Murderous Matrimony (Renaissance Faire Mystery)

by Lavene, Joyce

  “These tapestries are beautiful,” one of the women in the group said.

  “Thank you, dear lady.” Oliver grinned. “And they are for sale. I hope I mentioned that?”

  Everyone smiled or laughed discreetly.

  “By the Middle Ages and Renaissance, these portable coats of arms were all the rage. Weavers could scarcely keep up. They were woven with symbolic emblems and mottoes, called a baldachin. These were hung behind thrones as a symbol of authority.”

  “What’s going on now?” Manny whispered. “You were late again today.”

  I told him about Bob’s death. “The police took Master Simmons and Shakespeare to the police station, and picked up Sofie from Sherwood Forest.”

  Manny nodded. “Bad news all around then. Back home, we are required to know how to use a bow, as well as a crossbow. I am quite proficient with both, actually.”

  “Yeah, well, keep that to yourself unless you want to be back on the suspect list. Simmons wasn’t the only one who liked to argue with Dave.”

  “It wouldn’t matter.” He smiled at me as though I was a silly child. “The police can’t keep me in custody. That’s the only good thing about being part of the royal family.”

  I didn’t know whether to laugh or slap him. With everything going on, I was a little tired of people making things up. He wasn’t delusional—definitely not a sorcerer—even a pretend one.

  “Let’s not go there. Why don’t you go across the street and get us some coffee.”

  His dark eyes looked hurt. “But it is true that I was ranked at the top of my countrymen with a bow. It’s important at home because it’s a life skill, not unlike using the cell phone and computer are here.”

  I got up in his face. “Please drop it. I don’t want to hear anymore fantasy about royal families, dragons, ghosts, or witches right now. Okay?”

  He nodded and quickly departed for the Monastery Bakery.

  I listened as Oliver Northman described the early uses of tapestries to decorate, even poor homes. “They were one of the first forms of artwork even peasants could own. They were affordable, and relatively easy to make.”

  Had that been me that just said I didn’t want to hear any more fantasy? What was wrong with me? I lived for fantasy. My life was a fantasy.

  Obviously the strain had been too great, and I had lost my mind. Detective Almond would have laughed to hear me say it.

  I apologized to Manny when he returned. “The wedding, and Chase’s parents, and everything else—it’s been too much. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”

  He nodded and pushed his glasses back on his intelligent face. “I understand, Lady Jessie. I wish there was something I could do to help.”

  “You could speed up the wedding. Or zap Chase’s brother and his parents into an alternate dimension. That would help.”

  “For someone who doesn’t wish to indulge in fantasy, your thoughts are a bit shy of reality.”

  “Finer words were never spoken, sir. I bow to your superior knowledge.”

  I curtsied politely just as Oliver Northman was finishing his program. The visitors that had been watching him turned to us. There was no photography allowed in the museum. Instead of taking pictures, they waited with eager faces to see what we were going to do and say next.

  Manny was at a loss for something to say—possibly the only time since I’d met him. He stared at me in panic.

  Piece of cake. “Life is good here in the Village, don’t you think, Sir Manawydan?”

  He cleared his throat and nervously replied, “Why yes, Lady Jessie. I am quite enjoying my time here.”

  “Aren’t you the woman on the posters who’s getting married?” one visitor eagerly asked. “Is this your fiancée?”

  I smiled. “Oh no. My fiancée is the Bailiff of this place, Chase Manhattan. He is currently occupied with another event.”

  Manny wiped the sweat from his brow with a clean white handkerchief as they left us. “That was extremely difficult. I don’t know how you costumed people do it every day.”

  Oliver had finished covering his loom, as he did between programs. “I’ve spent time at many historical towns and villages. You have to learn that the people watching you are interested in what you have to say. Talk to them as you would anyone else.”

  “I don’t know if that will ever become commonplace for me,” Manny admitted. “But thank you.”

