Crowner's Dilemma - Part Two.

[ismenin]

This is the inside of a real castle nearby that my son, Richie - digigrader tarted up a bit. If you like unusual pics and manips, go and visit his lj!


Hello! Sunny Sunday, hooray! It's cold, but who cares? The yellow orb is glowing. Me likes.

Anyway, my loves. Sorry I was so long answering lasst week's comments, but that's how it is, sometimes - n'est pas?

Here is Part Two. Plenty going on, as usual. I do love my DomLijah. Sigh. And writing about them. I hope it pleases you all, dear flist.






Thanks to ladysunrope for beta-ing this despite her germy state. Hugs.


Crowner's Dilemma - 2


"That is very sad hearing. In what way did she meet her death, sister?" Vincent, when he chose to be, was an unexceptionable, friendly man, and Sister Aefre seemed to be unafraid of him.

She looked at the floor. "She was bludgeoned about the head, your Grace. She was hit more than once."

Vincent rose. "I will see the body, sister..." he began, but Dame Gertruda interrupted. "Indeed, and you will not! No man shall violate her corpse by gazing upon it in a lascivious manner..."

The Abbess faltered as she saw the anger blaze in the archbishop's eyes - she knew she had gone too far. "I am sorry, your Grace. Pray excuse my untimely and indelicate outburst. I am much disturbed by Odilla's death. You must excuse me. Sister Aefre, conduct his Grace to the infirmary."

She sat back down, and Elijah noticed that her hands were trembling.

"Elijah," Vincent requested, "may Andrew take notes for us?"

Elijah nodded at his brother, and Andrew, having the foresight to bring a scrip with him, followed the three men and the nun into the infirmary.

On their way there, Sister Aefre told them that the girl had been found with her clothing wet with dew, and her head severely damaged.

There were four women in beds in the large, airy room - two elderly sisters, who seemed to be asleep, another who obviously had a weak chest, for her cough could be heard before they entered the door, and a younger nun, with her leg in a splint, who pulled the sheet over her head as the four men passed her bed.

They were taken into a small chamber next to the large room, and there, on a cot, lay the body of a young girl, not much above sixteen, Elijah guessed. She had been a very pretty girl, and was still so in death. About her head was wound a cloth, stained with blood, and the rest of her was covered by a sheet.

Elijah let Vincent do what needed to be done; he was aware that there were priestly obligations, and certainly did not wish to hinder his brother in their prosecution.

When Vincent rose from his knees, Elijah asked his first question.

"How badly was her head injured, Sister Aefre?"

The sister sighed. "Badly, my lord. Her skull was crushed. Do you wish to see it?"

Elijah shook his head. "No, I thank you. I will just look for a moment, at her face. It does not seem to have been touched. Are there any other marks upon her body? Scratches, bruises or some such thing?"

Sister Aefre thought for a moment. "There were bruises on her upper arm..." she carefully pulled the sheet aside just enough for Elijah to see the bruises on her right arm, and then covered it up again.

Andrew was writing everything down, and Elijah braced himself for the question his aunt would have struck him for asking.

"Has she been...violated in any way, sister?"

Aefre's eyes widened in shock. "I am sorry my lord, I did not think..." She was stunned for a moment, then recovered. "If you all would care to leave for a while, I will..."

They went out into the corridor and shut the door. Elijah seemed puzzled. "Why would a young novice be outside the abbey during the night? I am, maybe, too much a man, but I can only think of one reason for it."


Sister Aefre came out of the room a few minutes later, her face even paler than before, but composed. "No, my lord, there is no sign of molestation, I can assure you of that. If you wish, I can ask Sister Wilda to take you to the spot where she was found. I must get back to the Reverend Mother, who has been much upset by this tragedy."

Sister Wilda was plump and cheerful, considering the circumstances, and old enough not to be in awe of archbishops, or, indeed, of any man, being, as she proudly informed them, seventy two years old, and still capable of a full day's work.

