![[Roger the Chapman 06] - The Wicked Winter](https://fs.ageofbook.com/617064/thumbs/152x264/roger-the-chapman-06-the-wicked-winter.jpg)
great hall boasted, placed close to the fire by Sir Hugh himself. I saw the resentful, almost malevolent glance that Gerard Empryngham gave them, and wondered how well the real relationship between the pair was known at Cederwell.
'Tell me, then, exactly what has happened,' Ursula Lynom entreated, a little breathlessly I thought, and twisting her hands together in her lap.
Sir Hugh explained as briefly as he could the circumstances of his wife's death, adding, 'But I do not understand how the hermit could have known.'
Hamon said quickly, 'He rambles abroad looking for food. Maybe, this morning, he followed the track down through the scrubland leading to the foreshore and the tower and.., and saw Lady Cederwell's body lying on the ground. He is a simple soul. It must have frightened him and he ran away.'
'Yes. Yes, that would doubtless be it,' Sir Hugh agreed with relief. He turned back to Ursula Lynom. 'Brother Simeon here was about to answer some questions concerning his discovery of... of...' He seemed unable to complete the sentence.
'I have heard of the friar,' Ursula said, raising her head and peering at Simeon. 'His sermons have been the talk of the district for a week or more. But who is this young man with him? Surely, you're the chapman who was at Lynom this morning?'
'I am, Mistress.' I smiled my most ingratiating smile. 'I had the honour to wait upon you and Dame Judith, and you were both kind enough to give me your custom.'
'The buttons.' She turned back to Sir Hugh. 'The buttons which Hamon was sent to deliver but which you have not yet received, I purchased from this man.' It seemed to me that she was still extremely ill at ease, talking at random, afraid to be silent. 'I took the liberty of buying them for you, Hugh, not knowing that the pedlar intended to come on to Cederwell. I didn't think you'd mind. Nor Jeanette. We're such old friends, and the buttons are silver, inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Just the sort of thing you like.'
'Thank you, my dear. You're very kind.' But his words were accompanied by an almost imperceptible shake of the head, a warning to her to be silent. 'Now, Brother, a moment of your time, if you please. Tell us again the circumstances of how you found... Lady Cederwell's body.'
'It was Roger Chapman's persistence which was really responsible for the discovery,' the friar insisted, urging me forward.
So I told the assembled company what I could, but in spite of Sir Hugh's close interrogation, there was nothing new to be added. At some point, one of the maids arrived with a tray bearing a glass of wine and a bowl of broth which Mistress Lynom gratefully accepted, but there were no other interruptions. Everyone listened carefully to what I had to say, and to the muttered corroboration throughout from Simeon.
When the final question had been asked and I had given my answer, there was a pause. Sir Hugh stood staring abstractedly into the fire lost in thought, while the rest of us maintained a respectful silence. At last, however, he roused himself, shook his head as though to clear it of unhappy thoughts and turned to Adela, speaking of more practical matters.
'Will you please supply Mistress Lynom with a nightshift and whatever else she might need. Ursula!' He addressed his guest once more. °When you have been provided for, will you honour me with your company, here in the hall? It's a sad business, and I feel in want of congenial company.' Maurice Cederwell snorted with laughter and gave an ironic bow.
'Thank you, Father. You make it only too plain what you think of your usual nightly companions.'
Sir Hugh shrugged, not bothering to contest the accusation. It was Mistress Lynom's turn to send a swift, upward glance of warning, but he either did not notice or chose to ignore it. In fact he compounded his offence by adding, 'I am sure the rest of you will wish to retire early to be alone with your grief. Phillipa and the maids will lay out the body sometime before
'Tell me, then, exactly what has happened,' Ursula Lynom entreated, a little breathlessly I thought, and twisting her hands together in her lap.
Sir Hugh explained as briefly as he could the circumstances of his wife's death, adding, 'But I do not understand how the hermit could have known.'
Hamon said quickly, 'He rambles abroad looking for food. Maybe, this morning, he followed the track down through the scrubland leading to the foreshore and the tower and.., and saw Lady Cederwell's body lying on the ground. He is a simple soul. It must have frightened him and he ran away.'
'Yes. Yes, that would doubtless be it,' Sir Hugh agreed with relief. He turned back to Ursula Lynom. 'Brother Simeon here was about to answer some questions concerning his discovery of... of...' He seemed unable to complete the sentence.
'I have heard of the friar,' Ursula said, raising her head and peering at Simeon. 'His sermons have been the talk of the district for a week or more. But who is this young man with him? Surely, you're the chapman who was at Lynom this morning?'
'I am, Mistress.' I smiled my most ingratiating smile. 'I had the honour to wait upon you and Dame Judith, and you were both kind enough to give me your custom.'
'The buttons.' She turned back to Sir Hugh. 'The buttons which Hamon was sent to deliver but which you have not yet received, I purchased from this man.' It seemed to me that she was still extremely ill at ease, talking at random, afraid to be silent. 'I took the liberty of buying them for you, Hugh, not knowing that the pedlar intended to come on to Cederwell. I didn't think you'd mind. Nor Jeanette. We're such old friends, and the buttons are silver, inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Just the sort of thing you like.'
'Thank you, my dear. You're very kind.' But his words were accompanied by an almost imperceptible shake of the head, a warning to her to be silent. 'Now, Brother, a moment of your time, if you please. Tell us again the circumstances of how you found... Lady Cederwell's body.'
'It was Roger Chapman's persistence which was really responsible for the discovery,' the friar insisted, urging me forward.
So I told the assembled company what I could, but in spite of Sir Hugh's close interrogation, there was nothing new to be added. At some point, one of the maids arrived with a tray bearing a glass of wine and a bowl of broth which Mistress Lynom gratefully accepted, but there were no other interruptions. Everyone listened carefully to what I had to say, and to the muttered corroboration throughout from Simeon.
When the final question had been asked and I had given my answer, there was a pause. Sir Hugh stood staring abstractedly into the fire lost in thought, while the rest of us maintained a respectful silence. At last, however, he roused himself, shook his head as though to clear it of unhappy thoughts and turned to Adela, speaking of more practical matters.
'Will you please supply Mistress Lynom with a nightshift and whatever else she might need. Ursula!' He addressed his guest once more. °When you have been provided for, will you honour me with your company, here in the hall? It's a sad business, and I feel in want of congenial company.' Maurice Cederwell snorted with laughter and gave an ironic bow.
'Thank you, Father. You make it only too plain what you think of your usual nightly companions.'
Sir Hugh shrugged, not bothering to contest the accusation. It was Mistress Lynom's turn to send a swift, upward glance of warning, but he either did not notice or chose to ignore it. In fact he compounded his offence by adding, 'I am sure the rest of you will wish to retire early to be alone with your grief. Phillipa and the maids will lay out the body sometime before
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