Read Online Face Down among the Winchester Geese by Kathy Lynn Emerson - Free Book Online

present."
    "You seek to hide her nationality?” Lady Appleton did not seem surprised, but the idea puzzled Jennet.
    Something to do with Sir Robert, she supposed. He'd gone to France at least once on secret missions for the queen.
    Frowning, Jennet began to gnaw her lower lip as Sir Walter announced that ‘twas best to let Diane be thought an Englishwoman.
    Reluctantly, Lady Appleton agreed to continue her ruse. “Had she some particular enemy? Someone who might have followed her here from France?"
    "None we know of.” Sir Walter stepped back from the table. “Her neck was broken,” he observed.
    "Nothing was stolen. She still had her clothing, and money on her person, and jewelry.” Lady Appleton looked from one man to the other, but neither offered any comment. “I know not if it has significance, but I found a feather near the body.” She produced it from atop a small, flat-lidded chest, where she'd also placed the dead woman's outer garments and a mourning ring, and held it out to Sir Walter.
    "A goose feather,” he murmured. He exchanged a sharp glance with Sir Robert.
    "What does it signify?” Lady Appleton asked.
    "Nothing."
    "You are quick to say so, Robert."
    "Because there is naught here to pursue."
    Lady Appleton seemed about to protest when she was interrupted by a brisk knock at the front door. By rights, Jennet should have gone to answer it. She stayed where she was.
    "That will be Mistress St. Cyr's traveling trunk,” Sir Walter said. “If my man brings it in here, we may all examine the contents."
    "I will so instruct him,” Lady Appleton said.
    Jennet held her breath and kept very still, afraid her keys would jangle and give away her presence.
    With luck, the two men had forgotten all about her. Lady Appleton had not. She glanced at Jennet on her way to the door, but said nothing to call attention to her.
    "Do you imagine there is a connection?” Sir Robert asked the moment his wife was out of earshot.
    "It does not seem likely. That other matter was some six years ago. And yet, I do not like this ... coincidence. Mistress Tylney's neck was also broken. And we found a feather then, too."
    "Lord Robin thought it was a quill for a pen."
    "And Cordoba showed us that it came off one of the pageant wagons. No one thought it had any ... significance."
    "It did not,” Sir Robert said in firm tones. “And there cannot possibly be any link between Lora Tylney's death and Diane's. Bury the woman quickly,” he advised, “and with her any hint of scandal, old or new."
    They fell silent as Lady Appleton returned with Sir Walter's servant behind her. Assisted by a porter he'd hired to convey it from Southwark, he'd brought a solid oak chest nearly five feet long. A nice piece, Jennet thought, covered with shaved hide and banded in iron and closed with a large padlock.
    She looked back at the two knights. A pity they'd not said more, but she had some information, at least, to share with Lady Appleton. If she understood aright, there had been another woman killed in like manner to French Diane. Jennet wondered who this Lora Tylney had been. And what she'd been to Sir Robert.
    "Go for the coffinmaker,” Sir Walter instructed his servant when the porter had been paid and dismissed. “Bring back a modest sample of his wares."
    As soon as the fellow had departed, Sir Robert and Sir Walter made a study of the lock. Sir Robert used the small dagger appended to his belt to open it, a task accomplished with an ease that surprised Jennet. What a useful talent for an intelligence gatherer, she thought.
    Inside they found only clothing and jewelry. Expensive clothing and jewelry. Jennet moved closer, forgetting that she wished to remain hidden. The kirtle Sir Robert removed first was made of fine white satin that must have cost, at the least, ten shillings a yard. Beneath it lay another of crimson satin lined with crimson sarcenet. And below that a gown of damask. Jennet did not dare estimate the cost of the latter,