Read To Wear The White Cloak: A Catherine LeVendeur Mystery Online

Authors: Sharan Newman

To Wear The White Cloak: A Catherine LeVendeur Mystery (37 page)

BOOK: To Wear The White Cloak: A Catherine LeVendeur Mystery
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“My husband would never do such a thing,” Richilde stated. “He’s a member of the water merchants and takes his position seriously. He’s not some common
ribaud
to attack a man in the dark for such a petty reason!”
Catherine put down her bowl. “I’m inclined to agree with you, Richilde. Archer isn’t the sort of man who murders. But a sergeant of the Temple has accused him. We can’t ignore that.”
Genta put a hand on Richilde’s arm. “I’ve been making some inquiries about this Bertulf,” she said. “He hasn’t yet become a member of the Temple, and there is some question now if he’ll be permitted to take the vows at all. Who is he? Just some stranger. You say he’s a friend of your father’s?”
Catherine sighed. “He has done business with my father,” she explained. “I’d never met him before, but Solomon remembers the horse Father sold him.”
“And on his word you let the man be a guest in your house?” Genta’s eyebrows rose.
“Not precisely,” Catherine said. Obviously Genta hadn’t heard that Bertulf had been taken back to the preceptory under guard.
“However, I can see no reason for him to accuse Archer without some reason.”
“To turn suspicion from himself, perhaps?” Genta suggested.
“Possibly,” Catherine said. “But I doubt it. No suspicion ever rested on Bertulf. He didn’t need to tell us who the man in the counting room was.”
“But if the information were discovered, wouldn’t it have been wise for him to have someone else to fix the blame on?”
Catherine agreed. “But, as I don’t believe Archer could lie in wait for a man and drive a spear through his heart, I don’t think Bertulf would, either. If he had wanted to murder his lord, he would have had many chances along the journey. He could have waited until they reached the Holy Land and say they had been ambushed by Saracens.”
“Still,” Genta said, “I think it far more likely that he did it than Archer. I’ve already spoken to Commander Evrard about this, and I will to Queen Adelaide, if necessary.”
“I wish you would,” Catherine surprised both women by saying. “Their authority may be able to get to the truth of the matter in ways we can’t. Despite Edgar’s anger, he has a high regard for Archer. Neither of us would be pleased to see him hang for something he didn’t do.”
 