She led the group out of the side gate, to the spot beside the stream, where the girl was found. "It was here I found her, my lords," she said, less cheerful now.

"I was opening a window in the infirmary to let out some vile humours that had collected during the night, and I saw what I thought was a bundle of clothing here, in the grass. So I came to fetch them in, and found Odilla, poor girl."

Elijah and Dom examined the spot carefully. There was a depression in the grass where her body had lain. Elijah frowned as he looked about him.

"I carried her back, myself, my lords, she was only a slip of a girl, and that is all I know."

"Was she lying on her back, or on her face, when you found her, Sister?" Elijah asked. The old dame thought for a moment. "On her front, with her face turned to the side. It was as if she was sleeping, so gently she lay there."

They went back to the abbess’s room, and Vincent told her that she might bury the body. "I will come tomorrow, and officiate, my lady, if you wish it," he offered.

Dom could see two things; that Elijah was deep in thought, and that the abbess only restrained herself with the greatest effort, from saying something cutting to Vincent.

"Thank you, your Grace," she said, at last. "Her family are coming tonight, from Hackington. They will be greatly honoured if you would do so."

The implication - but I will not - hovered in the air between them.

"We will return in the morning, aunt. I have much to think upon," Elijah said, bowing to Gertruda. She raised one supercilious eyebrow at him.

Dom was furious. The old crow! She need not show the world she thinks him incapable of formulating a rational thought!


When they got back to the castle, they sat at the fireside, and discussed what they had seen.

Vincent was perplexed. He felt he could add nothing to the debate, and therefore, left Elijah to express his thoughts on the matter.

"Sister Aefre said there had been several blows to her head, and there was one set of bruises that I saw on her right arm."

Dom saw that Andrew was writing it down, and thought carefully if there was anything he could remember seeing.

"She was lying on her face," he said at last. "Her attacker must have come at her from behind."

Elijah rubbed his chin. "Yes," he said, quietly. "A possibility. The bruises on her arm looked like a set of finger-marks to me. It could be that her attacker held her hard, whilst he or she struck her."

Vincent started, shocked. "Do you think she might have been murdered by a woman?"

Dom poured out some wine that Astin brought in, and passed a mazer to Vincent and one to Elijah.

Elijah drank a mouthful before he answered. "I cannot rule out anyone at this present, Vincent. I have found, in the prosecution of my duty as a coroner, that it does no good to get an idea fixed into one's head, and then have to change it when further evidence comes to light. I hope we will find the weapon that killed her. Tomorrow morning, Dom and I will search the banks of the stream whilst you - and everyone else - are attending the funeral."

Andrew looked up from his writings. He knew as well as did Vincent that everyone else meant the Lady Abbess.

Dom's brow wrinkled. "Why the banks of the stream? Do you think the weapon might still be somewhere about? Thrown away by the killer, in panic?"

Elijah absently nibbled at a sugared plum. "It may be, but I think that the lady was not killed where she was found. Like Archerus Flagsheet, I believe she was moved there, afterwards."

All three men stared at the crowner. The convoluted processes of his mind were astounding.

"Why?" Dom asked. Elijah managed a smile.

"The grass, Dominic. Did you not notice that there was only one path of flattened grass leading to the body? Sister Wilda made it, when she went to the body and then carried it inside - and that was the path we took - but there was not another blade flattened. I looked about most carefully. If she had been slain there, there would have been more disturbed grass about the spot. It is high summer, now, and the grass is long."

Elijah finished his plum, and licked his lips, and his fingers. Dom crossed his legs, and set his gaze on the table. He wished it were night, and that they were in bed, together...

"I believe she was killed elsewhere, and carried to that spot - maybe from across the stream. Whether by the killer, or another person, needs yet to be discovered. Unless, of course, the killer came from inside the abbey. That is the only other explanation for the one track. We shall see, tomorrow," Elijah concluded, reaching for another plum.

His three companions stared at him. He takes his talents so lightly, Dom thought. He does not find them in any way unusual.

"Let us forget about it all, until the morning. Dom, I would show you my home, if it pleases you."

