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woman dressed as a man to gain access to
    the exclusively male learning process at the college. The case was notorious, not just because it was unsolved, but because of the
    lunatic fringe it seemed to attract.
    Orlando sighed, decided to reread the document and make
    notes, but he had no idea exactly how he was supposed to get
    further forward. All he was sure of was that he didn’t dare fail Miss Peters.
    A sharp knock startled him out of contemplation. He ambled
    across the room, opened the door gingerly and beamed at Jonty.
    He should have known it would be his friend—for a wonderful
    moment he savoured in his mind the words my friend , before daring to speak. “Come in, please do. Sorry I couldn’t invite you in last evening but I was rather tired.”
    Stewart grinned. “That’s all right. Last year it took me
    weeks to be allowed onto this hallowed ground. It’s nice to be
    welcomed with open arms.” He entered the room and went over to
    the fireplace. “There’s a raw wind outside that’s appeared from
    nowhere and my nether regions are frozen, as I was idiot enough
    not to put on an overcoat for the walk across the court. Anyway, I just wanted to ask whether you’d be up for visiting the Bishop’s Cope tonight, it being Saturday and all.” He noticed Orlando’s
    look of confusion. “Oh sorry, I forgot. It was so much like old
    times and I…”
    Orlando smiled fondly. “That’s of no consequence. I take it
    that we always dine at the Bishop’s Cope on a Saturday? How did
    we ever get into that particular habit?”
    Jonty turned to the fire and attacked it with a poker. It didn’t need any such attention but the action proved useful in hiding his blush. “Oh, we went there during those murders, back in January I www.lindenbayromance.com 33
    Charlie Cochrane
    think it was. We needed to get out of the college for a bit. You were so very smitten with the steak and kidney pie, and the beer, you were extremely fond of that, it just became a fixture. The
    other fellows would have apoplexy if they saw us at High Table
    tonight.” He was glad to find that the explanation was accepted
    and he didn’t need to elaborate.
    “Do you think Nurse Hatfield will let me? Or when she finds
    out do you think she’ll make me write I must not go to public houses one hundred and fifty times in my very best handwriting?”
    “Two hundred and fifty at least.” Jonty smiled broadly and
    slapped his friend on the shoulder. “But you must remember to
    ask for ‘snake and pygmy pie’ tonight. That’s what we always call it and the landlord would be very disappointed to be deprived of his weekly joke.”
    “We can’t risk letting him down then. What time should I be
    ready?”
    “We normally wander up there at seven but I think that in
    deference to Nurse H we should make it half past six. Then we
    can get you back here and into your blameless bed without the
    risk of a wigging.”
    Orlando nodded, indicating the papers he’d been ploughing
    through. “I’ve been hoping we could spend some time on these.
    Would you be free this afternoon?”
    “Of course. I could do with refreshing my memory on the
    case. It’s been a long time since I talked to anyone about the
    Woodville Ward, and the man concerned was a rampant supporter
    of the old crookback, He insisted that Margaret Beaufort had been at the root of it, trying to get one over on her daughter-in-law.” He giggled. “Dreadful creatures some of these medieval women
    were, talking of which, I have a surprise for you. If I say that it comes in the form of a be-hatted and bejewelled woman of very
    loud voice and extremely hard hand you will be none the wiser,
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    www.lindenbayromance.com

    Lessons in Discovery
    although if I say that the same paw was frequently applied to my backside you could make an educated guess.”
    “Your mother?”
    “The Honourable Helena Stewart indeed. Now don’t look
    quite so petrified, Orlando, you’re a great favourite of