‘Very well,’ said Henry with a bored sigh. ‘The letter to Bishop Wilfred is about property, the one to Abbot Mabon is about clerical obedience, and the ones to Richard, Sear and Gwgan pertain to the routine deployments of troops. There is no reason to assume I am sending Geoffrey into danger. On the contrary, these messages could not be more innocuous.’
‘I see,’ said Maurice. ‘Then why-’
‘Besides, it will give him an opportunity to visit Goodrich en route, and warn his hapless wife and sister that they are about to have his company for the rest of his natural days. His ensuing excursion to Kermerdyn will give them the chance to get used to the idea.’
Geoffrey struggled not to gape, feeling it was hardly the King’s place to meddle in his domestic arrangements. ‘But Goodrich is not on the way to Kermerdyn. I will not go there first.’
‘I insist you do,’ said Henry. ‘My letters are not urgent, and you must avail yourself of another opportunity to produce an heir. You do not have one in the making yet, I believe. We are similar in that respect, although neither of us has any trouble siring bastards.’
Geoffrey was not sure whether he was more taken aback by the bald order to impregnate his wife or the implication that he was the kind of man to leave women with unwanted offspring. With the exception of one lady – a duchess who still laid claim to his heart – he had never been in one place long enough to develop an enduring relationship, and the other women he had bedded tended to know how to avoid unwelcome pregnancies.
‘I want Goodrich to have an heir,’ Henry went on. ‘Of course, my own wife is slow in that regard, despite strenuous efforts on my behalf, and I can hardly compel you to do what I cannot achieve myself. However, I would like you to try.’
Again, Geoffrey said nothing, thinking that what he did with Hilde behind closed doors was none of the King’s damned business.
‘Perhaps you should take your wife to Kermerdyn,’ said Henry thoughtfully. ‘She will be pleased to see her sister Isabella again, and I understand she knows how to wield a sword. She might even be useful to you, and you can make the heir along the way.’
‘Sire!’ exclaimed Maurice, glancing uneasily at Geoffrey and obviously worried about a tart response to the order. ‘I hardly think this is a suitable-’
Henry laughed. ‘Geoffrey does not object to me talking to him man to man. He is a soldier, for God’s sake, and I know for a fact that they discuss little else when they are out on campaign.’
‘I will put the matter to Hilde,’ said Geoffrey cautiously.
‘Oh, she will go,’ predicted Henry. ‘Besides, she may be in a position to help me, too. You see, William fitz Baldwin had a secret, and Isabella was one of those who was at his deathbed when he raved about it. She may have an inkling as to what it is. If so, you can find out for me.’
Geoffrey frowned. Now what was he being ordered to do?
Maurice was more forthright. ‘Is that the real reason for you giving Geoffrey these letters, sire?’ he asked uneasily. ‘You want him to investigate another matter entirely?’
Henry raised his hands in a shrug. ‘Well, why not? He will be in the area anyway.’
A messenger arrived with an urgent question from one of the King’s barons at that point, and Henry ordered Geoffrey and Maurice to stand on the far side of the room while the man whispered to him and received his answer. Maurice’s flabby face was unhappy.
‘I do not like this,’ he said. ‘I wondered why you were selected to deliver these messages, and now we know: Henry wants William’s secret.’
‘You mentioned this secret before,’ said Geoffrey. ‘You said William had discovered a way to shower himself with blessings and make himself a better man.’
‘And a richer one. At first, I assumed he was speaking metaphorically, but then it became clear that he had discovered some literal way of earning his good fortune.’
Geoffrey frowned. ‘It sounds like superstition to me.’
‘Perhaps. However, if you do discover some actual, physical thing that turned William into a saint, I strongly recommend you leave it in Kermerdyn.’
Geoffrey regarded him askance. ‘But the King obviously wants it delivered to him.’
‘Do not even think of meddling in such matters, Geoffrey,’ said Maurice sternly, crossing himself. ‘Whether this secret derives from God or from sorcery, you would be well advised to leave it alone. I would not tamper, and I am a bishop.’
‘Not even for Henry?’
Maurice considered. ‘No,’ he said eventually, ‘not even for him. Although he could make life unpleasant for me on Earth, that is nothing compared to the eternity that comes after. So investigate this matter and be ready to give the King an honest report. But if the secret does transpire to be something tangible, leave it where it is.’
‘Very well.’
‘I am serious, Geoffrey. I promised Giffard to keep you safe, and that vow extends to your soul. Do not interfere in matters beyond human understanding.’
‘Come,’ called Henry, beckoning them forward as the messenger bowed his way out. He yawned. ‘Lord, I am weary! Have you two finished pestering me with silly questions?’
‘William fitz Baldwin’s secret,’ said Maurice worriedly. ‘You told Geoffrey to find out what it was, although I fear it may not be one you want to know.’
Henry’s eyes narrowed. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, whatever it was did not protect William, because he died in suspicious circumstances. If my memory serves me correctly, there were rumours that he was poisoned. By rancid butter.’
Geoffrey could tell the information was not news to Henry, although the monarch did his best to feign astonishment.
‘Are you saying one of my constables was murdered?’ he asked. ‘That is a grave crime and one that must be investigated. Take Hilde with you, Geoffrey, and see what can be learned from Isabella about this secret. And if William was murdered, I want you to find the culprit.’
‘But William died seven years ago, sire,’ said Maurice, alarmed on Geoffrey’s behalf. ‘I doubt it will be possible to solve the case after so long.’
Henry smiled coldly. ‘On the contrary, if William was dispatched to gain his secret, it is just a case of seeing who at his deathbed has been showered with blessings ever since. Besides, William really did become a different man after he built Rhydygors, and I want to know why. I cannot have inexplicable events occurring in my kingdom – it may lead to trouble.’
‘Why look into the matter now?’ pressed Maurice. ‘Why not when it happened?’
‘Because I was not king when it happened,’ replied Henry shortly. ‘I have only had my throne three years, and there have been other matters to occupy me – such as quelling rebellions. But now my enemies are crushed, I find myself with more time to explore different matters.’
Except he would not be doing the exploring, thought Geoffrey. He would be lounging in abbots’ halls, eating raisins, while his hapless subjects trudged miles to distant castles to investigate incidents that had occurred far too long ago for any clues to remain.
‘I shall do my best,’ Geoffrey said unhappily, deciding that when he had completed this mission, nothing would keep him in England. Maurice would release him from his vow, and he would travel straight to Tancred.
‘Meanwhile, Maurice can explore Eudo’s death,’ Henry went on. ‘I want the culprit hanged.’
‘ I am not qualified to investigate such matters,’ said Maurice, horrified.
‘Then you will have to learn,’ said Henry shortly. ‘It is good for my bishops to develop a variety of skills. It is a pity Giffard was rebellious, because he would have done it.’
‘Very well,’ said Maurice. ‘Like Geoffrey, I shall do my best.’
‘Have you expunged the evil from my letters?’ asked Henry, nodding that Maurice was still clutching them. ‘Or shall I order a witch summoned to do it?’