There were dozens of rooms, but Elijah did not take Dom into them all - only those that held a special place in his heart. There was a library with upwards of fifty books in it, and Dom had never before seen so many in one place. There was a sunny chamber in the south wing, where Elijah's mother had worked on her embroideries and tapestries, which was redolent of lavender and sweet oils.

"I know Wenna still works here, for she has little to do else, now I am grown, and she knows there will be no children after me."

Dom glanced at his love. "She knows?"

Elijah smiled. "Wenna always knew, from when I was a child. I can hide nothing from her."

They climbed up the broad staircase and came to Elijah's bed chamber. Astin was walking past the door and he bowed at his master. "If you please, my lord. I had arranged for his Grace to sleep in the next chamber to yours, but Dame Rowenna insisted I give it to the Sheriff. She said his Grace would be happier in his old rooms, and she was right. I had not thought of it, them being so much smaller, and so unsuited to his present dignity - but he was delighted to be in them again. Dame Rowenna is an observant lady."

Elijah smiled at his servant, and led Dom into his bed-chamber. All about it spoke of Elijah. There was a huge hunting hound asleep on the fur rug at the foot of the bed, and as he entered the old hound rose, rather stiffly, and came forward, delightedly wagging his tail, and snuffling his master's hand.

"Bar, old lad!" Elijah ruffled the fur on the dog, and spent a moment talking to him, whilst Dom looked about him. The bed was an enormous edifice, curtained in red damask, and quite three ells across. Dom thought that Elijah must have felt very alone, lying in such a bed. However, that did not matter; he would not be alone in it now. He could not help but notice that the rest of the room was beautifully furnished.

On the wall opposite the bed hung was a large tapestry depicting two men, hand in hand, standing within a green bower, with dogs at their feet, and horses waiting nearby. Dom knew immediately who they were.

"Amis and Amiloun!" he breathed. Elijah smiled at him, and took his hand, and kissed it.

Dom had to ask - it was the only way he knew. "Have there been others, Elijah? Another Amis, I mean - for you?"

Elijah kissed Dom, then. "There have been others, Dom. A few others, as I told you. But there has been - and ever will be - only one Amis, and that is you, my love."

They held each other for a moment, happy within each other's arms, and then Elijah led Dom over to a door in the wall. It opened into the next bed-chamber, and Dom's bags had been unpacked, and his night-shirt placed upon the bed, and his other clothing put away.

It was a beautiful room, nearly as large as the one next door, but furnished in a light bluebell shade, the silks most delicately embroidered. "This was my mother's room, and Wenna has insisted on keeping the furnishings as they were in my mother's day, replacing and restoring as she wished. She knew I would never have a wife to grace them, but I let her have her way. She was much devoted to my mother, you see."

"It is a beautiful room, Elijah. I am honoured that Dame Rowenna felt me worthy enough to occupy it." Dom's voice was hoarse with emotion. Here, in Elijah's true home, he felt, more than ever, the full force of his lover's mind and heart. "And that you feel so, too."

"Dominic, my love. You are my man, my love and my heart. My Amis. Whom else should stay here? Except..." Elijah blushed, ..."except I was hoping that you would not spend too much time, alone, in this bed, as comfortable as I know it to be."

They left the room, then, for both men felt the urge to lie on the bed, and not alone - but it lacked but an hour to dinner, and form must be observed. If they had been there alone, it would be different, but there were Vincent and the boys to consider.

Elijah took Dom out onto the stone bridge that led to the drawbridge, and showed him the fish swimming in the moat. This was unusual. In many castles, the privies drained into the moat, and they stank accordingly - but Elijah's grandfather was a man, it seemed, after Dom's own heart. He had ordered a stream be diverted from the river nearby, and a defaectorum built after the Roman fashion, into which even the garderobes drained. It was a masterpiece of engineering, and must have cost a fortune. He remarked upon it.