Abraham was puzzled by the young man standing before him.
“I don’t know who sent you to me,” he told Lambert, “but I don’t give loans on boots. And I don’t know anyone who would take a cross as security, except from a bishop or abbot. But if you’re hungry …”
“No, I need money for something else.” Lambert knelt before Abraham and raised his hands in supplication. “My wife is being held prisoner. I must save her.”
“You want ransom money?” Abraham asked. “Have you no family to help you raise it?”
Lambert sank down on his haunches. “Actually, no one has asked for ransom. But she’s missing, and I think she was taken by the family of a merchant here in Paris. If not for money, I don’t know why. My friend, Jehan, says it’s because they’re wicked and no one can comprehend what evil has in its mind.”
“Jehan!” said a man seated at a table on the other side of the room. “You can’t mean the knight from Blois, can you?”
“He is from Blois, I believe,” Lambert said. “Do you know him? I understood that he had no business with your people.”
Hubert felt a strange thrill at being accepted as a Jew by this young man. He wasn’t sure whether or not he liked it.
“The one I know hates us all passionately,” Hubert described him as Lambert nodded. “Yes, that’s Jehan. You can’t believe anything he says. He’s totally mad.”
“What do you know of it?” Lambert challenged him. “Everything he’s told me so far has proved true.”
“Then why haven’t you gone to him for help?” Abraham asked.
Lambert started to explain, then stopped. These men were infidels and clearly Jehan’s enemies.
“He’s leaving Paris tonight and can’t help me further,” he told them.
Hubert sighed in relief. “I’m glad of that. I was afraid he’d never go until he took his revenge on us for not letting him marry Agnes. Thank goodness she’s safe from him in Germany.”
Lambert looked at him. “Agnes? The merchant Hubert’s daughter? You mean she doesn’t live here in Paris?” he asked.
“No, she married last year, to a German lord,” Hubert said. “Jehan was an embarrasment to everyone then insisting that she marry him. His actions might have caused her serious harm.”
“She’s not in Paris,” Lambert repeated. “Then whom did he rescue?”
“Young man, what are you talking about?” Abraham asked.
In confusion, Lambert explained. Hubert and Abraham gave each other a worried look.
“Your wife,” Hubert asked. “She isn’t the daughter of Lord Osto, is she?”
Lambert was too bewildered to prevaricate.
“Yes,” he admitted. “Clemence.”
“Heaven save us!” Abraham said. “Young man, I want you to go directly to the house of Catherine LeVendeur and her husband and tell them everything!”
“The thought of that poor child in Jehan’s clutches!” Hubert exclaimed.
“Chaim!” Abraham said. “The boy is frightened enough already. Will you go there at once?” he continued to Lambert. “Do you know the way?”
“Yes, I do,” Lambert put on his cap and turned to go. Then he stopped, the new information finally penetrating.
“Do you mean Jehan is the one holding my wife?” he asked. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Hubert said. “Now hurry, before he gets away.”
Lambert did.
When he had gone, Abraham called Solomon to come up. He explained what had happened.
“I think you should go along after the boy to be sure he finds his way to Edgar’s house and is able to tell his story in such a way that they’ll understand the urgency.”
“Of course I will,” Solomon told the two men. “But I have no doubt that they’ll understand.”
 
At the Temple preceptory Evrard de Barre had been informed of the situation regarding Bertulf and Godfrey.
“Their story doesn’t have the ring of truth,” he said. “If their lord had been killed by a citizen of Paris, why not start the cry at once?”
“They say it’s because they were strangers and worried that they would meet the same fate as Lord Osto,” Durand replied. “But I agree that there’s something not right here. For instance, the man Bertulf says that the destrier they brought with them is his. But it’s not the horse of a miller turned soldier. What nobleman would let one of his villagers take his best horse?”
“A Christian one?” Evrard suggested. He brushed aside Master Durand’s expostulations. “Yes, it does sound odd. Even worse,
Domma
Genta has asked me to judge the matter, myself. It seems she’s a friend of the accused man’s wife. She hinted that if I don’t, she’ll ask the king why the Temple is taking in men without a complete examination of their character. As if we had time these days! That means
another day borrowed from the work I have to do before I leave. I pray I’m never called upon to pay them all back.”
 
