Prince of Darkness

gold Gospel Book still lay in the centre. She placed her long slender fingers against the cover of the book.
    'Ask me your questions, Clerk. I wish to help. I have nothing to hide and, hand on the gospels, swear to tell the truth. When this matter is finished, I don't want to be removed because the King was dissatisfied – though he may well not be pleased with the answers I am going to give.'
    Corbett rested against the altar.
    'Was the Lady Eleanor suffering from a malady of the breast?'
    'She said she was.'
    'Did the Prince send potions to her?'
    'Yes, he did. And we tasted them and suffered no ill effects.'
    'Did the Lady Eleanor receive visitors?'
    'No, the Prince never came, though of course he sent messengers with letters and gifts. The letters Lady Eleanor always burnt, the gifts she gave to the community.'
    'Why did she not go to Compline the night she died?'
    I don't know. She had been very secretive during the previous week but we thought it was due to some evil humour.'
    'You are sure that, apart from Dame Elizabeth and Dame Martha, all the community were in Compline and went to the refectory afterwards?'
    'Yes, you saw me this morning. I check each stall personally. Some of the sisters, such as Dame Agatha and Dame Frances, were here just before Compline. After the ceremony we processed to the refectory. Again, there were no absentees. I particularly noticed Dame Agatha because she was reading that evening from the homilies of Saint Jerome whilst the other sisters were eating. '
    'And afterwards? You and the two Sub-prioresses returned to the priory and found Lady Eleanor?'
    'Yes and no.'
    Corbett looked up sharply.
    The Lady Prioress gazed evenly back, her hands still on the Gospel Book.
    I mean,' she replied slowly, 'we went back to the convent building. I was very concerned about Lady Eleanor's prolonged absence. The hall was dark and deserted. We went upstairs. Dames Martha and Elizabeth, as usual, were fast asleep. We hurried to Lady Eleanor's room. The door was unlocked, the chamber dark. Lady Eleanor was lying on the floor. She wore a cloak, its hood pulled well over her head. I thought she had fainted but Sister Frances pronounced her dead.'
    The Lady Prioress looked away.
    'I panicked. The King had entrusted me with Lady Eleanor's safety and security and I had failed. So we took her corpse downstairs and placed it at the foot of the steps to look as if she had fallen or committed suicide. I sent for Dame Agatha and a messenger to Father Reynard. That is all,' she whispered.
    Corbett sensed the woman was not telling lies but what she said was not the full truth.
    'So Lady Eleanor was murdered?'
    The Prioress nodded.
    'By whom?'
    'I don't know,' she muttered. 'Anyone could have sent assassins to climb over the wall and await their chance.'
    Corbett reflected on what she had told him: the murder would explain the bruises on each side of the neck and on the leg when Lady Eleanor probably lashed out in her death throes. Corbett had no doubt that a professional assassin had killed the wretched woman.
    'Do you know what the ancient one, Dame Martha, wanted to see you about?' be asked.
    Lady Amelia shook her head.
    'Or the meaning of her phrase – "Sinistra non dextra"?' 'No,' she muttered. 'But Dame Martha was senile. She often gabbled nonsense.' 'And afterwards?'
    'Father Reynard anointed Lady Eleanor's body, the Prince sent his servants to take away all the jewellery. He was quite insistent: it was rather pathetic to see the corpse stripped of its finery, particularly the great sapphire ring he bad given her. A symbol,' she added tartly, 'of his supposedly undying love! I can tell you no more, Cleric.'
    She walked around the altar.
    'My Lady,' Corbett asked softly, 'did anything strange happen in Godstowe or its neighbourhood during the two years Lady Eleanor was with you?'
    Lady Amelia frowned and looked down the church.
    'Yes, two things.' She turned quickly. 'First, about eighteen months ago, two corpses were found – a young man and woman Both had their throats cut; their naked bodies were discovered dumped in a shallow marsh deep in the forest Nobody recognised them as being from the area or came forward to claim their bodies. No clothes or possessions were found. I believe they were given a pauper's funeral in the village churchyard. It caused some stir at the time.'
    'So no one ever found out who they were? Or why they had been murdered?' 'That's correct' 'And the other matter?'
    'A