"Oh, yes, it did. Father told me it cost over a hundred pounds to build and to divert the stream, and that, you know, was over sixty years ago. It took a year, he said, without a pause for winter weather. But Grand-da begrudged no expense in the maintaining of Beauvallet, nor did Father, and nor do I. It is eminently worthy of its costly upkeep."

A hundred pounds, Dom thought, just for a privy. He had never had a hundred pounds, all together, in his life, and his family had been in no wise poor, before...

He cut off the thought, for Elijah was speaking. "I hope you will like it here. It is a pleasant spot, where we can retire, every now and then, when city life becomes too pressing. In the heat of the summer, a city is no place to be. A month spent here will restore our spirits, especially as we now have reliable men to take our place."

They could hear the two boys shrieking with laughter somewhere within the woods nearby, and both men smiled to think that they were so carefree where the dangers of city life seemed far away.

Dom laughed out loud when he was shown the oubliette in the cellars. "How long is it since a prisoner was thrown down there to die, my love?"

Elijah leaned against the stone wall. "There never has been anyone die there, as far as I know. My father did hold a man there for a few days for doing, er...unnatural things with a herd of sheep he was tending, just to shock him into better behaviour in future. My father was very fond of his flocks, and the mutton he got from them."

Elijah started to giggle, in the sweet, boyish way he had that touched Dom's heart, and made him all warm inside. "The man told Father, in his defence - for he was caught in the very act - that he was just having a piss, and the sheep backed onto his cock. Father laughed over that for a month - it is a fond memory I hold of him, weak with merriment, telling the tale to his friends."

They climbed the stairs, still laughing, to find Astin waiting for them. "Ah, I see it is time to eat. Lead on, Astin, good fellow!"

They went in to dine.

Red, Ben and the priest joined them for dinner, and a merry couple of hours were spent telling stories, and laughing over some of the amusing things Vincent and Elijah had to tell about the people who lived on the estate.

Wisely, Elijah did not mention sheep.


*****


Andrew had asked Dom if he wished to have a servant appointed to him for his stay, but Dom replied, if it was not too much trouble, if Andrew could care for his clothing as well as his master's.

"Well, you know, sir, his lordship will tell you at Acre, I had six lords to care for..."

His voice tailed off as he saw the expression on his master's face, and he said, quietly, that it would be no trouble at all to tend one extra man.

They had bolted both bedroom doors after Andrew had left, and they were lying in bed before Dom asked the question that was troubling his mind.

"What happened at Acre that makes you so sad, my Amiloun? Tell me."

"What do you know of Acre, Dom?" Elijah's voice was quiet, and Dom sensed a hesitation about his love that was not like the man he was coming to know.

Indeed, there were things about Elijah still to learn, as Dom knew there were about himself.

"It was a great victory against the Saracen, Elijah. That is all I heard. A great victory! The king was much praised for it in every town and city in the land."

Elijah sighed. "Yes, Dom - a great victory, as you say. Come, my love, I would take you, for I find my appetite for your body is like a burning hunger in me."

Dom groaned. He loved to hear his man talk like this, for he felt the same. The need for each other was still great, and Dom wondered if it would ever diminish. Acre was forgotten, and Elijah was glad of it. It was a subject, for him, best left untouched.

Elijah, seeing the avid expression on Dom's face by the light of the candles, smiled, and drew his lover down into an embrace.

He never tired of looking at Dom's body, now sight had been restored to him. The tightness of muscles, and smooth, soft skin under his searching fingers was such a pleasure, that Elijah felt his breathing quicken moments after he had begun his voyage of exploration.

Elijah liked to oil his hands and let them roam all over Dom's perfect form, and to that end he had spread an extra sheet over the mattress. No-one but Wenna should know what happened in their bed. No servants would prattle in the laundry, over the master's sheets. Elijah knew she would come to fetch the sheet, neatly folded and placed in a small kist under the window, and that another would be put in its place. Not a word was said of it - in some things words were needless.

Dom groaned as Elijah's small fingers breached his body. Elijah laughed. Dom was so impatient in matters of love. He liked to race to the pinnacle, but Elijah was teaching him that slow was also a good way, especially when there was no need to rush.