Lambert ran to the Grève, heedless of people and things in his way. Solomon was glad he didn’t have to keep track of him. He had enough to do helping people to their feet and picking up objects Lambert had knocked down in his hurry.
However, as he approached the door, Lambert’s pace slowed. After the rude way he’d behaved, why would they let him in or pay attention to his tale? Then he thought of Clemence. He realized that it hadn’t only been that there wasn’t any place suitable for her that had kept him from taking her with him to Jehan. It had been the man himself. Lambert had sensed the madness but had been too preoccupied to recognize it.
He lifted the dragon’s nose and sounded the bell.
Martin showed him in. Catherine was still trying to soothe and entertain Richilde and Genta. Lambert barely noted the other women present. He went straight to Catherine.
“Please help me,” he begged. “Do you remember me? My name is Lambert, son of Bertulf the miller. Master Abraham told me that my wife has been abducted by Jehan. He said you’d know what to do.”
Catherine tried to take all of this in. Quickly Richilde and Genta stood to go.
“Young man,” Richilde said, “your father has just accused my husband of murder. I see no need to stay in the same house with you.”
“My father?” Lambert gaped at her. “Murder?”
Genta put an arm around Richilde.
“Catherine,” she said, “if this is an example of the things that happen in your household, I’m not sure we’ll be seeing much of one another in the future.”
In the back of her mind, Catherine sent up a prayer of thanksgiving.
“I should be very sorry if that happened,” she told Genta. “Take care of Richilde. I’m sure this will all turn out well. The true killer will be uncovered and Archer exonerated, I’m sure. Now, Lambert. Why do you think Jehan has Clemence?”
“I don’t know,” Lambert replied. “But Master Abraham and his friend said you would understand.”
Solomon had entered as the women left.
“Clemence looks like your sister,” he explained. “I suspect that Jehan took her to replace Agnes.”
“Saint Radegunde’s pristine privies!” Catherine exclaimed. “I felt he must be in this somehow, but couldn’t find a reason or an opportunity. How did he know Clemence was even here?”
“She was? Why didn’t you tell me?” Lambert exclaimed.
“Jehan must have been spying on the house,” Solomon said. “You say he’s your friend?” he added to Lambert. “You poor fool! And you have no idea where he could have taken her?”
“No. He came to our room, said he was buying provisions and then leaving with ‘Agnes,’” Lambert said. “If only I had known!”
“Then he may not have gone, yet. Think! Where could he have left her?” Solomon insisted.
Lambert pressed his fingers to his forehead. “If not with the nuns on Montmartre, I don’t know.”
“He wouldn’t have done that,” Catherine said. “She’d have told them immediately that she was being abducted. It would have to be a secret place, where she wouldn’t be easily discovered.”
Solomon put his hands on Lambert’s shoulders.
“Now, I know this will be difficult,” he said, “but you have to try to remember every place you went with Jehan since you met him.”
“Every place?” Lambert thought of the midnight visit to the counting room.
“Yes,” both Solomon and Catherine answered.
“Very well,” Lambert closed his eyes to think better. He opened them again. “What was that about my father? Have you seen him?”
“Not now,” Catherine said. “First we must find Clemence before Jehan leaves the city with her.”
 
Edgar was relieved that the question of the body had been resolved, but annoyed with Bertulf for refusing to admit that he was really Osto. Still, it would be easier to convince Commander Evrard that the accusation
against Archer was weak if it came from a miller. But if not Archer, then who? Edgar passed through the Rogation processions without even noticing them. His mind was on the things he needed to do once all this was ended. He hadn’t yet admitted it to himself but, deep down, he didn’t think he would mind being a merchant, as long as he could be a wealthy one.
Solomon met him at the door.
“Don’t take your cap off,” he greeted Edgar. “Do you know if the cry has been raised for the death of the wizard?”
“I’ve heard nothing,” Edgar said.
“Neither have I,” Solomon said. “But I think Jehan has stowed Clemence in the old man’s hut.”
“Jehan!” Edgar blinked. “What has he to do with her?”
“Everything,” Solomon said. “We have to get there at once. And, if that’s where she is, then it’s because Jehan knew that the wizard wouldn’t be there. Do you know what that means?”
Edgar’s eyes began to light. Slowly, he smiled.
“We’ve got him!”
 
Catherine wondered if she should have told Lambert that his father was dead. He’d have to know soon. She hoped that Lord Osto’s faith in him was warranted. Lambert didn’t seem capable of the steady hand needed to maintain a castellany. Catherine had observed her brother at it many times. Even though a merchant’s son, Guillaume had been raised at their uncle’s keep and knew how to fight as well as administer a fief. Unlike Picardy, France allowed for noble blood on one side only, if the other side was at least respectable.
She told herself that it wasn’t her problem. She should be worrying about what would happen if Solomon and Edgar found Jehan with Clemence. She was glad they were there to protect Lambert. But she was afraid that they had confused Jehan’s weak mind with a weak body. Even though Jehan was much older than either of them, she had no doubt that he would defend himself fiercely if cornered.
BOOK: To Wear The White Cloak: A Catherine LeVendeur Mystery
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