The Pardoner's Crime by Keith Souter Page B

she was still a handsome woman and must have been striking in her youth. He smiled. ‘I was saying to your husband that it is a fine castle.’
    Lady Alecia gave a wan smile. ‘Thank you, Sir Richard. It is our hope that His Majesty King Edward will allow my husband the permanent stewardship. I feel that my daughter and I could settle here very well.’ She unconsciously rubbed a marble-sized nodule on her wrist and winced with pain. ‘I would hope that it would be good for my health.’  
    Sir Thomas snorted. ‘Aye, well, there will be time for talking later, my love. Sir Richard will meet our daughter Lady Wilhelmina later at supper, when they all come.’  
    He snapped his fingers at the boy and pointed at an empty mug on the table. ‘You will have some ale with me, Sir Richard?’  
    Sir Richard raised an eyebrow quizzically. ‘When they come? I hope that you have not gone to trouble for me?’  
    â€˜I said that I had arranged a meal in your honour. I have sent for some of the local people to come to meet my adviser,’ Sir Thomas said glibly. He took a swig of his ale and added dismissively, ‘It will be a small supper. Nothing elaborate.’  
    Richard nodded, secretly amused at Sir Thomas’s description of him as his ‘adviser’.  
    â€˜Now we have important matters to discuss, my dear. Where have you arranged for Sir Richard to stay?’  
    â€˜In the north tower of the keep, my husband. He will have a fine view towards the town and all comforts are close at hand.’ She curtsied to Sir Richard and took her leave, preceded by the serving boy.  
    Sir Thomas drained half his mug straight away, wiped beer from his beard with the back of his hand then stood swirling the ale in his mug. ‘I am a plain-spoken man, Sir Richard, and I will not beat about the bush. I do not see why his majesty has sent you here to advise me. I am perfectly capable of running this—’  
    Richard laid his mug down on the table untouched. He held up his hand. ‘You had better read the King’s orders again, Sir Thomas. I am not here as an adviser. I am instructed as Circuit Judge of the King’s Northern Realm to oversee thecourts. Until I or his majesty deem it otherwise, I shall preside over the courts and you may watch and learn.’
    Sir Thomas’s eyes seemed to smoulder for a moment and his cheeks suffused beneath his beard. ‘That is as maybe,’ he said with a grunt. ‘But tell me about this criminal case you talked about. Should it have been reported to me?’
    â€˜It already has been,’ Richard returned unemotionally. ‘A case of rape that has yet to have anything done about it. Apparently it was reported to the ward constable and then the manor clerk.’
    â€˜Ah, it is in hand then. I will get round to it.’
    Richard shook his head and hummed, all the while fixing the other in his gaze. ‘I hear that you have been getting round to a lot of things, Sir Thomas. Like two hangings, a few floggings and putting people in the stocks. I saw one such wretch in the stocks today.’
    Sir Thomas’s eyes narrowed for a moment. ‘Did you now?’ he asked, briskly. He drew himself up to his full height, which was a full head shorter than Sir Richard. ‘I have dispensed law as I saw fit. The King’s law.’
    Richard smiled again. ‘I am a Sergeant-at-Law, Sir Thomas, which is why his majesty has sent me here to the Manor of Wakefield. And from the sound of it you have actually dispensed with the law and have been dishing out punishments without proper precedent.’
    â€˜The Manor of Wakefield has the right to punish,’ Sir Thomas said. ‘I, as the Deputy Steward, have the right to do so.’
    â€˜I think you ought to consider that Deputy actually means temporary , as Lady Alecia just indicated, Sir Thomas! I shall be reviewing all cases that