Bernard Knight - The Manor of Death

His words had an immediate effect on Thomas, who went pale and smote his forehead with a hand. 'Forgive me, sir, I quite forgot, with all this sad excitement of Nesta leaving.' He scrabbled in the pouch on the belt of his shabby cassock and produced a small square of parchment. 'This was brought to me after early Mass by a servant from Polsloe. It is a note written by Sister Madge.'

De Wolfe snatched it from him, then handed it back. 'Read it for me, Thomas, I beg you!' he commanded.

'It says: Written at Matilda de Wolfe's behest. She wishes to inform her husband that she needs more time to contemplate her future life and to arrive at a decision between her earnest desire to remain in the company of God or to return to the state of matrimony, whether in London or elsewhere. '

Thomas handed the parchment back to John with an apologetic look. 'That's all it says, master, I'm afraid.' He backed away when he saw the thunderous look on the coroner's face as he leapt up from the bench.

'The bloody woman!' he roared. 'She's doing this on purpose, keeping me dangling on a string! Why the hell can't she make her mind up one way or the other?' He pushed Thomas aside and strode towards the side of the Bush, where Odin was tethered to a rail, contentedly cropping at the rough grass. His officer and clerk followed him, bemused at his sudden change in mood. John grabbed the reins to untie them, then put a foot in a stirrup. As he swung himself up on to the destrier's back, he let rip another blast of invective.

'She's torn between God and the prospect of being wife of the Coroner to the Royal Court, that's what it is!' he shouted angrily. Pulling Odin's head around, he touched his flank with his heels.

'Are you going up to Polsloe, Crowner?' called Gwyn.

De Wolfe looked down from the stallion's back. 'No, I'm bloody well not!' he shouted. 'I'm off to Dawlish, where I have unfinished business!'