The Muddle of the Woad

"The Muddle of the Woad" was the third short story featuring Lord Darcy, published in 1965. It was also published in the collection Murder and Magic in 1979.

Plot
As the Duke of Kent dies, the beautiful coffin prepared for the occasion is to be taken to his castle. However, it is found to already contain a body, namely that of Lord Camberton, the Duke's chief investigator. He has been murdered, and his body covered completely in blue paint.

Lord Darcy and Master Sean are sent to Kent to investigate the possible involvement of the mysterious Society of Albion.

Cast of Characters

 * Master Cabinetmaker Walter Gotobed
 * Journeyman Cabinetmaker Henry Lavender
 * Apprentice Tom Wilderspin
 * Apprentice Harry Venable
 * Lord Darcy
 * Baron Dartmoor mentioned
 * Lady Dartmoor
 * John IV
 * Sir Edward Finnely mentioned
 * William II 'Rufus' mentioned
 * Lord Camberton, Chief Investigator for the Duchy of Kent
 * Sir Angus MacReady, Chief Investigator for the Marquis of Edinburgh
 * Master Baker Ben Tolliver, Henry Lavender's father-in-law, mentioned
 * Sean O'Lochlainn
 * Master Sorcerer Timothy Videau
 * Bertram Lightly, Chief Master-at-Arms of the City of Canterbury
 * Dr Dell, chirurgeon
 * Master Sorcerer Simon, of London, inventor of the preservative space spell, mentioned
 * Sir Thomas Leseaux
 * Margaret Campbell-MacDonald, Dowager Duchess of Kent
 * Sir Andrew Campbell-MacDonald
 * Sir Austin Campbell-MacDonald, father of Margaret and Andrew, mentioned
 * Lord Quentin de Kent
 * Lady Anne de Kent
 * Lady Yvonne, daughter of the Marquis of Rouen, mentioned
 * Brother Daniel
 * Chester Lowell
 * Plainclothes Master-at-Arms Alexander Glencannon
 * Father Joseph, a Healer
 * Ian Lowell

Magic
The following laws of magic appear in The Muddle of the Woad


 * Law of Relevance
 * Law of Synecdoche
 * Law of Similarity
 * Law of Metonymy