A Mortal Bane(120)

“Still,” Bell said, “I think that is just what he did, although I will admit I cannot imagine why. I was at St. Paul’s this afternoon and no one there has seen him since he left for Rome. He came back at top speed, too, because he was in his lodging Monday night. The woman who keeps it said he was sick when he came in and had fits of weeping.”

“That was after he learned on Monday afternoon that Baldassare was dead.” Magdalene frowned. “I told him when he came in, pleased with himself for having sent an unsuspecting foreigner to me. And I could swear he was truly shocked…although if he is as good an actor as Guiscard says….”

“Perhaps he is.” Bell shrugged. “He was at Baldassare’s burial on Tuesday morning and carried on as if he were the man’s brother…or wife. I tried to catch him to speak to him, but Buchuinte stopped me to ask if I had learned anything new about the murder or recovered the pouch—Buchuinte thinks he could use Baldassare’s letter of credit to pay for the burial and Masses—and Beaumeis escaped me.”

[page]“Guiscard told me Beaumeis is a skilled pretender, that he can counterfeit emotion, and that he used that skill with such fervor and fear that he induced Winchester to agree to ordain him on that last day of the conference.”

“But why should he pretend so much grief over Baldassare?” Bell asked. “A little, yes. A few tears and head shakings for a friend with whom one has traveled for weeks and of whom one has become fond—that is reasonable. But Beaumeis drew too much attention to himself. He was white and shaking, utterly distraught.”

“To prove he could not have killed a man he loved so much?” But the doubt in William’s voice was clear.

“Because of guilt?” Magdalene suggested.

“That seems—” There was a noise at the door, and William looked up and said, “Yes?”

“The evening meal, my lord. Shall I bring it up?”

“Magdalene? Sir Bellamy? Will you join me?” William asked courteously.

Magdalene could think of nothing more horrible than being trapped between Bell and William exchanging light conversation. While they were both engaged in serious discussion on a subject on which they were cooperating, they were safe. The moment they were just two men together, one or both would remember they had a bone of contention.

She shook her head. “Unless you feel that this conversation should be continued and could lead somewhere important, I would like to go home. There is no one at the guesthouse to deal with anyone who might stop by.”

“You work too hard, chick,” William said, frowning. “I want to talk to you about that someday, but it will have to wait. Do you want me to send a man—”

“I will see her home, my lord,” Bell said.

That time William let his amusement show and Magdalene held her breath, but before Bell could react, William had risen and said to the servant waiting by the door, “I will come down and eat with the men.” He waved the servant off and grinned at Bell, adding, “After that, perhaps I will have a little talk with the ‘guest’ Magdalene was so clever as to furnish.”

As he came abreast of them, he gave Magdalene a rough hug and kissed the top of her head. When he released her, he gave Bell a friendly buffet. “Remember, I was there first. And don’t try to teach your grandfather to suck eggs.”





Chapter Sixteen



25 April 1139





Old Priory Guesthouse; St. Mary Overy Church



“There is no need at all for you to change your lodging to my house,” Magdalene said somewhat stiffly when they were again in the cart driving the mule back up Thames Street toward the bridge. “As you saw, my women and I were well able to—”