‘As was your duty.’
‘She did not know that.’
‘Did you send the message?’
‘I did. As was my duty.’ He drained his cup, set it aside with a clatter, closing his eyes. ‘I would speak with her. Find out what happened that night. I followed the clerk who unlocked the south transept, but he returned while I was searching the chapter house, before I found anything. She had been in there with him?’
‘It was you who accosted the clerk when he returned to lock the door?’
‘I am sorry for that. Was she with him?’
‘Was there anyone else in the chapter house when you searched?’
‘I found no one.’
‘That was not long after Rupert fell. How did you learn of it? Were you still at the minster?’
‘I’d returned, hoping to sneak in with someone. That’s when I heard a man had fallen.’
‘Did you see him?’
‘I joined the clerks crowding round him. I could see enough in the lantern light.’
‘Did you see the vicar’s body near the chancellor’s house?’
‘No. Though I saw men there as well. I swear I had nothing to do with that. I did not know the man. Ambrose did. Ask him.’ His voice broke and he closed his eyes for a moment, his breath shallow.
‘What did you intend to do with Ambrose?’
Licking his lips, Gabriel rasped, ‘The enthronement. All the Northern families would be coming. Keep watch, deliver him up to the Percys. Deliver both.’
Owen took out the shears, began to cut away the sleeve around the arrow. ‘Where did you plan to keep Marian until then?’
‘With Tucker the fiddler. Gave the goodwife coin to take good care of her.’
Alisoun brought the kettle to add hot water to the bowl.
‘Take good care?’ Owen said. ‘Why not St Clement’s Priory, where she need not pretend to be a lad, where she would be safe?’
Gabriel opened his eyes wide. ‘You are angry. How can I trust—’ Noticing Alisoun’s hands on him he tried to wrench away his arm.
‘Do not be such a fool,’ she said in an even tone. ‘I am cleaning the wound.’
He watched her closely for a moment.
‘St Clement’s,’ Owen prompted.
‘We did not think of the nuns.’
Good at tracking, too inexperienced to plan the rest. Not surprising. The wound clean, Owen summoned Ned to hold Gabriel’s legs, asked Alisoun to hold his shoulders while he pulled the cushions away. Once the man was lying flat, Owen cut the shaft as close to the arm as he dared, then, while holding down the arm with his knee, pulled out the rest. Painful, but quick. Gabriel shrieked and kicked Ned in the mouth.
‘Now you see why I had you remove his boots,’ said Owen.
Ned muttered a curse as he sat back to nurse his jaw. Gabriel moaned and thrashed.
‘Be still while Alisoun cleans it and wraps it in a poultice,’ Owen said.
‘You cannot keep me here.’
‘I do not intend to. Where are you lodging?’
Closed eyes, tightened mouth.
‘Then I will take you to the castle.’
‘Holy Trinity Priory.’
‘Good. I will deliver you to the infirmarian at the priory.’
‘Might I see her? I need to know why he jumped. If she pushed him. What happened.’
‘When the infirmarian judges you fit, you may return. I suggest that you knock on the door and make your request with courtesy. Until then, she is under my protection.’
‘You will take the credit.’
Owen chuckled. ‘No, young Gabriel, I assure you that the tale is yours to tell to her family. You have much to explain.’
‘We found her!’
‘And I would guess by the welts on her wrists and ankles that Rupert had no intention of delivering her safe to her family. I would guess he meant to throw her off the roof. Had you two been in the chapter house before?’
‘I was never there.’
‘But he?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘You each went your own way in the city?’
‘At times.’ Gabriel caught Owen’s arm as he began to rise. ‘Will I heal?’
‘Be still and receive our ministrations with good grace. The more patient you are, the better the outcome. Tell me about the prayer book.’
‘A small thing, but Lady Edwina claims it has value. She commissioned it for Dame Marian, a gift when she took her vows. My lord Percy called it “a choir of crows.” The illustrations. Said it was his sister’s jape, the sisters being crows cawing around Dame Marian, the nightingale.’
‘When was it lost?’
‘At Tucker’s. According to Dame Marian, Ambrose believed their host stole it, claims he followed him to Ronan’s lodgings. He believed that the vicar either bought it from Tucker or advised him as to its value.’
‘Did you retrieve it?’
‘No. We might ask Dame Marian. She might have overheard Ambrose meeting with that vicar.’
A choir of crows. Magda had called Thoresby the Old Crow. By extension all clerics were crows to her. And nuns? Lady Edwina shared her humor. ‘Did you see the prayer book?’
‘How would I?’
Gabriel looked up as Alisoun knelt to his wounded side. ‘How can she do that? Shoot me, then tend me?’
‘Ask her.’ Owen rose. ‘I will return for you in a little while.’
He went over to talk to Ned, giving him a simple task. Once they had deposited Gabriel in the infirmary, Ned was to find Hempe and tell him what they’d learned about Dame Marian and the Percys, and ask him to speak with Tucker’s wife, Judith, about Gabriel’s claim he gave her money to care for Marian. If true, she was not dependent on Tucker’s work for a while. He might become informative after a night in the castle. When Ned had accomplished the task, he was to return to the infirmary.
‘I count on you to return to your senses. I understand how you feel, but I cannot condone it. Consider what you have just heard, all that the young woman suffered at the hands of an unwanted suitor.’
Ned bowed his head.
‘Alisoun is her own woman. Show her your best self. Respect her right to her own choice.’
‘I
