Free Death in the West Wind by Deryn Lake

met one of her lady friends, I dare say. I doubt there’s cause for alarm.”
    Poor bastard, thought John, while beside him Irish Tom, clearly embarrassed, got to his feet and said, “I’ll be round in the yard if you need me, Sir.” The Apothecary managed a smile. “How long have you known the family?”
    “All my life,” Tobias answered cheerily. “I grew up with them. My father is a great friend of Jan van Guylder’s. I think the two of them decided that Juliana and I would be wed while we were both still in our cradles.”
    “And the pair of you went along with this?” Suspicion returned to the honest countenance. “These are very personal questions from a stranger, Sir.”
    “Forgive me. It is just that as I am acquainted with the family I have been entrusted with the task of finding Richard, who is not in school, by his headmaster.” Relief and trust appeared. “Oh, I see.”
    “But allow me to introduce myself. I am John Rawlings, an apothecary of Shug Lane in London.”
    Now Tobias was totally perplexed. “You have come all the way from London to find Richard?”
    “No, not at all. I am staying down here on holiday with my bride of two weeks.”
    Tobias looked conspiratorial, man-to-man ish. “Honeymoon, eh,” he said roguishly. “Can’t wait till mine. Juliana will make a beautiful bride, don’t you agree?”
    It was heart-rending to hear him speak inthat way and yet it could, John considered, be the cleverest bluff of all. If Tobias were not the father of Juliana’s child and had discovered that she was pregnant by someone else, could he and a cohort have murdered the girl? Or, even more convoluted but still possible, if it was his child and he had tired of his betrothed, had he killed her to rid himself of both her and his unwanted baby?
    Yet, again and again, John found himself coming back to the same stumbling block: the terrible beating and the rape. Could anyone who had once loved Juliana inflict such appalling injuries on her? Could a father, brother or lover be so evil? Then the Apothecary remembered the cruelty he had encountered in the past and decided that anything, however vile, was indeed possible. He stared at Tobias closely, considering whether the jolly but juvenile manner was a clever act.
    “I am wondering,” he said, “if you might be able to give me any information regarding Richard. As I have been set the task of finding the boy I think I really ought to get on with it.”
    “While I meanwhile will search for his sister. What a good plan. Should we meet later and compare notes?”
    John looked doubtful. “My wife is in Sidmouth and I am most anxious to return to her by dinner time. I shall call on the Fitzes and at the bro … “ His voice trailed away.
    “You were saying?” Tobias asked politely.
    Oh dammit, thought John, the fellow’s a grown man.
    “The brothel in Blackboy Road. I am told that Mr. van Guylder frequents it from time to time.”
    “Oh he does,” Tobias answered seriously. “He is a widower but not old, so who could blame him?”
    “You obviously know the family very well indeed.”
    “Well, I am destined to become part of it.”
    “Even down to sharing their darkest secrets?”
    Tobias went crimson. “I don’t know what you mean,” he said.

    *   *   *

    “That was terrible,” John remarked as he stepped into his coach. “If that chap is as innocent as he looks, then I have most cruelly deceived him.”
    “Well you could hardly blurt out that his betrothed has met a grisly end and is currently lying in Exeter mortuary, now could you?”
    “Not really.” John glanced at his watch. “I mustn’t be late back, Tom. I think I’ll visit the brothel then save the Fitzes for this evening when, finely dressed, Emilia and I might call. I have a feeling I would stand a better chance of being admitted that way.”
    “I’m sure you’re right, Sir. But what if you find neither Mr. van Guylder or his son today? Will you be content to go