Andrew bowed, sat, and waited.
The duke continued, ‘I’ll take no risks with the safety of the city, should the plot thicken in spite of all our efforts. I am therefore in the process of summoning troops from the north. Within the hour Ratcliffe will take the letter and ride directly for York. I shall not be sending you, my friend, since I need you here. Now, tell me of Dorset, of Marrott, and of my Lord Hastings.’
‘Your grace, the plot is as yet contained,’ replied Andrew. ‘Lord Marrott remains in the obscure farmhouse at St Giles, which I described to your grace yesterday. No one of consequence has been seen to leave as of last night, but others come and go throughout all the hours. One of their scouts has been noted speaking with Doctor Argentine, physician to young Edward.’ Andrew paused, but being uninterrupted, continued. ‘The same Doctor Argentine has also been seen speaking at length to one Dominico Mancini, the suspected informer to the French. Lord Hastings has not been observed entering or approaching the house in question, but has sent members of his household, and his associate John Forster has also been seen visiting there, as has Oliver King, his late highness’s secretary.’
‘You have access of some kind to the discussions that take place on the premises?’ demanded the Lord Protector.
Andrew shook his head. ‘They are cautious and I have been unable to infiltrate, nor place my own man inside. But I have already obtained the cooperation of one of the kitchen servants, who is supplying what information he overhears.’ He paused, then said, ‘There is another matter, my lord, which concerns this house and its occupants. My principal assistant is a young woman who is of special interest to me. She has now disappeared. I am reasonably sure she has been abducted, probably on Marrott’s orders, and is quite possibly being held in the same house. Her rescue is of great importance to me. Once I have obtained her release, she will doubtless have a great deal to say of what has taken place in her hearing.’
The duke sat forward at once. ‘I will give you armed men, Cobham. Until the troops come from York, I have few at my disposal, but I have sufficient to storm one house. I will give the relevant orders to arrest Marrott and free your young woman.’
Andrew smiled faintly. ‘I thank you, your grace, but forgive me – at this stage I prefer not to risk an interruption that would surely endanger my assistant further, and send the conspiracy underground with the perpetrators increasingly wary and suspicious. Any new safe house would take much time to discover, if at all, and delays could be disastrous. Above all, Lord Hastings would surely absent himself from such risk, and his involvement could no longer be verified. I understand that proof of his guilt or innocence is your grace’s principal concern, and the only reason you have not yet moved to arrest the other traitors?’
‘I have waited for them to implicate themselves,’ murmured the duke, sitting back again in his chair. ‘But Hastings’ treachery moves me far more. The betrayal of a friend cuts deeper. Yet the urgency is now of another colour, for Hastings knows the situation regarding my nephews’ bastardy, and the lords’ discussion as to the future monarch. So, already he sees his opportunity of becoming the power behind the throne at imminent risk. He must act before the situation becomes official, or not act at all. Rotherham and Morton, whom you inform me are amongst the conspirators, also know that young Edward may no longer claim the crown by right of inheritance, and they will pass this information through to the dowager queen. So, now the conspiracy must surely encompass my death, or fail entirely. Everything will therefore be disclosed to Dorset today and the necessity for haste will increase further.’
‘I therefore have very little time to complete my own plans,’ Mister Cobham nodded.
‘There is something else,’ said the duke. ‘My younger nephew, Richard of York, remains with his mother in sanctuary. She has as yet refused all pleas to reunite him with his brother. While she holds the younger boy hostage, the Woodville conspiracy gains strength. But although it is the queen who controls while Rivers is held in the north, it is Hastings who holds the key to peace. He wields considerable influence on the council, and he has the force and the power to back it. If Hastings can be dissuaded from active participation, I can eliminate this Woodville treachery without bloodshed. But with Hastings committed to taking power for himself, the crisis instantly erupts and a bloodless conclusion becomes impossible. I intend putting a final stop to this insurgence before it escalates and all the country suffers the consequences.’
Mister Cobham bent his head. ‘I am at your service, my lord.’
‘Then know this, Mister Cobham.’ The duke leaned forwards, his voice controlled. ‘The lords, already invited to a coronation that is now cancelled, must instead unite to decide the future of this land. They must gather in a city at peace, and be free to make their decisions without threat or fear. You, sir, must therefore bring me absolute proof either of Hastings’ cooperation, or of his treachery.’
‘It will be done, your grace.’
‘Very well,’ said the duke. ‘And now, Mister Cobham, I shall tell you exactly what we will do next.’
Lord Marrott stood at the door of the tiny chamber. It held only dust, rudimentary furnishings and the woman standing in the shadows. Once the late king’s ageing corpulence had spoiled his looks, Marrott had been considered the most handsome nobleman at court; therefore unaccustomed to being denied, thwarted or insulted. He regarded the woman who had once, for motives he could barely comprehend, chosen the great ugly hulk of Lord Feayton in preference to his own charms. But now everything was lost. He had saved his life by seeking sanctuary, and by escaping sanctuary had regained his freedom. Yet vengeance against those who had ruined him would be hard to claim. Except for the woman now standing before him.
He said, ‘Now for the whore to earn her keep.’
‘I have agreed to cooperate in your cause, my lord.’ Tyballis took two steps back.
Marrott’s rounded cheeks were pink and fresh but his eyes were cold. ‘My cause? Yes, you will aid my cause, trollop, and obey me now or take a thrashing. I’m not sure which I might enjoy most.’ He pushed her hard back against the wall, hoisting up her skirts. One hand forcing between her legs, his other quickly grappled with his codpiece. Tyballis managed one deep breath, and bit Marrott’s ear with all her strength, hanging on until her teeth met.
As Marrott roared and Tyballis tasted his blood, the door was again hurled open and two men rushed into the room. Over his shoulder, her mouth still firmly attached to her attacker’s ear, Tyballis stared in amazement at the two who entered. She recognised them both. One was the new Baron Throckmorton. The other man she knew considerably better but had expected to see even less. Marrott, bewildered and caught between pain, thwarted desire and the inexplicable intruders, whirled around. Tyballis lost her grip and was flung aside.
Throckmorton smiled faintly. ‘My lord, your – you are – undone.’ Marrott cursed, attempting to rehook his dangling codpiece while thrusting his partial nakedness back into its dislodged coverings. Throckmorton continued, ‘Apologies for the interruption, but the usual messenger has come and brings a message of great urgency. Urgency – and disaster, sir. The Marquess awaits you downstairs at once. This house is no longer safe and must be abandoned immediately.’
Tyballis, quickly pulling down her skirts, stared in utter astonishment at the other man who had entered. As their eyes met, his own surprise was as great and he hurried back into the shadowed corridor. Marrott and Throckmorton followed, the door was locked behind them, their impatient footsteps thundered down the stairs, and Tyballis was left standing, as startled as she had ever been.