  “I’m not saying I’ve ever been in a historical village quite like this one.” Oliver rocked back on his heels, a grin on his face. “I was out for a stroll yesterday and the Big Bad Wolf ran by chasing Little Red Riding Hood. I assume he doesn’t really eat her?”

  I laughed. “Don’t be silly. It would be too hard to recast Little Red Riding Hood every day.”

  Oliver and Manny laughed too. Oliver went out for an early lunch.

  Manny told me he was going to meet with his father over lunch. “I’m concerned, but I am finished hiding. I am master of my own fate, so to speak.”

  “Good for you!”

  “Lady Jessie, if I might offer a word of advice.”

  “Of course.”

  “Long bows can be modified to fire bolts from crossbows.” He shrugged. “I’ve done it myself at home. Perhaps that is what you seek.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Lady Marion was on her way back from Stylish Frocks. One of her minions from the forest carried her green (of course) gown and matching suede boots. She told me it was her outfit for my wedding.

  “I am really looking forward to this,” she said with a bright smile. “I don’t know if I told you, but I hired an agent from Hollywood. I’m hoping your wedding is going to be my key to the big time.”

  Big time? “I didn’t know you had those kinds of ambitions.”

  She giggled. “Doesn’t everyone have some ambition? Did you think I planned on spending the rest of my life in Sherwood Forest?”

  I really hadn’t thought about it, and quickly changed the subject. “Did the police come for Sofie?”

  “I don’t know.” She shrugged. “On another topic, Beth is working on a whole new wardrobe for me. Not just Ren Faire issue either.”

  I knew Robin Hood wasn’t going to be thrilled about that. How could he afford her? Tony’s Internet promotion work must have been bringing in a lot more money.

  Lady Marion chattered on about her future plans. “It cost me three thousand dollars just for a portfolio. Who knew a bunch of pictures could be so expensive?”

  I hoped Robin was planning on filing bankruptcy. Did he realize Marion was burning up his credit card?

  We skirted around the traps that lay in waiting for the unwary traveler. Several visitors hung from nets above us. They weren’t calling out for help. They were excited to be part of the drama.

  A handful of visitors were in the treehouse encampment area too. Robin had put them to work tending the fire and making lunch. The smell of roasted meat on the spit filtered through the forest.

  “Lady Marion, my love.” Robin Hood swept the little green hat from his head. “You abuse my generous heart and meager resources. How many gowns do you need for one wedding?”

  I could tell from his tone that he was really upset. He was making a show of it for the visitors.

  “Lady Jessie.” He nodded politely to me. “Welcome. What brings you to Sherwood?”

  “I have come with ill news and wish to inquire about Sofie. Is she here?”

  He gave me a hard look. “I believe you know that she is not. The police were very specific when they picked her up.”

  Two teenagers dressed in green T-shirts and jeans looked up at the word.

  “Police?” one of them asked. “That’s not cool.”

  Robin Hood gave them one of his crazy laughs, and assured them that everything was fine. “We routed the blackguards. They won’t be back again. Keep your eyes on that chicken so it doesn’t burn, eh?”

  The boys shrugged, and went back to turning the spit over the fire.
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  “Come with me, Lady Jessie,” Robin invited. “My Lady Marion, we shall discuss this later.”

  Marion shrugged. “Get a life, Toby.”

  She went quickly up the stairs to the treehouse that they shared. Robin led me to their storage area at the side of the encampment.

  “You gave Sofie up to the police. Really? For killing Dave and Bob? What were you thinking?”

  “It was the circumstance. You had to be there. The police were accusing Master Simmons of killing Bob because he saw an archer the night Dave was killed.”

  “So?”

  “Sofie was the archer that Bob saw at the museum. I don’t think she killed either of them. But I don’t think Master Simmons did either.”

  “You could’ve waited to check that out.” He shook his head. “I understand you were in a bad place. I wish you would’ve given us a heads up so we could’ve gotten Sofie out of here.”

  “Sorry. I did the best I could with what I had.”

