Osgoode cut himself off to ask. Balan had suddenly turned his mount and headed back the way they'd come.
"The only person who fills that criteria is Cecily!" he pointed out harshly.
"Cecily?" Osgoode repeated with amazement. "Why would Cecily wish to kill you?"
****
"Why are you trying to kill my husband?" Murie blurted. She'd spent every moment since Osgoode rode off pondering the matter, then trying to sort out how to question Cecily, and this was the best she could do. She blamed it on her husband. He'd been short-tempered upon returning with Cecily, and had barely paused long enough to set the maid on the ground before announcing he and Osgoode were going hunting and riding off. Murie had watched him go with a frown, then had peered meaningfully at Erol and Godart, encouraging them to follow. If she were right about Cecily, her husband would be perfectly safe while the maid was with her, but Murie wanted to confront the woman alone. She'd been with her for ten years, and Murie felt this was the least that was owed her. She was hoping by approaching the matter on her own, she might get some honest answers. Cecily, however, wasn't rushing to confess.
The silence that descended in the clearing was almost preternatural. Even the birds in the trees and the insects that moments ago had been buzzing around them were suddenly silent. The two women faced each other for so long that one could be forgiven for thinking time had stopped.. . and then the song of a cuckoo pierced the air.
As if on cue, Cecily swallowed and said, "I do not understand, my lady."
"Aye, you do," Murie said. "I saw you take my gown."
"Your gown?" the maid asked, suddenly wary.
Murie nodded. "I was half asleep and paid little attention, thinking you were merely taking it out for me to wear that day, and then I dozed off again. When you woke me later by removing the furs from the windows to let the light in, however, it was a different dress you had set out for me."
"I"I thought little of it at the time," Murie went on, not giving her maid the chance to lie. "In fact, I did not even really recall it... until Osgoode described to me the gown the woman he saw in the village was wearing. It was mine. The one I had seen you taking out of my chest."
"Osgoode lied. He must have. He is the one trying to kill your husband."
Cecily sounded desperate, Murie noted sadly. She'd really hoped she was wrong and the maid would somehow prove herself innocent. Instead, Murie's certainty of her guilt grew with every word.
"What would I gain from killing your husband? Osgoode is the one who will inherit should he die," Cecily added when Murie remained silent.
Murie's gaze sharpened. "How do you know that Osgoode will inherit? I did not know it until Anselm told me, when we all met on the wall. Were you there? You must have been."
"Nay. I was with your husband," Cecily said quickly. "You insisted Osgoode and I sit with him, remember?"
"Aye, I did," Murie murmured, pondering the matter. Raising her head she repeated, "How did you know that Osgoode would inherit?"
Cecily shrugged helplessly. "Someone must have told me."
"Nay." Murie shook her head firmly. "You were there. What happened? Did my husband send you to look for me? He was awake when I returned to the room, and asking you something, but stopped when I walked in." She tilted her head. "Was he asking where I was because he had sent you to find me?" Cecily shook her head silently, but Murie did not believe her.
"And so you came looking for me, heard that Osgoode would inherit if Balan died, and heard that someone was to be watching my husband at all times," she guessed. "It must have vexed you. It would make it so much harder to kill him. But then he pulled himself out of his sick bed to travel outside and find more servants and livestock, and you thought of a way to use that. He would be alone with Osgoode. Osgoode would be the one suspected should anything happen. It was perfect, so you donned my gown and awaited their return and ..." Murie pursed her lips.
"You must have had the fire ready to go. You would have had to light it and get it burning merrily in a hurry once you saw them approaching. Then you waved from