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her mistress' claims to merit.
    'These medicines?'
    'Oh,' Dame Catherine spoke up, 'bought from a physician in London, distilled by the best apothecary.'
    Lady Amelia saw the flicker of doubt in the clerk's eyes and forced a more gracious smile. She must be wary of these quick answers. She had been warned about this inquisitive clerk with his abrupt questions and reputation for honesty. She scrutinised him more carefully. Yes, more than some petty official, with his hair black as night, that sardonic face and those clever eyes which didn't seem to accept a single thing she said. Perhaps attack was the best form of defence. She could be as abrupt as he.
    'Be careful, Master Corbett,' she retorted. 'The Prince may have ended his relationship with the Lady Eleanor but he wished her well. The medicines were potions not poisons.'
    The Prioress snapped her fingers and Dame Catherine got up and crossed to a small, iron-bound chest She lifted the lid, took out a cachet and handed it to Lady Amelia. The Prioress, her eyes fixed on Corbett, opened the pouch and poured some of the white powder into the palm of her hand, then scooped it up with the tip of her tongue, cleansing her mouth afterwards with a sip of wine.
    'See, Master Corbett, I have taken the same potions the Prince sent to Lady Eleanor and I do not die!'
    Corbett grimaced.
    'Very well. It was you who found the body?'
    'Yes, after Compline. The community and I went over to the refectory for the usual collation before we retired. As was customary, I and my two Sub-prioresses went into the convent building through the main door. The hall was dark and only one torch burnt We found the Lady Eleanor lying at the foot of the stairs.' The Prioress stared directly at Ranulf as if acknowledging him for the first time. 'She looked as if she slept' she murmured.
    'But how could a woman fall downstairs and not disturb the hood on her head?' Corbett asked.
    'Oh, I have heard a lot of useless speculation about that,' Lady Amelia replied briskly. 'The hood was tied tight.'
    'And no one heard her fall?'
    'There was no one there to do so.'
    'Except Dames Martha and Elizabeth? And one of them is now dead.'
    'Both of them were very deaf!' Lady Amelia snapped. 'Then what happened?'
    'We sent our porter to Woodstock to inform the Prince.' 'And he did what?'
    'My Lord Gaveston came down to ensure all was well as could be in the circumstances. He left some silver for the funeral and the Prince's instructions that the Lady Eleanor be buried here.' She shrugged. 'That was all.'
    'Did a physician look at the body?'
    'No, why should he? The Lady Eleanor was dead.'
    'And who was the dead woman's closest companion?'
    Lady Amelia smiled triumphantly as if she had caught the clerk out
    I wondered when you would ask me that'
    She nodded at Dame Frances who rose, went out, and immediately returned accompanied by another sister. The new arrival stood in the doorway so Corbett could only make out her height, her face and figure being concealed by veil and habit
    'Master Corbett may I introduce our sacristan and cellarer, Dame Agatha?'
    The nun came forward and Corbett remembered his manners and rose. He heard Ranulf gasp behind him. Dame Agatha was beautiful. Her face had a full fresh colour, the eyes were well spaced, calm, serene, full of laughter and good humour. She was honey-mouthed, sweet and wholesome. Her hand felt cool and dry, and as Corbett kissed it he smelt the perfume of her body – fresh, pleasant, and fragrant as a spring rose. Lady Amelia seemed to enjoy Corbett's consternation.
    'What did you expect, Master Clerk?'
    I expected nothing, My Lady.'
    Dame Agatha studied him carefully. Was she laughing at him? Corbett wondered. Dame Frances seemed to have produced a stool from nowhere and, at Lady Amelia's insistence, Dame Agatha sat down, indicating that Corbett should resume his seat.
    'You wished to question me, Monsieur?' Her voice was low, tinged with a French accent
    'Yes, My Lady. You