Prince of Darkness

instructions.' She thrust the yellowing piece of parchment at him. 'Read it!'
    Corbett unrolled the small sheet of vellum and quickly scanned the contents.
    'Edward by the Grace of God, etc., to all Sheriffs, Bailiffs, etc. The bearer of this document, Agatha de Courcy, must be given every aid and assistance for what she has done has been done for the sake of the Crown and the good of our realm.'
    Corbett looked at the faded, secret seal of his royal master.
    'To quote Pilate, My Lady, what has been written has been written.' He looked squarely at her. 'But it does not make it right. The King would not have ordered Lady Eleanor's murder.'
    'It was necessary!' Agatha snapped. 'She was going to flee. My orders were quite explicit I was to stop the Deveril woman and proceed to Godstowe, do whatever was necessary to ensure Lady Eleanor did not embarrass the Crown or the English court.' She shook her head. 'Moreover, I was tired of this God-forsaken place. A whey-faced, pale-eyed, former mistress, and nuns more concerned with their own glory and bellies!'
    'The Lady Prioress?' Corbett asked suddenly.
    Agatha shook her head.
    'She knows nothing.' She plucked the document deftly from Corbett's fingers. 'Now, Hugh, I must go.' She stood on tip-toe and kissed him gently on the cheek. 'Perhaps we will meet again. I hope so.' She smiled. 'Now you know the truth, the Lady Prioress is no longer needed and Ranulf must be getting as cold as I am.' She waved her hand, her fingers skimming his. 'Farewell!'
    Corbett watched her disappear into the mist
    'Ranulf!' he shouted. 'Ranulf!'
    But only a grey, mocking silence answered him. Corbett tugged his cloak around him and strode back towards the priory building, not caring whether he shattered the peace of a convent where so many dark deeds had been committed.
    'Ranulf!' he bawled. 'For God's sake, man!' He had almost reached the guest house door. 'Ranulf!' he roared, and was greeted by the clatter of footsteps on the stairs.
    His servant followed by an even more wild-eyed Maltote, came tumbling down, carrying belts and cloaks.
    'For God's sake, man!' Corbett shouted. 'You were supposed to fodow me.'
    Ranulf, sleepy-eyed, stared anxiously back.
    I meant to, Master. But Maltote fed asleep again. I tried to rouse him but I couldn't so I sat on the bed to pull my boots on and the next minute I, too, was asleep.'
    Corbett closed his eyes. 'Ranulf, Ranulf,' he whispered. 'What, Master?'
    'Nothing,' Corbett sighed. 'I just thank God Mistress Agatha did not know you were asleep. Look,' he continued, 'we must be gone soon. Break your fast and pack our bags. Make sure the horses are fed and settle what debts we owe. In an hour we will be back on the road again.'
    And, ignoring his servant's muttered groans, Corbett went round to the priory church to Lady Amelia's lodgings. He found the Prioress alone in her chamber, the table before her strewn with manuscripts. She looked red-eyed and white-faced, slightly fearful and anxious. She rose as Corbett entered.
    'Master Corbett,' she pleaded, I delivered your message.'
    Corbett threw himself on to a bench beside the wall. 'Sit down, My Lady,' he said wearily. 'There will be no need for that. You have lost another member of your Order.
    Dame Agatha will be leaving, if she has not gone already. I suggest you let her go in peace. Do not mention her name again or send angry letters to the Bishop.' 'What are you saying?'
    'Dame Agatha was no nun.' Corbett smiled thinly.
    'She was here for Lady Eleanor?'
    'Yes,' Corbett replied. 'She was here, like I am, because of the Lady Eleanor. Dame Agatha was the key to all the deaths here at Godstowe.' He raised his hand to still the Lady Prioress's intended outburst. 'The least you know the better, My Lady. Dame Agatha is guilty though you, too, are not blameless.'
    The Lady Prioress squirmed in her chair.
    'What do you mean?'
    'You know full well,' Corbett retorted. 'The Lady Eleanor was murdered because she was planning to flee Godstowe. Secret messages were left in her room and in the ruined oak tree between the priory church and the wall. You know it well. You should do – you wrote the messages and left them there.'
    'Why should I do that?'
    'Oh, come, My Lady, you know full well. The King ordered Eleanor Belmont here and you hated it. It disturbed the harmony and peace of this little priory. It brought the unwanted attention of the Prince and Lord Gaveston as well as the unexpected intrusion of the French