The Holywell Dead
Page 24
This was a time to look ahead, to see the future for them all here. All the girls growing in joy and laughter. Walter passing that cusp of manhood. He and Katherine could become old together, God willing.
But never forget the past. He was here, he was alive when he should have been dead. Perhaps there was a reason for it. Alison had sacrificed herself. She’d given herself death, the thing she craved, and in doing so she’d saved him. He knew no prayers of his could ever thank her enough.
November 1364
The year was dying, the leaves all gone from the trees. Mornings were crisp and sharp, the first frosts hardening the earth. There would be little more work until the weather cleared for spring. Just some small jobs in houses, and things that became too urgent.
That was fine. He had money in the coffer to see them through winter, and there were things he wanted to do at the old house on Saltergate. Alan would go there with him. Let the boy keep earning a little and practising his craft. He had a proper set of tools in his satchel now. The coroner’s wife had been generous in her payment for the bench and John had split it evenly with him on condition that he used it for tools; they’d selected them together at the Saturday market.
Their new home had more space. It had grandeur. Yet every time he entered it took a moment to realise this was his, that he’d become a man of circumstance and property in town. Maybe he’d become used to the idea in time. But it was hard to believe that only four years earlier all he’d owned were his tools and a few clothes.
On an October afternoon, Martha had another spell away from the world. Katherine had sent Eleanor running off to find him. By the time John arrived, the old woman was back, chattering and smiling as if nothing had happened. There would be more, they understood that. And one day she might not return. But that was the future.
And the past... that was something to leave behind. No one had ever appeared to ask about Roland, and he was certain they never would. His victims lay in the churchyard, buried with the plague dead.
There had been no more cases of the pestilence since de Harville’s death. It had vanished as suddenly as it arrived. He talked to travellers who claimed it had raged until autumn in other places, but Chesterfield had been safe.
Some said it was a miracle. He wasn’t so sure. But whatever the ways of God, he was grateful.
The town had a new coroner, an older, sullen man who’d yet to make his mark here. John was happy to keep his distance and he’d received no call to help. At last he had his quiet life.
Juliana walked steadily towards him. No toddling now. Each stride was firm and purposeful. With a wide grin she extended her arms. He knew what she wanted and lifted her into his arms.
‘You’re heavy now,’ he told her, bouncing the girl up and down on his arm as she giggled in delight.
He felt a touch on his shoulder and turned. Katherine stood there, smiling at the two of them.
‘It’s just as well you enjoy that. There’ll be two of them to carry in a few months,’ she told him with a smile, holding one hand over her belly.
He kissed her gently as their daughter laughed with pleasure.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
CHRIS NICKSON is a popular music journalist and crime novelist whose fiction has been named best of the year in 2011 by Library Journal and in 2017 by Booklist. Specialising in historical crime, Chris is the author of three series for The Mystery Press: the Dan Markham series set in 1950s Leeds; the Lottie Armstrong series set during the war years, and, of course, his medieval mystery series set in fourteenth-century Chesterfield.
Also by the Author
The Crooked Spire
The Saltergate Psalter
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Dark Briggate Blues: A Dan Markham Mystery
The New Eastgate Swing: A Dan Markham Mystery
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Modern Crimes: A WPC Lottie Armstrong Mystery
The Year of the Gun: A WAPC Lottie Armstrong Mystery
www.chrisnickson.co.uk
Praise for
The Crooked Spire
‘The author powerfully evokes a sense of time and place with all the detailed and meticulous research he has carried out for this very suspenseful and well plotted story of corruption and murder.’
Eurocrime
‘[A] convincing depiction of late-medieval England makes this a satisfying comfort read.’
Publishers Weekly
‘[Nickson] makes us feels as though we are living what seems like a fourteenth-century version of dystopia, giving this remarkable novel a powerful immediacy.’
Booklist (starred review)
The Saltergate Psalter
‘Sympathetic characters, a puzzling mystery, and plausible historical detail distinguish British author Nickson’s second novel.’
Publishers Weekly
‘If you enjoy reading well-written, page-turning historical thrillers, this one is for you.’
Historical Novel Society
‘Great series. Well written.’
5 star Amazon review