Elijah leaned over and kissed his love, and Dom groaned again. "Will I never have a surfeit of you?"

Elijah ran his tongue over Dom's lips before answering. "I trust it will be a hunger between us never truly satisfied, for I know I will still want you, and need to be with you when I am old and grey, and have to be carried about the countryside in a chair."

Then Dom grasped Elijah's shoulders, and turned him roughly on the bed, and laying him down, slowly but desperately impaled himself on Elijah's willing body.

It was Elijah's turn to groan.

Dom's body was slick with sweat and oil, for the night was warm, but he rode his lover's body like a man heading for the post as if spurs were urging him on.

By now, Elijah was also breathless with desire and need. He had forgotten that he wished for tonight's loving to be slow and languorous - there was time and enough afterwards, for that.

"Ah!" Elijah cried, as the heat and friction of Dom's taut body drove him to completion. "Oh, God! Dom!"

Dom's back arched as his climax took him, and both men cried out as they came, together, in the hot night air.

Then Dom withdrew himself from Elijah's body, and lay down, as Elijah loved, on top of him, covering every inch of his lover's smaller frame with his own trembling body.

"I would stay here," he whispered, as they kissed. "My Amiloun!"

Elijah's eyes were closed, but he opened them at this, and there was so much love shining from them that Dom was rendered speechless, and contented himself with watching his lover's face until they both fell asleep.

****


Neither man knew that only a few miles away, a silent form was creeping through the infirmary at the abbey, an evil-looking knife clutched in a firm grasp. Or that, as they fell asleep, wrapped in each other's arms, another nun was sinking into her death, a knife sticking out of her chest, the hilt lit by a moonbeam from the small window opposite.

Oblivious to her death, the other occupants of the infirmary lay silent, as the murderer smiled in the stillness, and quietly shut the door.

Comments

[primula-baggins.livejournal.com]

“n'est pas?”
Oui, c'est vrai. ;-)

I’d love to know why Dame Gertruda is in such a snit about Vincent and Elijah.

Supercilious – haughty disdain. Perfect word!

“Elijah finished his plum, and licked his lips, and his fingers. Dom crossed his legs, and set his gaze on the table. He wished it were night, and that they were in bed, together...”

*giggle*

"I believe she was killed elsewhere, and carried to that spot - maybe from across the stream. Whether by the killer, or another person, needs yet to be discovered. Unless, of course, the killer came from inside the abbey. That is the only other explanation for the one track." Clever Elijah.

After researching, I discovered that an ell is about 24 inches, so 3 ell is about 72 inches or 6 feet. Edit: Ah, and ell was also 45 inches in medieval England, so that would have been huge! Since this story was earlier, I guess I can use the 24 inch measurement.

"Amis and Amiloun!" he breathed.” Awwwww. *happy sigh* I can almost picture that tapestry.

“In many castles, the privies drained into the moat, and they stank accordingly” Ewwww. I gotta say, I’m very happy we commonly have sewer systems these days! The stench must have been awful in olden times.

"The man told Father, in his defence - for he was caught in the very act - that he was just having a piss, and the sheep backed onto his cock.” LOL!

The contrast between Dom and Elijah’s lovemaking and the death at the abbey was well done, and Elijah has yet another death to investigate.

Can hardly wait for more! I hope germy LSR recovers soon.

[tristanpaulus.livejournal.com]

Ok, I'm calling three suspects:

1. Sister Aefre, who didn't want Vincent inspecting the body (of course that COULD just be because she thought it improper for her to be seen by a man).

2. Sister Wilda, who is strong enough to carry the body back, and thus probably would have been strong enough to hold and murder her.

3. The nun with her leg in a splint...pretending to be crippled to be ruled out as a suspect? And she pulled the sheet over her head as they passed, so they didn't see her face. Hmmm...

