Heartstone (68 page)
Authors: C. J. Sansom
âFrom Portchester Castle. The royal party arrived there yesterday. Master Warner said to come at once, there have been delays with private letters. The ones from London are a few days old.'
I thanked him again. âLet us go to your room,' I said to Barak. âGet some privacy.'
As we walked round the side of the house he said, âThere could have been trouble with the villagers there.'
âI know.'
He laughed scornfully. âDid you see Dyrick twist and run when that pebble was thrown? He's like many who are free with bold words, he ran at a hint of violence. I wish young Feaveryear had been here to see it.'
âI was never able to fathom why Feaveryear was sent away so suddenly. It had something to do with Hugh and David, I am sure.'
He looked at me seriously. âYou finally shot your bolt with the family in there. You were hard on them.'
âI had to do something for Ettis. I thought if they knew how Abigail was regarded we might get a verdict of murder by persons unknown. Priddis helped stop that. Did you hear what he said to me afterwards?'
âYes. He's dangerous.'
âI know. I wonder whether Mistress Ettis has the stomach to take the issue of the woods forward? I suspect the villagers will rely on her.'
âShe seemed a woman of spirit to me. Reminded me a little of Tamasin, only older. Now come, let's get these letters open.'
In his room, Barak tore open Tamasin's letter and read it eagerly, while I perused Guy's. It was dated four days previously, the twelfth of July:
Dear Matthew,
I have received your letter. You will be pleased to hear that Tamasin continues very well, though increasingly tired as her time approaches. At home Coldiron has been surly since I called him to order, yet not impertinent. Josephine seems to have gained a little confidence-I heard her tell young Simon, who was saying again how he wished he could go to fight, that war is a wicked thing and she wished heartily God would stir up a universal peace among his people. I was pleased to see it, though it turned my mind back to that time she swore in French.
I have visited Ellen again. On the surface she seems returned to normal, cheerful and working with patients as though nothing had happened. She told me she was in good sort and I need not call again. But she did not mention you at all, and I sensed much hidden feeling under the smooth surface.
As I was leaving the Bedlam, Hob Gebons came to me and said that two days before Keeper Shawms had a visit from Warden Metwys. Gebons, knowing your concern to be informed of all that might concern Ellen, tried to overhear, but they spoke low and he could hear little. He told me though that at one point voices were raised: Metwys shouted that âshe' must be moved if her mouth is no longer safe, and Shawms replied you had the Queen's protection and he would not do it.
Matthew, I think you should return, as soon as you can.
Your loving friend,
Guy
I looked up at Barak. âWhat does Tamasin say?'
He smiled. âThat she is bored, and tired, and heavy. She wants me home.' He took a long breath of relief. âWhat about Guy?'
I passed the letter over to Barak and opened the one from Warner. It was dated yesterday, he had got it to me fast. When I opened the letter I understood why; inside was a little folded note in the Queen's own handwriting. I broke the seal. It was dated the day before, 15 July, from Portchester.
Dear Matthew,
I have received your letter, and was shocked to hear of the death of poor Mistress Hobbey. It seems there is little or nothing against Master Hobbey, and if that poor boy does not wish to proceed we should not entangle him in the coils of Wards at this time. I know that Mistress Calfhill will agree.
We have just arrived at Portchester Castle. The King will be travelling to Portsmouth in two days. Latest reports of French numbers and the progress along the Channel of their ships are very troubling. You should leave now, return to London.
I turned to Warner's letter; it was brief, the script without his usual care and written in a hurry.
Dear Matthew,
The court is arrived at Portchester Castle. I enclose a letter from the Queen; we agree you should return to London as soon as possible. Please accept Brother Dyrick's offer on costs. I hope and trust the inquest has found the killer. On that subject, I heard the inquest's verdict into Master Mylling was one of accidental death.
Here the King is much concerned by the approach of the French fleet. I may be unable to write further till this desperate crisis is resolved, one way or another.
With greetings and salutations,
Robert Warner
I passed both letters over to Barak. âI never had a letter from the Queen before.'
âLucky you. Well, that's the end of the Curteys case.'
âI know. This room is sticky. Let's get out.'
We stepped out into the windless summer evening. I looked over at the tiled roof, solid old walls and new high chimneys of Hoyland Priory.
âThis will be our last night at this place, thank God,' Barak said. He looked at me. âD'you still think Warner could be connected with Ellen somehow?'
âI don't know.' I took a deep breath. âTomorrow morning we can leave first thing. I will go to Portsmouth, and you take the road for London. With luck I will only be there a few hours, and can catch you up on the road the next day.'
âDon't go.'
âI must.'
âThe French could arrive.'
âI must speak to West. It was I stirred up the hornets' nest at Rolfswood.'
âAnd you're going to try and get the hornets back in?'
âI am going to try and find out what happened at that foundry.'
He shook his head. âFuck it. Listen, I'll come with you to Portsmouth tomorrow.'
