The Murders of Richard III by Elizabeth Peters Page B

battle would suffer wounds from sharp-bladed instruments such as swords and daggers, plus blows from maces, battle-axes, and the like. His body would have been bruised and cut.”
    She went on without waiting for a reaction. The reaction had begun; the sharper-witted listeners showed signs of horror and disbelief.
    â€œThe second of the murders of which Richard has been accused was that of Henry the Sixth, who was a prisoner in the Tower of London. The Tudors added this death to Richard’s account, saying that he had personally stabbed the poor old man. I don’t know whether anyone suggested that Henry was poisoned, but the body, when publicly displayed,as was the custom, showed no marks of violence, and poison was often suspected in cases of sudden death.
    â€œThis morning Dr. Rawdon, who represents Henry the Sixth, was taken ill after eating a dish specially prepared for him.
    â€œUp to this point no one could have seen the connection between the seeming accidents. Thomas’s adventure makes the connection explicit. The comedian among us is getting more direct. Thomas, who represents the Duke of Clarence, was knocked on the head and placed in a barrel of wine. Fortunately the barrel was empty, but the joker went to considerable lengths to make the position ignominious. Thomas was held erect—if I may use that word—by rope attached to his ankles and then looped around the top of the barrel.
    â€œNo reputable historian believes that Richard was really responsible for the death of his exasperating brother, but the Tudor legend blamed him nevertheless. Now,” said Jacqueline, in the same mild, pleasant voice, “do you really want us to go to the village looking for imaginary villains, or shall we start collating our alibis?”
    The amazed Ricardians stared dumbly, too thunderstruck to speak at first. Thomas leaned back in his chair and folded his hands across hisstomach. By finding a common denominator, Jacqueline had reduced his ludicrous adventure to part of a puzzle. One does not mind being made a fool of quite so much if one has plenty of company.
    â€œI cannot believe it,” the rector said finally. His ruddy face had paled. “Dear lady, are you certain—”
    â€œLet’s not waste time denying the obvious,” Kent interrupted. “The connection is there. But I question your conclusion, Jacqueline. Alibis?”
    â€œIt seems equally obvious to me,” Jacqueline said. She looked so smug that Thomas wanted to throw something at her. “We cannot completely eliminate the possibility of an outsider. But in order to act, such a person would have to have access to the house as well as knowledge of the roles you are playing. The first is not impossible. Despite Sir Richard’s precautions, this place is not really secure. It is not a medieval castle with a moat and a drawbridge, but an open, modern house surrounded by a wall that I can guarantee to climb in ten seconds flat. As for the special knowledge required, that, too, might have been accessible to an outsider. The servants could have been bribed; none of them would feel they were betraying a trust by divulging such trivial information. Some of you may have talked to your friends. However—”
    â€œBut you’ve just contradicted your own suggestion,” Frank said, frowning. “You’ve proved that an outsider could have the necessary opportunity. As for the motive—obviously someone wants to make us look foolish. None of us would do such a thing.”
    The rector made noises of enthusiastic agreement. Mrs. Ponsonby-Jones, whose slow-moving brain had finally grasped the situation, nodded her massive head. The others were silent; and gradually all eyes focused on a single object.
    Percy giggled.
    â€œI wish I had thought of it. I’d love to have seen Thomas in the butt of malmsey.”
    â€œNow, young man,” Sir Richard began angrily.
    He was interrupted by