  He looked up at the deep blue sky that showed through the trees above us. “I know you did. The word is that the bolts that killed Dave and Bob were one of the Master Archer’s old toys.”

  “He said his crossbow was returned when he found a note at his shop that led him to Sherwood.”

  “Anyone could’ve written that.”

  “Yes.” I told him about the photo that Bob had sent to the police. “Someone wants to frame Master Simmons for Dave’s murder.”

  “Why would Bob do such a thing?”

  “I don’t know, because now he’s dead too.”

  Robin put his hand on mine. “You know you have our full backing looking into this, Jessie. If you need anything, let me know.”

  I smiled. “As long as it doesn’t require any money, right? I think you must be broke by now with Marion’s ambitions.”

  “You don’t know the half of it. She used up my credit card the first day. Since then she’s been using her own money. Don’t ask me where she got it, but Tony said she has twenty thousand dollars in the bank.”

  “That’s a lot of money considering what she makes out here. Did she have a relative that died or something?”

  “Not that I know of.” He sighed. “But she and I have been drifting further and further apart since she decided she was the Renaissance answer to Marilyn Monroe. I don’t know what’s gotten into her.”

  “I’m sure she’ll be fine. Everyone goes through these things.”

  He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it. “You have always been so understanding. Chase is a lucky man. If you ever change your mind about him, let me know.”

  “Have you ever heard of modifying a long bow to shoot bolts?”

  He frowned. “I have, but I’ve never done it. I’m not crazy about a crossbow.”

  A thought occurred to me. “Would you mind if I look through Sofie’s things since she’s not here?”

  “Looking for a modified long bow?”

  “Maybe.”

  He shrugged his broad shoulders. “I’ll take you to her room. She’s staying in my spare room.”

  “Marion allows that?”

  “I don’t think she cares anymore.”

  We climbed up into the highest branches of the giant oak. Robin had the biggest of the twelve treehouses (of course). The treehouse was nice. It had two bedrooms on two floors, a bathroom, a tiny kitchen, and a large living room.

  The furniture was what you’d expect to find in a log cabin—kind of early American rustic. Everything was made of wood, some of it hand carved. It was nice, in a rough kind of way. I’d always thought it was relaxing.

  “Here’s Sofie’s room.” He showed me the smaller of the two bedrooms. “She doesn’t have much space to hide anything. I’ll check under the bed.”

  I looked in the tiny, makeshift closet. There were boots and cloaks and two long bows, but neither had been modified. Two quivers of arrows were full.

  “I don’t see anything in here.”

  “Not here either.” He rolled over from checking under the bed. “I don’t see Sofie as a killer anyway, Jessie. Do you?”

  “No. But I don’t see Shakespeare or Master Simmons as killers either.” I told him about the bookie that might be involved in the murder. “Any ideas?”

  “What’s going on in here?” Lady Marion stopped to check on us.

  “Nothing to trouble yourself with, my love.” Robin smiled at her. “Just conjecturing on who killed the Village madmen. That’s all. Looking for a long bow modified to use as a crossbow. Seen any around recently?”

  Really?” She stared at both of us as like a trapped animal stares at her captor. “I’ll choose what I worry about, my love.”

  The beautiful Lady Marion pulled a small gun from her boot and pointed it at us.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “Oh no.” Robin fell back on the floor as though he’d been wounded. “I can’t believe it. Marion—why would you do such a thing?”

  “For money, lover.” She kept a steady eye on us as she dialed her cell phone. “Johnny? I have a problem in the forest. I need help.” She finished her call and put the phone in her pocket.

  “Let me understand this,” Robin elaborated. “Not only have you killed two men, you’ve been seeing this bookie?”

  “You shouldn’t be surprised.” She advanced into the room and took a seat on the bed, crossing her legs. “Or maybe you should since you have no idea what I’m all about anymore.”

  “Marion,” he appealed.

  “Shut up!” She threw a pair of pantyhose at him. “Tie her up, Robin.”

