My+summons

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Entering his library and past the butler, Christian asked himself again why he had bothered to respond to the summons issued by the Princess. But he knew the answer to that question. Increasingly of late his researches into the arcane lore of ancient civilizations were no longer enough to divert his attention. Life was getting tedious, neither was there any unsavory business that needed to be solved or dealt with. Restlessness was a condition he did not acknowledge lightly or entertain. He needed to find something to amuse himself, something to engross himself into before he turned into a ninny. Thinking back, that was what propelled him not only to call on the princess at her cousin’s home but accept to help her. Avoiding those who threatened to bore him to death was one of the many things he avoided eagerly; it was the reasons why he was considered poor company. But he highly doubted any dealings with the princess will be boring, he only feared that the cycle of events that had already began will prove dangerous – for everyone.

// “I need your help.” // // “Yes, your note implied that it was a matter of life and death .” // // “I – I assure you sir, it is an urgent matter, you see a friend of mine was murdered and I have reason to believe that she might not be the only casualty.” // // “Please have a sit. Now, tell me –.” // // “I want to find the killer, and I believe you might be the only one who can truly help me.” // // “How do you know I can be of any help to you?” // // “Four nights ago my companion and very close friend Nancy Cooper was shot in an empty field near the palace. She fell unconscious a few moments after me and her sister Mary, found her – she… She died a few hours later.” // // “Please accept my condolences,” // // “Yes, well thank you. Anyhow, before she – when she was conscious however she told me that there had been a man who she had met at her father’s shop. She had gone to visit her father and the man had been standing in the shadows, the only reason she noticed him was because she had walked right past the alley he was in. He was looking right at her, quite intently too, Nan said that she did not pay much attention to it or give it much thought. She was quite used to that of sort of thing, you know. She was a beauty and she did not really realize the full extent or power she had on others.” // // “How is this man connected to her death?” // // “He was the one who shot her.” // // “So the man who killed her was known to her?” // // “No. Nancy said that he had only actually approach her twice. The first time was after she had left her father’s apothecary shop on Moss Lane. He had been pleasant enough but she had the distinct impression that although he was dressed like a gentleman he had the mannerism that contradicted his clothing.” // // “Okay, did she by any chance give you the man’s physical appearance?” // // “Does that mean you have consented to help me solve this crime?” // // “How do you know that the man had not shot her because she did not give him the attention he was looking for? You seemed convinced that there is more involved.” // // “I know there is more – Nancy told me that the second time he accosted her she had been with her sister when they had been taking a walk in the park. He asked if it was true she was close friends with me and when she consented he started asking questions about me and Uncle Richard. Wait, wait, there is more. The day she was shot he had forced her to go to the empty field and there they were met by another man who she said was definitely a gentleman. She said that up to a point she answered some of the questions and when she asked why they needed these information they told her it was not her business. She became suspicious and when they started asking very personal and somewhat private questions about my uncle and I, she said she refused to answer them...” // // “… and then what?” // // “She said that the gentleman became impatient and then, they heard horse hooves and as she escaped she was shot.” // // “The men, did she recognize them?” // // “The voice of the gentleman, she said sounded familiar.” // // “Did Miss Cooper by any chance give you a description of the two men’s physical appearance?” // // “Yes for a matter of fact she did, and I made sketches of them.” // // “Good, I will like to see it. Even if I do not recognize them, it would be a good resource to have.” // // “So you agree to help me?" // // "Yes, I have no business pending and quite a lot of time on my hands to spend." // // "How do you propose we continue?” // // “I am going to begin with enquires about the two men you have described and with the aid of the sketches you have made, it will make the task a lot easier. I am also going to go to the apothecary shop where Miss. Cooper first saw the man and ask around to see if anyone knows either of the two men. I would also like to speak with Miss. Cooper’s sister as soon as possible.” // // “Why?” // // “She might be able to give me more information. A different perspective on this matter would also help.” // // “Yes, well Mary came with me, so you can talk to her right away. Another thing, your grace, I forgot to mention that Nancy believed that there were more people involved.” // // “How so?” // // “The man, the one she had seen in the alley that first time, had said that there would be hell to pay if she did not answer their questions about the king and I. She got the impression that there was another person the two men were answering to or working for.” //

** Evidence gathered **