Free Chambers of Death by Priscilla Royal Page A

cheek.
    Eleanor realized her tone had been dismissive, yet she did understand just how angry her monk was. Without doubt, she shared the feeling and felt a prick of irritation over the carelessness shown. Their own Crowner Ralf would never have been so lax about searching for evidence. But the crime was not theirs to solve, and thus they had no right to intervene.
    That acknowledged, she thought, no one should show such callous disregard for any man’s dead body. God treated all souls equally, whatever their rank on earth, and the soul would seek to reclaim its body at the resurrection. To mistreat Tobye’s corpse, as the sheriff was doing, touched on the blasphemous. She shut her eyes, trying to calm her growing outrage. Surely the man would not take his obvious disdain for the lower ranks so far as to defile…
    She spun around and faced the monk. “I have some information that I should probably share with Sir Reimund,” she said, keeping her voice low.
    “Indeed, my lady?” Anger was still evident in the high color of his cheeks.
    “I have cause to suspect that Tobye was committing adultery with Master Stevyn’s wife.”
    His head shot up, but he was too shocked to speak.
    “I saw them together just before the steward and his men returned to the manor. Their behavior was such that no reasonable man would say their relationship was solely that of servant and mistress.”
    “Then Master Stevyn must be a suspect in this murder,” he whispered back.
    “I fear so, yet this sheriff may not share that belief.”
    “Surely he cannot ignore what you witnessed. Stranger though you may be here, you are still the Prioress of Tyndal.”
    “And one who is no stranger to this manor has told me that Sir Reimund will do his best to avoid troubling the powerful. If the Earl of Lincoln holds Master Stevyn in high regard…”
    “…the sheriff will seek some way to discount any suggestion of his guilt.”
    “Thus I question the wisdom of revealing what I saw.” Eleanor gave Thomas an inquiring look. “At least until I can weigh the measure of Sir Reimund for myself and see how this matter proceeds.”
    “In the meantime, what do you want me to do?” The monk’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.
    How I do love this man, Eleanor exclaimed to herself as she watched eagerness paint his face with a boy’s excitement. But when she spoke to him, her words betrayed nothing but calm purpose. “Accompany me to the sheriff, then step away and I shall play a game or two with him. The very least we should be able to accomplish is proper treatment of the corpse. Perhaps I shall also learn that Sir Reimund is more amenable to a just resolution of this crime than rumor suggests is likely.”
    “My lady, I am most eager to do whatever you wish!”
    Eleanor was grateful that Brother Thomas had bowed for her cheeks had grown too hot with pleasure at those words.

Chapter Thirteen
    Sir Reimund frowned when he saw a tiny nun walking toward him. Surely God had not suddenly dropped him into a convent’s cloister. Might she be a vision?
    The creature now stood in front of him, hands modestly tucked into her sleeves. He shut his eyes, hoping the apparition would be gone when he looked again.
    She was no vision.
    He bowed.
    A phantasm would have been preferable. He had dealt with evil often enough that the Devil himself might arrive for a friendly supper and he would be little bothered. But a nun? Solving a murder on a manor run by the Earl of Lincoln’s steward without setting either earl or steward against him was difficult enough. Now he had to get this Bride of Christ back to the chapel where she belonged without offending God.
    Eleanor nodded her head in acknowledgement of his courtesy. “Forgive me, Sir Reimund, but I have heard that the Prince of Darkness has caused some wicked soul to commit murder in this place.”
    “You did understand correctly, Sister, and thus I most ardently pray that you return to the chapel and beseech God