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

I love all the descriptions of the palace, and the surrounding country. It's so heartwarming that Dom and Elijah have such a beautiful place to come and relax. The love scene was so tender and erotic.

But the mystery is already fascinating. And now another poor nun has been murdered. I'm imagining it's someone inside the abbey who's doing it.

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

You are quite right about the different values of an ell. I have always taken it that an ell is between 43-45 inches. So it was a very long sideboard - but, then, it's a very long Hall! ;D

The story re the man taking liberties with the sheep is absolutely true. I read about it in our local newspaper abt 20 years ago. hysterical. That was really his excuse, too! In those days it was the only time you saw the words "bugger" or "buggery" in a newspaper. When someone was accused of molesting animals. Poor sheepses!

Glad you liked the DomLij love fest! Hugs. ;D xxx

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Well, we'll see! I ain't giving anything away just yet! :D But well done for excellent reasoning! xxx

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

It's all happening, isn't it? I do like a few threads to a story - I hope everyone else does, too. :D xxx

[primula-baggins.livejournal.com]

The part I was referring to was where the bed was described as being 3 ells wide. O_O

Oh lord, the thought of someone doing that to an animal is creepy to me, but I guess it happens! What an excuse though. lol!

[verangel.livejournal.com]

Oh how I loved the intrigue you wove at this ending. This is yet another amazing chapter that gives a totally different feel because of the surroundings. Gertrude is so nasty and it is hard to imagine what she can have against Vincent and Elijah. Her disrespect is obvious (dangerously so almost with Vincent).
It was wonderful seeing the tactful and delicate way that elijah handled the question of possible assault on the young nun. That is definitly a mystery that I cannot figure yet.
I loved seeing Elijah in my head eating that plum and Dom's discomfort. *snorts*
The septic system...wow how totally cool. You are amazing in the knowledge and visuals of the castle life. How brilliant of Elijah's grandfather. It shows the incredible wealth that Elijah has but does not missuse.
The rooms and Wenna, Elijah's nurse, placing Dom in his mother's old room, knowing her young man and that dom is his chosen one. Lovely. The description of the room and the bed and the gorgeous tapestry of Amis and Amiloun...*sighs* I am so in love with Elijah and his strength in this. It was wonderful to know he had his light giggle that could give so much pleasure to Dom.
Their lovemaking and Elijah demanding his need for his Dom. It was gorgeous and blissful in those surroundings. Dom turning Elijah and taking control and riding him. It was so erotic. I can never get enough of reading their physical escape into each other. *sighs more*
Seeing them asleep in each other's arms was a wonderful contrast to the sinister danger and death that is following. Death now with a knife. What a mystery.
I am loving every minute experiencing Elijah's background. I love my Sundays with you. hugs you so close and hopes you are getting better. xoxooxxo v (hugs germy LSR too from far away)

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'd forgotten about the bed! Ha! Have you heard of The Great Bed of Ware? This one is the same size, I expect! Giggles. They need room to manoeuvre! :D

I agree about the sheep molesters. Yuck!

[mole-caz.livejournal.com]

The thot plickens as my dad used to say! Excellent Ru, as always :-)

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Dom needs his Elijah, how very true, and vice versa. They are so sweet together.

As my need for lavatorial conveniences is always of paramount importance to me, the first thing I look for in any buildings are the loos. Giggle. They were not important then, or even up to more modern times. Five hundred years after this story was set, it was reported, that in the royal palace of France, a duke, talking to the queen as they walked together, stopped half-way along a corridor and "pissed against the tapestry". No-one thought it odd.In fact, ladioes and gentlemen of the court often went together to relieve themselves so as not to miss out on a fascinating conversation. Shudders.

Even Queen Elizabeth the First - so fussy, that, if you remember, she had a bath every month, "whether she needed it or not" - sent an edict about the palace informing the gentlemen that the stink of them urinating in the corners of the rooms and in the fireplaces was driving her mad. They were told to "piss in the pots provided" instead.