  “Marion.” It was my turn to reason with her. “We’re in the middle of Sherwood Forest. People come in and out of here all the time. Chase will come and look for me when he can’t find me.”

  “Thanks for reminding me. Gag her too, Robin.” She tossed him a scarf. “And then we’ll tell your precious Merry Men to close the forest off for the day and leave.”

  That sounded like a plan I wasn’t going to like. Robin had already bound my feet and hands together. He tied the scarf around my mouth, and whispered in my ear. “Don’t worry, Jessie. I’ll take care of this outside.”

  “A little love talk?” Marion laughed. “Seriously, Jessie? You have Chase. Why do you want Robin too?”

  It was too late for me to answer. I was on the floor in Sofie’s bedroom, tied and helpless. I couldn’t even scream for Tony, who was somewhere right below us.

  Robin and Marion left me there. I could hear Robin yelling for the men to close off Sherwood.

  The awful part about it was that no one was going to question it. Visitors might complain, but that would take a while to filter down to Chase. Sherwood Forest closed once in a while for repairs, or when a tree fell on the path. Unless they asked for help with a situation, Chase left them alone. That was going to be a bad precedent for me this time.

  “Having a bit of fun, are we?” Wanda was sitting on the bed beside me. “Who knew you did this sort of thing? I’m sure Chase would be surprised. You’re very tame with him. You might want to break out this wild side occasionally. It might help you keep him.”

  I mumbled through my gag. Was there some way I could provoke her to help me? Could she remove the gag or the pantyhose if she tried?

  It seemed as though most of her ghostly powers were directed toward scaring people, although she somehow put the goat on the elephant’s back, and levitated objects and people at the Field of Honor—including me.

  But either she didn’t want to help or she was ignoring me.

  Marion returned with Robin at her side, her gun shoved into his back. “Good work, lover. Now get down there with Jessie. Johnny will know what to do when he gets here.”

  “Oh! A threesome!” Wanda laughed. “I’m staying ringside for this!”

  Robin winked at me. I knew he had something in mind. Maybe when Marion got close to tie him—he planned to take her out.

  Marion may have anticipated that move. She only got close enough to him to u
se the butt end of the gun on his head. He slumped on the floor beside me. She got another pair of pantyhose to tie him up, and a wool hat that she shoved into his mouth.

  Wanda watched. “It looks like I was wrong. Goldilocks has other plans for you and Robin Hood, doesn’t she? How fascinating! I wonder if the Bailiff will come to your rescue in time.”

  “Now you two stay right here.” Marion smiled and patted Robin’s head. “I’m sorry this had to happen, Jessie. I was so looking forward to your wedding. I probably can’t return my new dress for that either. What a waste!”

  I glared at her, but there was only so much you can do without speaking or moving.

  “Of course, poor Chase will be in dire straits, won’t he? Maybe I can console him. We’ll see. I’ll be back in a little while.”

  What could I do? Robin was no help. He’d already ordered Sherwood Forest to be closed. The chances of Chase coming to see what was wrong were so miniscule. Marion’s bookie boyfriend, who’d obviously paid her well to kill Dave, was on his way.

  I figured Bob was probably a freebie. Marion was afraid he’d recognized her after he’d seen her silhouette. She was willing to let someone else take the fall for being that archer too. How desperate to be famous could someone be?

  “I always knew snooping around that way was going to get you into trouble, Jessie.” Wanda’s words of wisdom were uttered with a sigh. “And here you are, right before your wedding, about to meet your maker. Perhaps you and I can be chums, eh? I’d like that, I suppose.”

  I stared at her, hoping she might be telepathic and she’d get what I was thinking.

  No such luck.

  “What am I saying?” She floated off the bed. “We didn’t like each other when I was alive! The only reason I can stand you now is that you’ve become a source of amusement for me. I suppose it wouldn’t be that way at all if you were dead too.”

  Untie me. You don’t want me to die.

  I guess we’ll see how things unfold, won’t we, dearie?”

  She was gone. I was alone with Robin. Both of us were helpless.