Simon Beaufort - A Dead Man's secret

‘You are not feeble,’ said Geoffrey. ‘You are kin to Robert de Belleme, the great tyrant. I guessed the first time we met that there was more to you than you let anyone see, and I was right. Did you poison Mabon, too?’

‘No,’ said Leah firmly. ‘You will probably accuse me of it, because some of my wolf-tooth did go missing at Goodrich, but I swear to you, on Richard’s life, that I did not kill Mabon.’

Geoffrey recalled Father Adrian’s testimony – that Leah, Richard and Edward had sought absolution the morning Mabon had died, and murder had not been among the sins they had confessed. Moreover, Leah would not risk the life of the man she loved by swearing lies on it. Reluctantly, he accepted that she was not the culprit, although he was not about to say so.

‘Why did you not mention this theft immediately?’ he demanded.

‘Because you might have accused me of the crime,’ said Leah. ‘It was safer to say nothing.’

‘Was any other toxin missing?’ asked Geoffrey. ‘Or just wolf-tooth?’

‘I do not have any other toxins,’ Leah snapped. ‘Wolf-tooth is not a poison anyway. It is-’

‘Who took it?’

‘It might have been anyone staying at your nasty little castle,’ she hissed, voice full of spite. ‘Gwgan, perhaps; you have just said that he knows all about fast-acting poisons.’

‘Gwgan had no reason to kill Mabon. Indeed, I imagine he would rather Mabon was alive, because he was a strong man, who would have kept the abbey Welsh. Ywain is not his equal and will be unable to keep it from being overrun by Normans.’

‘Then it was someone else,’ she snarled. ‘Including your wife and sister, so do not think you can level accusations at me without them being dragged into the matter. If you charge me publicly, I will see they will suffer, too.’

Geoffrey regarded her contemptuously. ‘You would harm the innocent to save yourself?’

Leah returned his glare in kind. ‘Yes, if you leave me no other choice. I did do a wicked thing seven years ago, but I have paid the price by not being well since. And I did not mean to kill William, anyway.’

‘No?’ asked Geoffrey coldly. ‘What then?’

‘I meant to make him ill, to shake him from his smug conviction that he was touched by God. I thought a fright might instil some humility into him. But he died, and Richard did not inherit-’

‘And there is your real motive,’ pounced Geoffrey. ‘You wanted Richard in Rhydygors, taking William’s place.’

‘No!’ cried Leah. ‘Well, yes. I suppose so. I did it for Richard, because I thought he would be happier if his brother was not so saintly. There is no reason for you to believe me, but murder was not my intention. I was young and foolish, and blinded by love for an unhappy man.’

‘What will he say when he learns what you have done?’

‘He will never know,’ said Leah. There was something cold and hard in her eyes that was definitely redolent of Belleme. ‘Because I will not tell him, and neither will you. If you do, you will be more sorry than you can imagine.’

Geoffrey took his leave of Leah, stopping only to ask Ywain to make sure she did not leave the abbey. He was not sure what to do about her and decided to ask Hilde’s opinion. Roger would doubtless recommend hanging her, but Hilde would offer sensible advice.

When he arrived at the inn, he found Roger surrounded by townsfolk as he regaled them with lies about the Crusade. His face was flushed from the amount of ale he had consumed, and he shook his head at Geoffrey to say that he did not want to be interrupted. Geoffrey went to the stable, collected his horse and set out towards Rhydygors.

But when he reached the castle, he was told that Hilde had gone out with Isabella to buy raisins. Laughingly, Prince Hywel informed Geoffrey that he would be unlikely to see his wife before sunset.

‘And do not even think of trying to hunt her down,’ he added. ‘It will be like looking for a needle in a haystack.’

Geoffrey nodded, although his attention was taken by Gwgan, who had the entire garrison assembled in the bailey. They wore travelling packs and were being issued with enough rations to suggest they might be gone for some time. Clearly, Hywel was taking seriously the presence of outlaws in his domain and was doing all he could to round them up.

‘I heard Gwgan was ambushed last night,’ said Geoffrey.

‘We are fortunate our men heard the clash of weapons and raced back to help him,’ said Hywel grimly. ‘There is no question that he would have been killed otherwise, and I would have lost my trusted counsellor and most beloved friend.’

‘Richard was attacked last night, too, and has fled the town.’

Hywel shook his head slowly. ‘These villains are bold and reckless to stage an assault within sight of the castle. Gwgan recommended that we send every available man out to track them, and he is right. My only regret is that pressing business will keep me here until tomorrow.’

‘But then you will go?’ asked Geoffrey.

‘At first light,’ said Hywel. He smiled. ‘And any knight who would like to join me will be welcome. Especially one who speaks Welsh.’

Geoffrey nodded agreement. ‘But is it wise to send all your soldiers? You will not consider keeping some in reserve, lest the town is attacked again?’

It was not his place to question the tactics of another commander, especially one who was the ruler of vast tracts of land, but the questions were out before he could stop himself.

Fortunately, Hywel did not seem to mind. ‘Richard’s men can defend the town, and Gwgan’s personal guard are more than capable of manning the castle. We have no choice, anyway: what would my people say if I sat safe and secure in Rhydygors, while they cannot ride my highways unmolested?’

Geoffrey made no reply, although his soldier’s instincts warned him that Hywel’s plan was not a good one. He wondered whether he should take Hilde somewhere else. But where?

‘Stay here with Hilde tonight,’ said Hywel, reading his mind. ‘She will be safe enough, but I can see you would prefer to see to her well-being yourself.’

‘You will not be here?’ asked Geoffrey.

‘I am dining with Gwgan in his home.’ Hywel waved his hand towards the nearby hamlet, its rooftops just visible through the trees. ‘There is much to discuss after his visit to Gloucester, but we have no peace here. We will work twice as quickly in his house, and then nothing will stop me riding out after these outlaws tomorrow.’

Geoffrey had two more letters to hand over before his delivery duties were complete, and he decided to be rid of them as soon as possible. Unfortunately, Sear had taken his Pembroc soldiers to hunt for the outlaws and was not expected back until evening. Robert the steward was at work in an office, though, and snatched the letter eagerly when it was presented.

‘It is all about Maurice’s new cathedral,’ he cried in disappointment. ‘I thought it would be something useful – something I could use to avert the trouble I sense is brewing.’

‘What trouble?’ asked Geoffrey.

‘The trouble that started the moment you and your companions rode into our town with tales of outlaws. It was peaceful when Sear and Richard were away, but the instant they return, we are thrown into turmoil.’

‘Bishop Maurice merely heard I was travelling west and used the opportunity to write to distant kin,’ said Geoffrey. ‘He knows nothing of-’

‘I do not like the fact that Richard has disappeared,’ interrupted Robert. ‘It bodes ill.’

‘You cannot blame him for not wanting to be in a place where he is in danger,’ said Geoffrey. ‘We were ambushed nine times between here and Brechene, and he might have been the target.’