‘I was thinking. I believed Ninian could have been involved in Hugh’s death because we all knew how desperately he wanted to find Rosamund and bring her back, and he was not with any of us at the time Hugh disappeared. He had not even joined up with Meggie then.’ He fell silent.
‘And now? What do you believe now?’
He buried his face in his hands. ‘In truth, I do not know. Ninian gave me his word that he is no murderer, and I have no doubt that he spoke the truth. However, what I fear is that he was careful in his choice of words. We know that Hugh de Brionne was in a fight, for he had bruises on his face and knuckles, indicating that he fought back. Supposing Ninian caught him, found out somehow that he was involved in the abduction of Rosamund, and demanded that Hugh tell him where she was? It seems quite logical that a fight would break out, and possible that Hugh’s death was in fact an accident, caused by his falling over backwards.’
Slowly, she nodded. ‘If that’s how it happened, then Ninian would indeed have spoken true when he said he was no murderer,’ she muttered. ‘But Josse, would he not have told you if that was how it was?’
Josse removed his hands, and she saw his haggard face. ‘That’s the question I can’t answer,’ he admitted.
‘Did he have marks similar to Hugh’s on his knuckles?’ she asked. ‘I know he had no bruising to his face, or at least none that I saw.’
‘I saw none either,’ he agreed. ‘But Ninian is very useful in a scrap. Those years he spent as a squire in Sir Walter Asham’s household served him well, and I don’t reckon many men could easily land a punch on his face. I did not, however, think to look at his hands.’
It was too late now. She did not say so. Josse’s mood had lifted marginally since they had set to work on the challenge of finding out the truth, and she did not want to remind him of Ninian’s absence.
He was watching her. ‘What now?’
She was ready for the question. She completed the note she was making and then folded her hands and said, ‘I have two suggestions. We know that Hugh died while Rosamund was being taken by Olivier to the hunting lodge. I appreciate that it’s unlikely, but I think we should ask her if she noticed anyone else on the road or lurking around. If Ninian is not responsible for Hugh’s death, then someone else is.’
‘Aye, that’s sound,’ he said. ‘Your other suggestion?’
‘I am concerned that we only have Olivier de Brionne’s word for it that this scheme was his dead brother’s idea,’ she said. ‘It is easy, if not very honourable, to lay the blame for a plan that goes awry on someone who can no longer speak up in his own defence. Perhaps Olivier was the instigator and Hugh the second in command?’
‘Would that make a difference?’ Josse asked.
‘I don’t know,’ she admitted. ‘I just feel strongly that for Olivier to say, as you tell me he did, that Hugh was the instigator is too easy. I am suspicious,’ she concluded.
‘Your suspicions have in the past often led to the posing of the right questions,’ he said. ‘How should we proceed in this?’
‘Would you return to the abbey and speak to Olivier again?’ she asked.
He considered it. ‘Aye,’ he said. ‘In addition, it would do no harm to let the king know, if and when anyone comes right out with it and says Ninian killed Hugh de Brionne, that we do not accept it.’
‘You would dare do that, when for all we know he may already have made up his mind?’ She was instantly very worried for him. ‘Oh, Josse, you would be walking on very delicate ground!’
He grinned. ‘I have done so before,’ he replied. ‘The king is far from being a mindless fool who cannot think for himself. He will know by now of my connection with Ninian, and I believe he will not be surprised that I am trying to clear the lad’s name.’
‘Be careful,’ she warned.
‘I will. And you; what have you planned for yourself?’
‘We all must do our best to take Little Helewise’s mind off her heartbreak, and as soon as she and Meggie return from the hut, I plan to take her over to New Winnowlands to see her cousin. While we’re there, I will find the opportunity to ask Rosamund to tell me all that she remembers of her time with Olivier.’
‘Good!’ Abruptly, he stood up, and she sensed the impatient need for action that flowed through him. ‘I’m off to the abbey. Make sure you are back here by tonight, won’t you? I don’t know why, but I have the feeling that we have no time to waste.’
She might have queried that, except that she felt it too.
Helewise and her granddaughter set off in the early afternoon. Helewise rode Daisy, and Little Helewise, subdued and with red-rimmed eyes, was mounted on her grey mare. Helewise did not try to make her talk. The loss was very raw, and everything about the girl seemed to be quietly saying: leave me alone.
The ride to New Winnowlands took them around the wide eastwards bulge of the great forest. The track was well used, and the going was firm, for of late the weather had been dry and quite cold. As they neared the small manor house that had once been Josse’s and was now the home of Helewise’s younger son and his family, both of them kicked on their horses and they reached the house at a smart canter.
The family came out to greet them. Rosamund, Helewise noticed, kept very close to her mother. Dominic came to help her down from her horse, and she said quietly, ‘Ninian has had to leave England.’ Briefly, she explained.
Dominic’s eyes widened. ‘You cannot believe he is guilty of murder?’
‘No, none of us thinks that. Josse and I are going to try to find out who really killed Hugh de Brionne, and thus clear Ninian’s name.’
Little Helewise had also dismounted and was embracing her young cousin. Dominic watched the two girls. ‘She is taking this hard,’ he observed, indicating Little Helewise. ‘She is pale and it’s obvious she’s been weeping.’
‘We are trying to keep her busy to distract her from her sorrow,’ Helewise replied. ‘Hence the visit here.’
Dominic nodded. ‘She is welcome to stay. She and Rosamund get along well, and New Winnowlands has fewer associations with Ninian.’
‘Thank you for the thought. We’ll suggest it to her. There is one other thing.’
‘Yes?’
‘I would like to speak to Rosamund concerning the time she spent in Olivier’s company. Is she, do you think, ready to talk about it?’
‘Why do you want to question her?’ Then, before she could respond, he provided the answer. ‘Of course. To prove Ninian’s innocence, you have to discover the identity of the murderer. And you are hoping Rosamund can help.’
‘Have I your permission to speak to her?’ Helewise tried to keep the urgency out of her voice. She did not want to put pressure on Dominic to give his consent, but, on the other hand, there were more people than just Rosamund to consider.
‘You have,’ Dominic said. ‘It would be better, I think, not to question her in front of Little Helewise; you said you’re trying to distract her from thinking about Ninian, and she would quickly realize the purpose of your questions. But go carefully with Rosamund, won’t you?’ His sombre face broke into a quick smile. ‘As if you wouldn’t,’ he muttered.
She embraced him. ‘Thank you.’ Then she hurried after the two girls.
Dominic must have explained to Paradisa that Helewise wished to speak to Rosamund, for she came in, took the elder girl’s hand and said, ‘The stable cat has just had kittens. One of them has a little black moustache — come and see!’
Helewise caught her daughter-in-law’s eye and mouthed, ‘Thank you.’
Left alone with Rosamund, Helewise went to sit beside her and explained why she had come to see her. ‘If there is anything you can recall that might be relevant, please tell me,’ she said. ‘You can see how Little Helewise suffers, and it will not be safe for Ninian to return until we can prove he was not involved in Hugh de Brionne’s death.’
‘I don’t know this man,’ Rosamund said, frowning. ‘He is Olivier’s brother, you say?’
‘Yes.’ Helewise, appreciating that it was distressing Rosamund not to be able to help, decided to change her approach. ‘Tell me about Olivier,’ she invited.
Predictably, Rosamund’s expression lifted with relief at being able to supply an answer. ‘He looks like Ninian,’ she said. ‘When I saw him on the path close to the House in the Woods, I truly thought he was Ninian. After I’d