âNo. Go back to London. I'll find Leacon, maybe he can help me reach West again.'
âYou shouldn't go alone.'
I looked at him. âAre you sure?'
âProvided we leave as soon as you've seen West. If I let you go alone, I fear you'll stay and land in more danger.'
I smiled. âThen - thank you.'
He spoke with a sudden forcefulness; âWhen we get back to London, you have to change. You can't go on living like this. And nor can I.' He looked at me hard again, but there was concern as well as censure in his eyes.
I smiled sadly. âLeacon said something similar to me. About getting old.'
âAnd obsessive. Never more so.'
I took a deep breath. âThen it seems that now I need you to guide me. Thank you, Jack.'
WE RETURNED TO the house. I thought, he is right, when we get back it is time I made a life for myself, instead of living through other people's tragedies. I realized that was what I had been doing for years: there had been so many, brought by the wild changes and conflicts the King had forced on England, perhaps it was my response to the wider madness.
Fulstowe stood in the great hall, looking at the space where the tapestries had been. He turned to me with a hostile look, his fair beard and hair contrasting with his jet-black mourning doublet.
âDo you know where Sir Quintin and his son are?' I asked shortly.
âDeparted.'
âAnd the family?'
The steward glared at me, any last shred of deference gone. âI will not have you trouble them. Not after the state you reduced them to at the inquest.'
âYou should mind your manners, steward,' I said quietly.
âI am in charge of this household under Master Hobbey. I say again, I will not have you disturb them.'
âWhere is Master Dyrick?'
âWith Master Hobbey.'
âWe leave tomorrow. Tell Master Dyrick I will need to speak with him before we go.'
He looked relieved at that news. âI will. There will be no dinner in the hall tonight. Food will be served to people in their rooms.' He turned on his heel and walked away.
I went up to my room. Soon after there was a knock at my door and Dyrick entered, his face dark and angry. âYou will be pleased to know, sir,' he said, âthat Master Hobbey is prostrate. And David is much upset.'
âNot as upset as Master Ettis, I'll wager.'
I looked at him. I felt guilty for what I believed I had had to do at the inquest, but for Dyrick I felt only anger and contempt. I had believed earlier that, ridiculously unpleasant as he was, he genuinely thought I was treating Hobbey unjustly over Hugh; but after his role in the pursuit of Ettis I knew he was corrupt and cruel.
He sneered. âEttis. Whose wife no doubt will take his place as your client.'
I said, âYou will be pleased to hear I have authority to accept your offer to end Hugh Curteys' case on the basis of no costs.'
âAh yes, that royal messenger.' He smiled nastily. âAnd I noticed you and Master Hugh seem no longer to be friends. And after what you made him do this afternoon I imagine he will be as glad to be rid of you as everyone else here.'
âOh, it is not over yet, Brother Dyrick,' I answered quietly. âThere is the villagers' case to come. And still a murderer to be found, incidentally.'
âHe has been found.'
âI do not think even you believe Ettis guilty.'
âBody of our Lord!' he burst out. âYou are the most troublesome fellow I ever encountered!'
âCalm yourself, Brother.'
âI will be calm when you and your impertinent clerk leave this house.'
âAnd I hope you remain calm when next we meet, at Ettis's trial or in the Court of Requests. I have your mark now, Dyrick, I see you clearly.'
âYou see nothing. You never have. Master Hobbey and the family, by the way, can I think do without your farewells.' Dyrick flounced out, closing the door with an ear-splitting bang.
WE ROSE EARLY the following morning. We breakfasted in the kitchen, and said farewell to old Ursula, toiling there as usual, who thanked us for our interest in Hugh. âThough you never found why they told that wicked lie about Master Calfhill saying he loved Hugh, did you, sir?'
âNo, Ursula. And without Hugh's cooperation, I do not think anyone can.'
She looked at me imploringly. âYou will help Master Ettis, though? He's a good man. He never killed Mistress Hobbey.'
âOf course.' I looked at her seriously. âHave you any idea who could have, Ursula?'
âNone, sir. It was a wicked act, for all her strange ways. God pardon her.'
âAmen. I will not be returning here, but if you hear anything I should know, will you tell Mistress Ettis? She knows how to contact me.'
âI will, sir. Unless the French get us all first.' She curtsied deeply, but I could see my lack of success had disappointed her.
Outside it was another hot, still day. We loaded our saddlebags onto Oddleg and the horse Barak had been using. I thought, in three or four days we shall be returning them to the supplier at Kingston.
âWhat will you do about the Rolfswood inquest?' Barak asked after we had mounted.
âWhen we get back to London I will make contact with the Sussex coroner. I will ensure Priddis is questioned. I'll ask the Queen to use her influence if need be.'
âThat will all take time.'
âI know.'
âLook there,' he said quietly. I followed his gaze to where David and Hugh were walking together from the house to the butts with their bows and arrowbags. Hugh turned and saw us. He laid down his bow and came over to me, his expression cold. David simply stood and stared.
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