Candace C. Bowen - Knight Series 03 by A Knight of Valour Page A
Authors: A Knight of Valour
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happened?” Refilling Chaucey’s cup, Leofrick passed it to him.
“It is my belief that she stayed to protect us,” Chaucey said. “The only time I had ever seen her stand up to the justice was when he would physically attack those in his service.”
“How did the justice react when the lady defied him?” Talan asked.
“He would strike her for the slightest of transgressions.” Chaucey winced as if in pain. “Oftentimes she bore the brunt of the justice’s abuse. More than once she would present herself with a blackened eye or bruises on her face. Those in the manor knew the cause of her frequent injuries, only there was nothing we could do about it.”
“Had she cause to intercede on your behalf?” Feeling pity for the clerk, Talan’s tone had softened.
“The majority of the abuse involved me or Line,” Chaucey said.
“Who is Line?” Talan slid Chaucey’s untouched cup closer to him.
Taking a few swallows of ale, Chaucey wiped his upper lip with the back of his hand. “Line had been Lady Kaylein’s personal attendant since early girlhood. She was extremely devoted to her mistress. After our lady’s disappearance, Line confided in me that the only item missing from her chamber was the nightgown she wore upon retiring the night she went missing. What lady would flee dressed only in a thin chemise?”
“None with any sense about them,” Leofrick said with a grim look.
“Lady Kaylein had her wits about her that I assure you,” Chaucey said. “She was so kind to me and—“
“Beautiful,” Talan finished for him. “We know. Did her attendant happen to mention anything else?”
“Line told me that the following morning the justice sought her out. He ordered her to burn all of Lady Kaylein’s clothing. When Line carried out his orders, she discovered our lady’s jewel cask had been removed from the wardrobe.”
“Perhaps Lady Kaylein took it with her,” Leofrick suggested. “The fact that it is missing gives credence to the theory she fled.”
“Not possible.” Chaucey shook his head. “Line was certain the cask was in the chamber after our lady’s disappearance.”
“There is still not enough proof of murder,” Talan said. “De Glanville could claim he had her clothes burned out of anger, and the absence of jewels would make it look like she fled.”
“I believe it is safe to assume he would not take the risk of selling her jewels so soon after his wife’s disappearance,” Leofrick said. “It would make him appear culpable.”
“Then the jewels may very well be with the lady’s remains.” Talan picked up on his train of thought. “How fortunate for us if that were the case.”
“Regrettably, I am not the only one with a mind bent on the law. De Glanville is shrewd and will likely have thought the matter through.” Leofrick shifted to Chaucey. “Does Line still reside in the justice’s household?”
“He immediately sent her back to Normandy,” Chaucey said bitterly. “It near came close to breaking her gentle heart.”
“Her heartbreak aside, let us consider that a good thing,” Leofrick said. “Had the justice believed her to be a threat, it is likely she would have disappeared soon after her mistress.”
“What happened after the justice spread word that Lady Kaylein had run away?” Talan asked.
“The day he reported her disappearance my employer held a private audience with the king. I know not what lies he told our sovereign, but the justice returned to the manor jovial of spirit. He later instructed me to draft a letter to William de Corbeil the Archbishop of Canterbury requesting that the marriage be annulled.”
“Annulled on what grounds?”
“In their brief marriage Lady Kaylein had failed to produce an heir for the justice. He had me state in the letter it was due to her refusal to perform her avowed marital duties.” Chaucey swallowed convulsively. “I could attest to the falseness of that particular statement, for if the mood
“It is my belief that she stayed to protect us,” Chaucey said. “The only time I had ever seen her stand up to the justice was when he would physically attack those in his service.”
“How did the justice react when the lady defied him?” Talan asked.
“He would strike her for the slightest of transgressions.” Chaucey winced as if in pain. “Oftentimes she bore the brunt of the justice’s abuse. More than once she would present herself with a blackened eye or bruises on her face. Those in the manor knew the cause of her frequent injuries, only there was nothing we could do about it.”
“Had she cause to intercede on your behalf?” Feeling pity for the clerk, Talan’s tone had softened.
“The majority of the abuse involved me or Line,” Chaucey said.
“Who is Line?” Talan slid Chaucey’s untouched cup closer to him.
Taking a few swallows of ale, Chaucey wiped his upper lip with the back of his hand. “Line had been Lady Kaylein’s personal attendant since early girlhood. She was extremely devoted to her mistress. After our lady’s disappearance, Line confided in me that the only item missing from her chamber was the nightgown she wore upon retiring the night she went missing. What lady would flee dressed only in a thin chemise?”
“None with any sense about them,” Leofrick said with a grim look.
“Lady Kaylein had her wits about her that I assure you,” Chaucey said. “She was so kind to me and—“
“Beautiful,” Talan finished for him. “We know. Did her attendant happen to mention anything else?”
“Line told me that the following morning the justice sought her out. He ordered her to burn all of Lady Kaylein’s clothing. When Line carried out his orders, she discovered our lady’s jewel cask had been removed from the wardrobe.”
“Perhaps Lady Kaylein took it with her,” Leofrick suggested. “The fact that it is missing gives credence to the theory she fled.”
“Not possible.” Chaucey shook his head. “Line was certain the cask was in the chamber after our lady’s disappearance.”
“There is still not enough proof of murder,” Talan said. “De Glanville could claim he had her clothes burned out of anger, and the absence of jewels would make it look like she fled.”
“I believe it is safe to assume he would not take the risk of selling her jewels so soon after his wife’s disappearance,” Leofrick said. “It would make him appear culpable.”
“Then the jewels may very well be with the lady’s remains.” Talan picked up on his train of thought. “How fortunate for us if that were the case.”
“Regrettably, I am not the only one with a mind bent on the law. De Glanville is shrewd and will likely have thought the matter through.” Leofrick shifted to Chaucey. “Does Line still reside in the justice’s household?”
“He immediately sent her back to Normandy,” Chaucey said bitterly. “It near came close to breaking her gentle heart.”
“Her heartbreak aside, let us consider that a good thing,” Leofrick said. “Had the justice believed her to be a threat, it is likely she would have disappeared soon after her mistress.”
“What happened after the justice spread word that Lady Kaylein had run away?” Talan asked.
“The day he reported her disappearance my employer held a private audience with the king. I know not what lies he told our sovereign, but the justice returned to the manor jovial of spirit. He later instructed me to draft a letter to William de Corbeil the Archbishop of Canterbury requesting that the marriage be annulled.”
“Annulled on what grounds?”
“In their brief marriage Lady Kaylein had failed to produce an heir for the justice. He had me state in the letter it was due to her refusal to perform her avowed marital duties.” Chaucey swallowed convulsively. “I could attest to the falseness of that particular statement, for if the mood
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