Sapphire and Frost

By David E Lawrence

When the Earl of Marlborough brings the royal sapphire to the Manor House he could not have foreseen its theft and the locked room murder.

• Language: English
• Publisher: David E Lawrence
• Release date: May 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005442033

David E Lawrence

Born in Rugby I live in Oxford where I worked in book publishing taking early retirement as Production Director.I now write for pleasure and for local outlets and sites such as this one. My favourite authors are CS Lewis, Haruki Murakami and Frederick Forsyth. I also compile cryptic crosswords and listen to a whole lot of music especially rock and jazz.

Book preview

Sapphire and Frost

by

David E Lawrence

Copyright 2021 David Lawrence

Smashwords Edition

SAPPHIRE AND FROST

Imagine the scene if you can…the body sprawled across the bed, a dagger in the chest and the door locked from the inside. Impossible? Maybe, maybe not. For answers we must go back in time to the beginning of I689, the dying embers of Jacobean England, and to the bucolic village of Long Hanboro.

The heron like figure made his way to the majestic stone pillars that marked the gateway to the Manor and looked east, expectant. He would not rest until this wretched business was settled. He was not a man naturally disposed to courtesies and lordly guests, but the request left him little room to object. The iron grey accusing skies accentuated his growing tension as he caught the clip clop of the horses moving through Bladon, on the hard, frozen road toward Hanborough Ridge. Hunched over the necks of their black chargers, they crested the rise like crows against the sun. The Earl himself, he of the mocking half smile and feigned humility was first into the courtyard.

Welcome my lords.

And thank you for agreeing to break our journey to the capital.

The Earl’s mellifluous tones and easy