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borrowed from Mark, lay on the coffee table. She
reached over and opened it up at the first illustration. It
showed Edward the Confessor in his palace with
Harold. This was followed by Harold and his men riding
on horseback. Belinda turned the page to the third
picture.
Her eyes widened in surprise.
It was the same as Godwin s photocopy.
Belinda took the copy and put it beside the book.
She could now see that it completed the previous
picture. The Latin text at the top of the photocopy was
only part of the writing.
What appeared there read: HAM:ECCLESIA.
But when put with the previous picture the full Latin
text read HAROLD DVX:ANGLORVM:ET SVI
MILITES: EQVI TANT:AD BOSHAM:ECCLESIA
 Bosham, whispered Belinda softly, reading the
English translation below,  Harold travelled to a church
in a place called Bosham.
She gave a shiver, not from the cold night air, but
from the sudden realisation that the church depicted in
the book was the exact same church portrayed in her
tapestry. She took the colour photograph that Sir
Gerald had given her and placed it next to the book.
The churches were identical.
Out of the corner of her eye she was aware of a
sudden movement. Turning sharply, she caught her
breath in fright. There was a white shape at the door!
A baleful penetrating voice filled the room.  Are you
trying to give me a heart attack? Hazel stood in the
doorway, a heavy brass candlestick held defensively
before her.  You don t know how close you were to
being bopped on the head, Missy.
Belinda gave a sob of relief. Hazel swept into the
room and headed for the gin bottle.
 Damn the doctor. I need a drink. My nerves are in
shreds. I heard someone moving about the house and
thought your bastard monk was paying another visit.
Belinda fell back onto the sofa.  You can pour me
one too. My nerves aren t exactly made of iron. The
sight of you standing there in your nightgown is enough
to frighten anyone.
 Thank you, my dear. I think you re cute too,
muttered Hazel cattily, as she handed Belinda her
drink. Both women took a healthy swig. They grasped
the moment to retrieve their composure.
 May I ask what you re doing down here in the
middle of the night? said Hazel, as she sat beside
Belinda.
Belinda hurriedly spread the book, the photocopy
and the colour photograph out before her. In an eager
voice explained what she had discovered.
 Bosham? queried Hazel meditatively.  It rings a bell
somewhere. She sipped her poison.  I ve heard of it,
but can t recall where it is.
Belinda placed the photograph of her tapestry next
to the book.  The other extraordinary thing is that the
church at Bosham, in the Bayeux Tapestry, is exactly
the same as the one depicted in my tapestry. It shows
William the Conqueror being crowned in that church.
 Sweetheart, the kings of England are crowned in
Westminster Abbey. Have been for centuries. Hazel
reached for the book and flipped though the pages until
she came to the picture of Edward s burial and Harold s
coronation.  See. The abbey is totally different to your
tapestry.
They were indeed. There was no doubt that the
abbey was more ornate.
 But mine is definitely the church at Bosham.
They re identical. Why would it show William being
crowned there? And I had a dream tonight. A nightmare
about the Vicar. Then someone was going to kill me. In
the same way. Stabbed in the eye.
Hazel gave a shudder.  I thought from the beginning
there was something evil about that tapestry.
Belinda rose and paced the room.  The tapestry
can t be evil but whoever murdered to get hold of it is.
And what s its value? What is so important about it that
they would kill to own it?
 Who knows? It s not as though it s part of the
Bayeux Tapestry.
Belinda paused in her stride and turned to Hazel.
 But what if it is?
Hazel gave a shrug of irritation.  And what if I was
the Queen of England?
 No. I m serious, Hazel. Belinda hurried to the sofa
and sat beside her.  I know it s supposed to be
worthless but if that s the case, why have there been
two murders? Why were you bashed? Imagine for a
moment  if it is part of the Bayeux Tapestry, how
much it would be worth?
 But your expert  Sir Gerald  he said it was an
eighteenth century replica.
 Supposing he lied?
 Is part of the Bayeux Tapestry missing? asked
Hazel, her voice rich with doubt.
 It ends suddenly with the English escaping from the
Normans. Belinda was now pink with excitement.  My
tapestry could be the final panel, the end of the story.
William s coronation as king of England.
Hazel waved her gin at the colour photograph of the
tapestry.  But he wasn t crowned in this church at
Bosham.
Belinda gave a moan of frustration and collapsed
back against the cushions.
 However, you raise an interesting point, said Hazel
in a consolatory voice.  If, as you say, two men were
killed in order for someone to own it, then there must
indeed be some particular value to it.
Belinda sat forward on the sofa.  The Godwins are
obsessed with King Harold. They must know the value
 and want it.
Hazel picked up the photocopy and ran her finger
along the handwritten notes.  You may be right, Bel. If
we could decipher what this writing means, it may give
us a clue.
The two women looked at the writing.
 A 36 Dicul o/n shampton 27 a or m.
 Well, if you ask me, it probably means the A36. The
road.
It was the following Saturday morning and Mark,
who had been in Rome for the week, arrived fresh from
the airport and demanded breakfast. Hazel elected to
make the coffee, that being the least onerous task.
Belinda made toast, cooked eggs and regaled Mark
with the events of the past few days.
 Of course, cried Belinda in delight.
Mark wolfed down another mouthful of scrambled
eggs and poured a third cup of coffee.
Hazel, resentful that she hadn t thought of that
obvious answer, was more critical.  No one likes a
smart arse, Mark.
Mark flashed her an insincere smile that suggested
that she knew exactly what she could do.
 How clever of you, continued Belinda, glaring at
Hazel,  of course, the A36. That s near here, isn t it?
Mark mumbled a  yes through buttered toast. He
swallowed.  It s the main road from here to Salisbury.
 Where does it go then? asked Hazel.
Mark inspected a jar of marmalade and scraped at
the contents.  Er & on to Southampton, I think.
Belinda waved the photocopy.  That s it! That s what
it means. Take the A36 to Southampton.
 But what does  Dicul and 27 a or m mean? said
Hazel.  And why go to Southampton anyway?
Mark finished piling marmalade onto his toast. With
the sticky knife, he pointed to his briefcase.  There s a
road map in there.
Belinda pulled the book from the case and searched
for the A36. Her fingers followed the undulating line
across the pages.  Yes. It goes to Southampton.
 But why? Hazel repeated in frustration.
Mark poured what little coffee was left into his cup.
 What was the name of that place that Harold visited?
 You mean where the church is? Belinda reached
for the book of the Tapestry.
 Bosham, said Hazel confidently,  but I can t recall
where it is.
 It s in Sussex, replied Mark, equally confident,
 somewhere near Chichester. We ve an office in
Chichester and I m sure there s a turn off from the main
road that takes you there. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]