Page 116 of Laird of Flint
“More? What more wealth could a monastery have?”
“I suspect he may be lifting jewels and coin off of the nobles who come to the infirmary.”
She frowned, considering that. “Ye mean the nobles who…who don’t survive?”
He nodded. He didn’t want to tell her the second part of his theory. That Peris might be hastening their demise.
But as he scoured the shelves, he also looked for substances that could kill quickly.
There were several deadly ingredients. Belladonna. Cyanide. Foxglove. Henbane. Mercury. Monk’s hood. Opium.
Of course, they were also used as medicines. Possession wasn’t proof. Still, if poisoning had occurred, it made Peris the most likely culprit.
They made a thorough search of the physician’s things. But they didn’t find anything to condemn him. He had very little in the way of wealth, though he had a small library of medical texts. His clothing was well-made and tidy. His boots were in good repair. But because of his profession, he eschewed jewelry. There seemed to be nothing incriminating among his effects.
“He could have hidden them elsewhere,” Carenza suggested.
“Aye, though it makes the most sense he’d hide them in a place kept under lock and key by day. The place he sleeps at night and can watch o’er them personally.”
“True.” She began pacing the small area between the shelves, rubbing thoughtfully at her chin. “Maybe he keeps them in his satchel.”
“’Tis a possibility.” Indeed, if he was using poison, that would surely be found within his satchel as well. “He always has it with him.”
“Right. So how can we search it?”
“I’ll find a way. I’ll return to the monastery and—”
“Nay,” she said, clutching at his sleeve. Then she gathered her brows. “I mean, must ye?”
Hew smiled. “The sooner we solve this,” he said, reaching out to caress her jaw, “the sooner we can be together…for aye.”
She sighed. “Then get out of here,” she said, pushing him away. “Go on. Shoo.”
He laughed.
Making sure everything was as they found it and their clothes properly fastened, they left and locked the chamber.
Carenza’s father was almost as sorry to see him leave as Carenza was. But Hew vowed he’d return within a sennight. A fortnight was too long to be away from his ladylove.
Carenza watched for him, but Peris didn’t return to Dunlop that night. She presumed that meant his patient was in critical condition and might not recover. But it also meant this might be an opportunity for robbery.
She wondered if Hew had found anything in his satchel.
The morn flew by. Noon came and went. The afternoon passed. Night fell.
The physician still hadn’t come home to Dunlop.
Had Hew found the store of treasure on his person and exposed him to the abbot?
Or was Peris waiting for a safe time to return?
After he missed supper, Carenza stayed awake, warming her toes by the fire in the great hall as the hour grew later and later.
She was just about to drift off when she heard the front door open. It was Peris.
Shaking herself awake, she scrambled to her feet and smoothed her skirts. Then she picked her way through the dozing clan folk to intercept him.
“Psst! Peris.”
