‘No, and the auction house won’t tell them who the seller is.’
‘Well, there’s nothing to say it’s illegal,’ said Libby. ‘Whoever hid it back whenever it was could have kept it in the family and it could have become an heirloom. The Abbey wouldn’t necessarily have a claim on it, would they?’
Patti frowned. ‘I suppose not. But they are interested in where it’s been. After all, it could have been stolen all those years ago, not hidden by one of the nuns or monks.’
‘So you just want me to look into its provenance? They don’t want to get it back?’
‘Well, of course, they’d like it back, but it is a bit idolatrous in my opinion. I think they just want to know.’
Libby stared into the fire. ‘I don’t see what I can do apart from ask the auction house, and maybe have a look back at the history of the old Abbey in Mercia. It might be interesting.’
‘You haven’t got the constraints of living as a nun,’ said Patti. ‘They’ve got computers, of course, but they are bound by the routines of their days and haven’t got the freedom to travel.’
‘Hmm. I don’t see me travelling to Wales to find things out, you know.’
Patti put her head on one side and grinned. ‘You’re thinking it might not be what you want to do after all, aren’t you?’
‘I am, a bit,’ said Libby with a shamefaced grin. ‘But I’ll do a bit of background research and see if I get anywhere.’
‘Right.’ Patti stood up. ‘I’m off to Anne’s. Coming for a drink later?’
‘Of course. Are you eating at Harry’s?’
‘Of course. My weekly treat, The Pink Geranium.’
‘See you later, then,’ said Libby.
The Pink Geranium, the mainly vegetarian restaurant in Steeple Martin, was owned by Harry Price, who lived with Peter Parker, cousin to Ben Wilde, Libby’s significant other. Libby’s son Adam lived in the flat above the restaurant when he wasn’t staying with Sophie Wolfe, step-daughter to Libby’s best friend Fran, in the seaside resort of Nethergate. Peter, Ben and Libby had fallen into the habit of meeting Patti and Anne in the pub on Wednesday evenings, and Harry would join them if the restaurant permitted.
This evening, before Patti and Anne arrived, someone else appeared at their table.
‘May I join you?’ asked Dominic Butcher.
Libby allowed herself an inward sigh. Dominic Butcher had recently been cast in an Oast Theatre production, and as a former professional actor, thrown his weight around until stopped by the director. He also had the temerity to have the same name as Libby’s eldest son.
‘Of course.’ Peter politely shuffled his chair closer to Ben’s.
‘Dominic.’ Ben nodded and turned back to Libby. ‘So what exactly do these nuns want you to do?’
‘Find out the provenance of this relic – sorry, reliquary. I don’t see how I’m to do it.’
‘St Eldreda’s Abbey,’ said Peter dreamily. ‘Lovely place. Very atmospheric.’
‘Oh, you know it?’ Libby said in surprise. ‘I’d never heard of it.’
‘They allow occasional drama performances there,’ said Peter. ‘Even Murder in the Cathedral. I wonder …’
‘What?’ asked Ben and Libby together, somewhat nervously. Peter’s projects had occasionally been known to lead to as much off-stage drama as on.
‘Murder in the Cathedral,’ said Dominic, obviously not liking to be left out of the conversation. ‘I was in that myself, you know, a few years ago –’
‘I could write a play about St Eldreda, couldn’t I?’ Peter turned bright blue eyes on his cousin. ‘And if we could find anything out about this relic –’
‘Reliquary. Who’s this “we”?’ asked Libby.
‘If the nuns gave me permission, I’d naturally help you.’ Peter gave her his most charming smile.
‘I suppose we could ask Patti what she thinks,’ said Libby.
‘What do I think?’ Patti pushed Anne’s wheelchair up to the table. ‘Evening all.’
‘I was just telling them about St Eldreda and the reliquary,’ said Libby.
‘And I thought it would make a great play to put on in the Abbey ruins,’ said Peter.
‘Oh.’ Patti looked surprised. ‘I suppose it would. Tell me more.’
Ben pulled out a chair and introduced Dominic. ‘And I’ll go and get your drinks,’ he said, ‘while Peter persuades you to use your good offices in his cause.’
By the time Ben got back with a tray of drinks, Peter had finished.
‘I think it’s rather a nice idea,’ said Anne. ‘Can we talk to Catherine about it?’
‘She’s a friend of yours as well?’ said Peter.
Anne and Patti looked at each other and smiled.
‘Of course,’ said Patti. ‘I’ll ring her tomorrow. She’ll want to talk to Libby, anyway.’
Libby opened her mouth and shut it again.
‘Well, I’m happy to offer my services if it comes off,’ said Dominic. ‘I’ve done a bit of directing you know, as well as the telly.’
Anne looked at him curiously. ‘Were you on television?’
Dominic smiled deprecatingly. ‘I was Alf in “Limehouse Blues”.’
Anne looked blank.
‘It’s a TV soap,’ Patti explained. ‘Anne doesn’t watch much television.’
‘Ah. Well, I’m actually thinking of going back to my former profession now, anyway,’ said Dominic, glad to be in the forefront of the conversation at last.
‘Oh.’ Patti gave it the downward tone to convey lack of interest, but Dominic carried on.
‘I was an SHO, just about to qualify as a surgeon,’ he said.
Libby shuddered to think of a patient under the alcoholically shaking knife of Dr Butcher.
‘If it gets off the ground, Dominic, I shall direct it myself,’ said Peter. ‘And Libby’s an ex-professional too, you know. She’ll be on hand.’
‘And we just hope,’ said Ben, ‘that the combination of you two doesn’t lead to any more murders.’
More titles in the Libby Sarjeant Series
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Acknowledgements
Who's Who in the Libby Sarjeant Series
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-one
Chapter Thirty-two
Chapter Thirty-three
Chapter Thirty-four
Chapter Thirty-five
Chapter Thirty-six
First Chapter of Murder at the Monastery
More titles in the Libby Sarjeant Series
Murder by Magic Page 28
