Free The Weaver's Inheritance by Kate Sedley Page B

unconscious and his clothes sold some time or other to Bertha Mendip…’
    ‘Bertha Mendip?’ Alison demanded as my voice tailed off. ‘Who’s she?’
    I shook my head. ‘It’s a long story. I can’t go into all the details now.’ I straightened my back. ‘Mistress Burnett, why have you asked me here? What is it you really require of me?’
    It was her turn to lean forward, the hazel eyes with their distinctive green flecks suddenly blazing into life, the light from the fire reflected in their depths.
    ‘I want you to work for me,’ she said. ‘I’ll pay you well, never fear. I want you to prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that this man who says he’s Clement is really an impostor. I want him revealed for the rogue that he is. And above all, I want to know the name of his partner in this crime.’

Chapter Six
    One half of me longed to accept her offer, but the other urged circumspection. I hedged a little while trying to make up my mind.
    ‘Mistress Burnett,’ I said, ‘I’m only a chapman. What makes you think I could be of any use to you in this matter?’
    She regarded me scornfully. ‘Oh, come! Apart from the service you rendered my father, when you discovered the truth about Clement’s murder, there have been other instances when you have successfully employed this talent of yours as a solver of mysteries and puzzles. Do you think it remains unknown? Do you seriously believe that you can nose out the would-be assassin of the Duke of Gloucester without a single word of your success being noised abroad? William heard it talked of when he was in London last October, on business; and that was more than a year after the event, if I’m not mistaken. And goodness knows what you’ve been up to in the meantime.’
    ‘Fr-from whom did Master Burnett get this information?’ I stammered.
    Alison shrugged. ‘He has a friend who has a friend at court, so from him, I would imagine. Is it of any importance?’
    ‘No … No, not at all!’ I assured her.
    But I was astounded by this revelation that what I had done was of sufficient consequence to be a topic of conversation over a twelvemonth later. It also made me uneasy, for I have always valued my privacy as much as my freedom, and even at that comparatively young age, I had discovered that privacy’s greatest ally is anonymity. At the same time, I experienced a surge of pride and knew I could be in danger of getting a swollen head. I sent up a hasty, although admittedly half-hearted, prayer for humility.
    ‘Say something, man!’ Alison demanded, obviously annoyed by my silence. ‘Will you do this for me, or not?’
    ‘On one condition,’ I answered, raising my head and holding her eyes with mine. ‘That I am employed by you to seek out the truth, whatever that may be, even if it’s something you would prefer not to hear.’
    Relief made her laugh. ‘Oh, is that all? You’re thinking what if you should discover that this man calling himself Clement really is my brother?’ I nodded and she continued, ‘You won’t. I’ve already told you that. I wish I could convince you. However, it’s of no moment if you’re willing to accept my offer. You’ll find out for yourself soon enough. So, that’s that.’
    ‘Not quite,’ I protested. ‘There are some questions I want to ask.’
    The door opened and William Burnett entered the parlour. ‘Is everything settled?’ he enquired.
    His wife turned towards him, seemingly apprehensive at this unlooked-for intrusion, and said, ‘Master Chapman has agreed to help us.’
    ‘I’ve agreed to try to discover the truth,’ I amended. ‘With respect, Mistress, it’s not quite the same thing.’
    I had half-risen from my seat as I spoke, but Master Burnett waved at me to sit down again and began pacing restlessly to and fro.
    ‘Do you mean you believe this man might be my brother-in-law?’ he asked incredulously.
    ‘I mean I’ve no prejudice either way.’ I thought about this for a moment or two,