Wheel of Fate by Kate Sedley Page A

your features under control, Roger,’ she warned me.)
    The children were, by now, growing restless and Clemency, deciding that we had been sitting over our meal long enough, made to rise from the table.
    â€˜One moment,’ I said as she did so. Everyone looked enquiringly in my direction. ‘You’ve mentioned having two stepbrothers. Landlord Makepeace had a brother, then. Is he still alive? If so, can I meet him? Does he live near here?’
    â€˜Julian?’ Clemency looked faintly surprised as if this was something I should know already. ‘He’s an apothecary and he, too, lives in Bucklersbury. His shop is not far from the Voyager on the opposite side of the road. You’ll see his name over the door. There are a good many apothecaries’ shops in that street.’
    I nodded. ‘So I’ve noticed. I’ll pay him a visit later on.’
    â€˜Whatever for?’ Oswald asked, frankly puzzled. ‘I’m sure he won’t be able to tell you anything. Nothing to the purpose, at any rate. A good enough man among his herbs and simples, but of limited intelligence I’ve always thought him.’
    â€˜His life might be in danger,’ I pointed out. ‘Besides, he may know something, have seen something, however small, that could help me solve this mystery. I must speak to your priest as well. Father Berowne I think you called him. But what would help me most of all, Master Godslove, would be if you could give me a list of any of the criminals you have successfully prosecuted lately who might have cause – or believe they have cause,’ I hastily amended, ‘to bear you a grudge.’
    As he hesitated, Celia came round the table and laid a hand on Oswald’s arm. ‘Dearest, you must do this. Please. For all our sakes.’
    There was a further pause. Then he patted her hand and gave her an indulgent smile.
    â€˜Very well,’ he agreed. ‘But I doubt if Master Chapman, here, will get much joy from it. My cases are all fairly conducted. Scrupulously so. Very few with whom I have dealings have cause to complain.’
    His half-sister rubbed her cheek against his.
    â€˜We know that, my love. So do all your friends and acquaintances. But a felon wouldn’t. I’ve heard you say often that very few of them ever admit, even to themselves, that they are guilty, or at least that they were not justified in doing what they did.’
    â€˜True,’ the lawyer admitted. ‘But in general they are a lazy, shiftless crowd who would find a sustained campaign of vengeance – if that is what this is – beyond the range of their limited powers. However, as you all seem to think it worthwhile, I’ll see if I can think of anyone who might consider that he—’
    â€˜Or she,’ I reminded him.
    He turned a cold eye towards me. He did not take kindly to interruption. ‘Very well! If you insist. Anyone who might consider that he or she has been unfairly treated at my hands. It will not,’ he added austerely, ‘be a long list.’
    â€˜Of course not,’ I agreed suavely. ‘But I think your sisters are right in supposing it could be the answer to recent events. Female intuition is never to be despised, my dear sir.’
    I saw Adela’s lips twitch in appreciation of this master stroke. The women were now solidly on my side.
    We at last began to move, Nicholas and Elizabeth disappearing almost at once, presumably into the garden. The housekeeper made for the kitchens, to summon the maids to clear the table, while the rest of us returned to the great hall, where the fire had almost gone out. Celia gave an exclamation of impatience and put another log on the dying flames, Oswald announced his intention of returning shortly to the inns of court and Clemency suggested that I accompany Adela upstairs to inspect the bedchamber we were to share and to unpack my own and my daughter’s clothes. In the middle