talan’s tone held no room for argument.
Chaucey’s shoulders slumped. “You must believe me when I say that I had no idea the justice would do harm to Lady Kaylein. Had I known he was even thinking about it, I would have found a way to warn her.”
“You were in love with her,” Leofrick said, “were you not?”
“Tis true. I dared to love a noblewoman more than I loved my own pitiful life.” Chaucey shook his head sadly. “Not that I ever held out any hope you understand. Even had she not possessed royal blood through her mother’s line, she remained far above my humble station.”
“Lady Kaylein possessed a royal bloodline?” Talan looked over at Leofrick.
“Aye, her mother was cousin to King Henry twice removed. The family dwelt in Normandy. On a familial visit to the palace the justice pressed the king for an introduction to Lady Kaylein. Not long after their first meeting he petitioned the king for her hand.”
“Did the lady wish to wed the justice?” Talan asked.
“Her family approved of the match so I do not think she was given a choice.” Chaucey’s lower lip trembled. “She was so kind to me, and beautiful.”
“Never mind that,” Leofrick said gripping Chaucey’s bowed shoulder. “What did the justice do to her?”
“I do not know how the vile deed was done,” Chaucey said. “One morning whilst we were in the London manor he summoned me to his chamber on the third floor. He appeared more agitated than usual. It was then that he informed me Lady Kaylein had made a cuckold of him by fleeing with a traveling minstrel she had met in the palace.” Chaucey looked from Leofrick to Talan. “The Lady was forbidden to travel anywhere unescorted by him so I knew it to be a falsehood.”
“Is it possible she could have fled on her own?” Talan hastily waved away Anne when she approached the table. “Mayhap he came up with the story of a lover to assuage his ego.”
“I would have to disagree,” Leofrick said, “a man of his character would prefer his wife to flee over admitting he had been cuckolded. Regardless of the truth, neither story casts him in a favorable light.”
“Lady Kaylein did not flee,” Chaucey said. “She would never have abandoned the servants to the justice’s unbearable cruelty.”
“So what do you think
“Anne will see to it,” Leofrick said to regain Chaucey’s attention.
“Oh, of course,” Chaucey lurched upright to resume his thread of thought. “More than a few servants believed the lady took her own life. The justice declared it an accident so she could be buried in sanctified ground.”
“Only you do not think it was an accident, do you?” Talan asked.
“I believe the lady took her own life to free herself from her husband’s intolerable cruelty. She was filled with sorrow in the days leading up to her death.” Chaucey settled watery red eyes on Talan. “I regret not having the courage to reach out to her.”
“Being wed to the justice I am amazed she ever felt differently,” Leofrick said.
“What of the third wife?” Talan pressed. “What happened to her?”
Chaucey closed his eyes. “I dare not speak of it.”
“The justice is about to marry my beloved sister,” Leofrick said, “I beseech you to share all you know.”
“It is a shame he is to wed her, Leo, for I do not think Mylla will live long under the justice’s roof.” Swallowing convulsively, Chaucey grabbed for his cup. “In Lady Kaylein’s case, I believe the justice had committed outright murder.”
Chapter Five
“Tell us what happened.” Talan’s tone held no room for argument.
Chaucey’s shoulders slumped. “You must believe me when I say that I had no idea the justice would do harm to Lady Kaylein. Had I known he was even thinking about it, I would have found a way to warn her.”
“You were in love with her,” Leofrick said, “were you not?”
“Tis true. I dared to love a noblewoman more than I loved my own pitiful life.” Chaucey shook his head sadly. “Not that I ever held out any hope you understand. Even had she not possessed royal blood through her mother’s line, she remained far above my humble station.”
“Lady Kaylein possessed a royal bloodline?” Talan looked over at Leofrick.
“Aye, her mother was cousin to King Henry twice removed. The family dwelt in Normandy. On a familial visit to the palace the justice pressed the king for an introduction to Lady Kaylein. Not long after their first meeting he petitioned the king for her hand.”
“Did the lady wish to wed the justice?” Talan asked.
“Her family approved of the match so I do not think she was given a choice.” Chaucey’s lower lip trembled. “She was so kind to me, and beautiful.”
“Never mind that,” Leofrick said gripping Chaucey’s bowed shoulder. “What did the justice do to her?”
“I do not know how the vile deed was done,” Chaucey said. “One morning whilst we were in the London manor he summoned me to his chamber on the third floor. He appeared more agitated than usual. It was then that he informed me Lady Kaylein had made a cuckold of him by fleeing with a traveling minstrel she had met in the palace.” Chaucey looked from Leofrick to Talan. “The Lady was forbidden to travel anywhere unescorted by him so I knew it to be a falsehood.”
“Is it possible she could have fled on her own?” Talan hastily waved away Anne when she approached the table. “Mayhap he came up with the story of a lover to assuage his ego.”
“I would have to disagree,” Leofrick said, “a man of his character would prefer his wife to flee over admitting he had been cuckolded. Regardless of the truth, neither story casts him in a favorable light.”
“Lady Kaylein did not flee,” Chaucey said. “She would never have abandoned the servants to the justice’s unbearable cruelty.”
“So what do you think
Similar Books