It's one thing historical re-enactments can never give us - the stink. It was, after all, the age of pomanders. Mine would have been taped to my nose, methinks! Hugses! :D xxx

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Thank you, my love. It is so nice that you are pleased with it. Huggles. :D xxx

[primula-baggins.livejournal.com]

"Have you heard of The Great Bed of Ware?"

No, I hadn't, but I just looked it up.

"the bed measures ten by eleven feet and can sleep over 15 people at once."

It boggles the mind to think on why they'd need a bed so big. Hehe.

[pattilovesviggo.livejournal.com]

I`m wondering who the murderer/s are, I haven`t a clue at this time lol
Wasn`t the Crowner allowed to check female bodies for signs of rape or abuse? If not, they have to rely on the Sister to tell the truth. I can`t wait for next week, great stuff!

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

The Crowners usually asked a midwife or nun to do this work. After all, husbands or fathers might object to their loved ones being thus examined by a man not even an apothecary! :D Glad ya like it! Hugses. ;D xxx

[verangel.livejournal.com]

oh my, the things we never think of in detail but it is amazing. What would make us insane smelling now was routine and "earthy" then. My grandparents in France owned a little old bar in an older neighborhood in Moulin. I loved the place. The bar was in front and in the back was their TEENY livinig area and kitchen . Then the apartment steps leading upstairs seperated their bedrooms. I have such wonderful memories playing there. What was routine to me when I stayed was that they had no indoor bathroom. I had to use a chamberpot and then they emptied it outside in the nasty outdoor urinals (like outhouses). Those were horrible. I remember when our cousins had a bathroom installed into their small home across the street. It was a big deal. It was the 60's then. We lived in Virginia but those visits were memorable. xoxoxxoxo v

[aprilkat.livejournal.com]

Ooh, excellent new plot. I hope that the Abbess gets taken down a couple of notches.

[laeliacatt.livejournal.com]

Oooo! Another nun bites the dust! A most enthralling whodunnit, Issi. I have a theory or three as to the identity of the killer, I distrust everyone at the Abbey at this point, though the motive mystifies me. It's early yet and I will keep my silly theories to myself and enjoy the tale instead. :)

I do look forward to the reasons behind the disagreeable Auntie's disagreeableness. ;) I was going to say her attitude toward Elijah and Vincent but she's rude to everyone!

I hope you had a good weekend, my sweet. I ate too much after the Thanksgiving holidays, with all the leftovers to tend to. :D

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Yes, indeedy! One of my favourite memories as a small child was sitting in the "earth closet" - no drainage - of a relative with my father. It was a two hole closet - naturally - and we used to read whilst in there, and smell the beautiful carnations that they used to sell, grown from the product of the closet. I never remember it smelling, though. ;D xxx

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

I'm sure she will, my dear. She must learn something, after all, from Elijah's tender heartedness. :D xxx

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

I know one of the reasons why Gertruda is miffed at Elijah and Vincent. It was in the last story. But there are others, too.

I'm sure your Thanksgiving munchies were delish! :D xxx

[poplij.livejournal.com]

Love the warm home you've set for Lij and Dom, it's truly wonderful the way you describe it. I feel for Elijah, he doesn't want to share his memories about Acre, they must be too painful. And Dom isn't ready to share his past with Elijah, I'm most curious about that, I hope one day he'll be able to find comfort in telling Elijah about his past and why he can't talk about his family.

"Bar, old lad!" Elijah ruffled the fur on the dog, and spent a moment talking to him, whilst Dom looked about him.

This is such a wonderful image, i can just picture them doing that.

Enjoy the intrigues and everything about this story really, you write so wonderfully with eye for detail, it makes the story come to life.

Can't wait for the newt chapter :)
(((hugs)))

[janejanejane.livejournal.com]

Wow! A great follow-up to the opener :-)

Love the lurve-making, but another nun murdered? What's going on? Why is the murderer targeting nuns...?

You've drawn me into another web of intrigue straightaway, thanks very much for posting, dear friend.

Where is the castle above that Richie has *tarted up*, btw?

*huggles*
XXXX