‘I suppose he offered you a better rate than the other moneylenders,’ surmised Bartholomew. ‘But you have since discovered that his interest accumulates faster than you can pay it off?’
Tesdale looked defeated. ‘Wynewyk knew I was in trouble, which is why he got me the work at King’s Hall. It was dismal pay, but enough to keep Gosse happy.’
‘Go to sleep,’ said Bartholomew. ‘I will try to think of a way to extricate you from this mess.’
‘Thank you,’ said Tesdale, although he did not look very relieved, and Bartholomew supposed he thought Gosse was more than a match for a mere physician.
Chapter 10
Dawn came early, with streaks of pale blue sky showing through the clouds. Bartholomew woke determined to leave Haverhill immediately, but Tesdale proved difficult to prise out of bed. Cynric was about to resort to a jug of cold water when Luneday arrived. The Withersfield man grinned as he announced that Elyan and d’Audley had both agreed to his proposal concerning the disputed manor.
‘Oh, good,’ said Michael without enthusiasm. ‘We are leaving today, so we shall warn … tell Langelee to expect you.’
Luneday’s expression became sombre. ‘I would not recommend that, Brother. Robbers struck again last night – either the ones who attacked you or others – and they killed a man. You should not travel in such a small party while they are at large. Wait until tomorrow, and come with us.’
‘We cannot,’ objected Michael. ‘Important business clamours for our attention in Cambridge. Besides, an important debate is scheduled for the day after tomorrow, and I cannot miss it.’
‘Well, it is your decision,’ said Luneday with a shrug, ‘but I would not want to meet these thieves with only three students for protection. Bartholomew and his servant may be able warriors, but what good will they be, once they have been dispatched with arrows?’
‘Was he threatening us?’ asked Michael uncomfortably, when Luneday had gone. ‘Because he does not want us to arrive first and inform Langelee that Michaelhouse is owed a herd of pigs?’
‘I am not sure,’ replied Bartholomew, unsettled. ‘But perhaps we should wait until tomorrow.’
‘I thought you were even more keen to leave than I am,’ said Michael, turning to stare at him in astonishment. ‘But now you advise kicking our heels in this miserable hole for another day?’
‘I am keen to leave, but we were almost killed yesterday. We may not be so lucky next time, and I do not want Cynric or the students hurt, just because we want to go home. I think we should wait.’
While they spoke, Michael had been rifling through the blankets they had folded and piled at the end of the bed. ‘I cannot find my cloak. Did I leave it at Elyan Manor?’
‘You did not wear it there – you said you did not need it when we went out, then complained about being cold all the way home.’
Michael’s expression hardened. ‘Of course I complained about being cold – I was being forced to wallow in icy water. Still, at least I had the foresight to bring a change of clothes, unlike some I could mention. I did not bring a spare cloak, though, so you had better help me find it.’
But a search revealed that the garment was not in the bedchamber, and the landlord informed the monk that if it had been left in the tavern at some point, then it would be long gone. It was a fine item of clothing, he said, and it was not surprising someone had taken a fancy to it.
Michael exaggerated a shiver as they stood in the marketplace. It promised to be warm that morning, and it was only later in the day that there was predicted to be a drop in temperature. ‘We do not need to worry about being shot at – I shall freeze to death first.’
‘There is Lady Agnys,’ said Bartholomew, nodding to where the old woman was struggling to dismount her horse. ‘Ask to borrow one of hers – she is large and favours sober colours.’
Michael shot him a nasty look, then grumbled at Agnys about the theft before she could say so much as good morning. She listened patiently.
‘You and I had better ride to Clare this morning,’ she said, as soon as she could insert a few words into the angry tirade, ‘and beg one from the Austin friars. We cannot have you catching a chill.’
‘If it is not safe to go to Cambridge, then it is not safe to go to Clare, either,’ said Bartholomew, when he saw the monk seriously considering the offer.
‘We shall take guards,’ replied Agnys smoothly. ‘And there is another reason for visiting the priory. I promised you information about your mysteries, and I have managed to find you some at last. An informant tells me that Carbo stayed with the Austins around the time when his mother died. Perhaps they can tell you what made him lose his mind.’
‘This is too good an opportunity to miss, Matt,’ said Michael in a low voice. ‘We are sadly lacking in intelligence about Carbo, and I would like to help Shropham. We shall be safe enough with her guards, and Clare is only a fraction of Cambridge’s distance.’
‘A very big fraction,’ Bartholomew pointed out unhappily. But he could see the monk’s mind was made up. ‘I will fetch the horses.’
‘Actually, I have a different task for you, Doctor,’ said Agnys, putting out her hand to stop him. ‘D’Audley has changed his mind about going to Cambridge. He sincerely believes that Luneday killed Neubold, and claims he is too frightened to be in his company. You must persuade him that even the most brazen of murderers is not going to attack him in front of such a large deputation.’
‘Why would he listen to me?’ asked Bartholomew, not liking the notion that Michael was about to be whisked away without his protection – especially with Agnys, about whom his feelings were ambiguous. On the one hand, he liked her well enough to confide his feelings about Matilde, but on the other, he was unsure of her role in their various investigations.
‘He is more likely to heed you than Brother Michael, whom he considers a bully,’ replied Agnys baldly. ‘If he refuses to come, no agreement will be reached, and we will be fighting each other and King’s Hall for years. This is our one chance for a peaceful solution. Please help us.’
‘Very well,’ said Bartholomew reluctantly, feeling he had been skilfully manipulated. Why was Agnys so keen to get Michael alone? And surely d’Audley would not have the courage to refuse a direct order from her, so why did she not persuade him to go to Cambridge?
‘Thank you,’ said Agnys, smiling. ‘And when you have done that, you can speak to Hilton about Joan. He said something last night that made me wonder whether he knows some secret about her death. I would ask him myself, but I suspect he will be more open with another man. He is always uneasy in my company – I frighten him, although I cannot imagine why. Hey, you! Come here!’
The last words were delivered in a bellow that brought the entire marketplace to a standstill, and several men raced towards her, not sure whether the remark had been directed at them but unwilling to run the risk of ignoring a summons. She selected three of the sturdiest and ordered them to lift her on to her horse. When she was up, she picked another half-dozen, and set off with Michael riding at her side. The ‘guards’ trotted behind them, delighted to be paid for a jaunt in the country, although Bartholomew wondered whether they would be quite so thrilled if they knew killers were at large.
‘No,’ said d’Audley firmly, when the physician had tracked him down and explained what he had been ordered to do. ‘Luneday knows it was me who told you about our arrangements with Wynewyk, and he will kill me if I set off on an open road with him. He murdered Joan and Neubold, so he is getting a taste for dispatching those he thinks are in his way.’