The Death Ship of Dartmouth: (Knights Templar 21) by Michael Jecks

prevaricated over sending those guilty into the French king’s territory for punishment. As a result the French took Gascony and declared the territory forfeit. Edward responded by sending a host to retake his lands.
    But his captain was Edmund, Earl of Kent. He upset the Gascons by extorting money from them, and then took and raped a girl he desired. He lost a battle against the Frenchand agreed a ludicrous truce that left the French holding most of the Duchy.
    All because a French sergeant was killed.
    ‘King Charles is demanding that our king should go to him in Paris and do homage for the Dukedom.’ The bishop looked mournful.
    ‘There should be no difficulty, surely? The French king would promise safe passage.’
    Bishop Stapledon glanced at him. ‘Perhaps he would. And would he then apologise if Mortimer appeared in council with him? Mortimer escaped from the Tower and fled to France, so they say. It would humiliate the King if he arrived there to find his enemy waiting. Or would he murmur his gravest commiserations after a vassal of Thomas of Lancaster had sprung forward and stabbed our King to death, or poisoned him? You know the French – they are a wily, cunning people. Anything that would make our King suffer shame or pain would be to them only a cause for celebration. And the French king has already written to say that in his realm, Despenser will be as welcome as Mortimer in this. He insults the King’s favoured adviser!’
    Baldwin said nothing. His own views on Despenser were too virulent for expression.
    ‘So this man must leave the country –
safely
. Then I can tell the Queen that her lady-in-waiting is safe from the Frenchman’s depredations, and we do not antagonise the French king further. I would like you to find him if you can, and let me know where he is.’
    ‘I see,’ Baldwin said.
    Stapledon sighed. ‘He passed through Exeter two daysago. I had a man follow him, and he has sent to me to say that the fellow is now in Dartmouth. Since then, nothing. My man has disappeared.’
    The Bishop stared at the ground for a long while, and then in a quiet voice he said, ‘Baldwin, my friend, I would consider it a great favour if you would do this for me. The lad who followed him was my brother Richard’s son. If some evil has befallen him, I do not know how I shall tell my brother. There is no one else I can send on this very private mission.’
    There was a long pause. Baldwin had always done all in his power to avoid becoming embroiled in the murky world of politics, but he was reminded that this kind bishop had been a good friend to him over the years – and it was not truly a political matter. What Stapledon really desired was to find his nephew, not the Frenchman.
    ‘Sir Baldwin,’ the bishop went on, ‘if he is harmed, my brother will be heartbroken. Bernard is his pride and his life.’
    ‘I shall go, naturally, my lord,’ Baldwin said. ‘Though I do not know that there can be a happy conclusion to the business. If I learn that this Frenchman has harmed your nephew, I reserve the right to track him down and execute justice. It is my duty, Frenchman or no.’
    ‘You are an excellent man, Sir Baldwin. A man of honour!’
    ‘I do not know that,’ Baldwin without a smile. ‘The Queen’s lady – she is recovered?’
    ‘I do not know whether she will. It was a violent attack. But we should do nothing about it – that is vital! The man must escape so we don’t further exacerbate the problemsover Gascony. And the rape itself must remain secret. It would bring terrible shame to the Queen and her King, were it thought that one of her household could rape an Englishwoman and escape. Imagine how the realm would respond to that!’
    Baldwin shook his head. Both as a father and as a loving husband, he felt he would prefer to destroy this Frenchman for his actions, no matter what the consequences.
    ‘Perhaps you should become an advisor to the King,’ the bishop went on. ‘You should go