Annabel’s stomach sank.
Sir Clement shrugged and gestured with his hand, his eyelids half closed as though Maud’s outburst concerned him not at all. “As I clearly said, when your father is stronger, and remembers what happened, your jury may question any and all that you wish.”
“No. The inquest jury is here. Why should we wait? My father may never remember what happened.”
A murmur of approval went around the circle.
Sir Clement hesitated then nodded to the hundred bailiff. “There is your hundred bailiff. Let him decide.”
The crowd began to reassemble into a tighter circle, suddenly attentive and murmuring approval.
“I agree with this young woman,” the hundred bailiff said. “Let the jury question those they wish to question.”
The jury foreman stood. He cleared his throat, and when the assembly had grown quiet again, he said, “The first person we wish to question is the bailiff’s daughter, as she claims to have information to offer. Maud atte Water, come forward.”
The crowd turned as Maud made her way through the press of people. Her lips were pursed together, barely able to cover her prominent top teeth, and her eyes glinted with malice. Maud moved to the middle of the circle as if she were on stage.
“Maud, who do you think tried to kill your father?” the jury foreman asked in his loud voice.
Sir Clement interrupted from the manor house steps. “This is not the time to speculate about who, if anyone, tried to kill the bailiff. You may question Maud about where she was the night of the bailiff’s death or about what she saw. Nothing more.”
The jury foreman gave a slight bow to the coroner. “Maud, did you see anything the night of the bailiff’s death?”
“I saw him” — she pointed a finger at Lord le Wyse — “coming out of the woods behind the manor house.”
Chapter
18
The murmuring and whispering rose to a high pitch.
“He knew my father would protest him seducing me and then refusing to marry me.”
Loud gasps and cries arose with this declaration. Annabel’s face burned and her stomach turned. Lord le Wyse and Maud? The mere thought made her want to retch. But no, he would never do such a thing. I don’t believe it. I won’t believe it.
In a clear but monotone voice, Lord le Wyse replied, “That is a lie.” His face turned pale, but there was no other outward reaction from him. He remained expressionless, his eye unblinking.
For her to tell such a lie, and in front of the entire village! A fire burned inside Annabel as she glared at Maud.
A rumble of thunder, as if triggered by Maud’s expression, vibrated Annabel’s breastbone. The crowd lifted their eyes to study the clouds.
Neither the jury foreman nor Maud reacted to the noise or the coming storm.
The foreman continued with his questions. “Did you see the knife the bailiff had in his hand when he was found?”
“Aye.”
“Had you ever seen the knife before?”
“Nay. It wasn’t my father’s.”
Annabel’s insides turned cold.
Sir Clement came closer and joined the hundred bailiff standing near the jury. The coroner absently chewed a length of straw. He drew it out of his mouth and proclaimed, “You have yet to establish that the bailiff was attacked or that any foul play was involved. This jury needs to be about the business of finding facts. Maud atte Water, do you have any facts to offer?”
Maud’s tiny black eyes stared back at the coroner defiantly. Her hands were drawn up into fists at her side. “Someone tried to kill my father.” She stepped in Sir Clement’s direction and screamed, “I have nothing else to say!” A vein stood out, red and bulging, in her neck. She spun around and stalked away on stiff legs.
The foreman then announced, “The jury now wishes to summon the one who discovered the bailiff’s body. The jury wishes to question Lord Ranulf le Wyse.”
Annabel’s gaze flicked to Lord le Wyse, but his face was unreadable. O God, please be with him. Don’t let him take the blame.
Lord le Wyse stood before them all, looking both stoic and calm.
The foreman looked a bit nervous and cleared his throat, his shoulders rounding a bit as he faced the lord of the demesne.