‘She was pregnant,’ Sedgwick said.
‘So I was told.’
‘We found her body. Someone had killed her.’ He’d talked with the Constable earlier that morning and they’d decided to use the knowledge and see what it brought. He could see the shock jump into Cates’s eyes and the colour leave his face.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘The girl might have been a slut but no one deserves that. Do you have whoever did it?’
‘Not yet. We think whoever was the father of her child might be responsible.’
‘That makes sense,’ Cates said quietly. ‘It’s terrible that Lucy’s dead, but I don’t see why you need to talk to me. Whatever happened to her was after she left us.’
‘It was,’ the deputy agreed mildly. ‘But I’ve been thinking about time.’
‘Time?’ Cates asked.
‘Consider it,’ Sedgwick told him. ‘She became pregnant while she was in service with you.’ He waited, letting the merchant understand all the implications.
‘What are you saying? You think it could be one of us?’ he blustered. ‘Is that an accusation?’
‘It’s just a thought, sir. From what I hear, you, your brother and your father all take advantage of the servants.’
‘And who told you that?’ Cates asked, anger simmering in his voice and the veins bulging in his thin neck. ‘It’s a lie.’
‘Is it?’ Sedgwick said, watching him carefully. ‘The servant girls are there and available. They’re too scared to refuse any of you. Your brother’s already said he uses them.’
‘Has he?’ Cates said with a dry laugh. ‘I suppose he would, given half the chance. But I won’t have you slander my father that way.’
‘And what about you? How many of the servants have you tupped?’
Cates eyed him with venom. ‘I’d be very careful what you say. You’re nobody, we’re a family with influence in this city. You’d do well to remember that.’
‘I know that,’ the deputy told him with a bland look. ‘So it would seem bad if word spread that all the men in this family of influence were using the serving girls, wouldn’t it? Doesn’t matter how common it is, it wouldn’t seem good as general knowledge. Especially when one of them claims such Christian ways.’ He paused to allow the truth of his words to sink home. ‘Now, shall we start again, Mr Cates? How many of the servants have you tupped?’
Cates stayed silent and Sedgwick knew he’d have his admission soon.
‘A few,’ he admitted finally, his voice low, his eyes avoiding the deputy’s stare.
‘Was Lucy among them?’
‘No,’ Robert Cates answered quickly.
‘You’re sure?’
‘Of course I’m sure,’ the man hissed. His hand gripped the arm of the chair, knuckles white.
‘And why not Lucy, then?’ Sedgwick wondered. ‘Wasn’t she willing?’
‘I didn’t want her.’ Cates glared. ‘With that harelip, no one would have wanted her. It was like a devil’s mark on her. She couldn’t speak properly because of it.’
‘You mean you weren’t tempted to fuck the devil out of her, Mr Cates?’ the deputy asked.
‘No, and you mind what you say.’ He raised his head high. ‘I’d never be tempted by the likes of her.’
‘Seems like someone was.’
‘Well, it wasn’t me,’ he said, his voice hard. He leaned forward, planting his elbows on the desk. ‘Whoever had her must have been a fool or blind drunk.’
‘And what makes you say that?’ the deputy asked with interest.
‘Because she was as ugly as God’s own sin and she was stupid,’ Cates blurted. ‘You’d tell her to do something and she’d just stand there with that twisted smile.’
‘And did you often tell her to do things?’
‘Just to do with her work.’ He could see that Cates was sweating, the sheen thick on his forehead in spite of the window that drew in the cool breeze and noise from the Aire.
‘Someone killed her, Mr Cates,’ Sedgwick told her. ‘And her baby along with her. Why don’t you think about that?’
‘It wasn’t me,’ Cates said again. ‘I never touched the girl. I wouldn’t.’
‘But you’d touch others. And more.’
‘When the temptation’s too much.’ He lowered his head at the admission.
‘And was it with Lucy?’
Cates brought his hand down hard, the slap on the desk filling the room.
‘I told you, I never had her. I didn’t want her. It made me sick just to look at her. The girl was an abomination.’
The man was close to tears, the deputy thought. He believed him, though; Robert Cates was racked with enough guilt to fill the Parish Church by himself. He hadn’t been the one to seed Lucy, although God only knew how many others he had. He stood slowly.
‘I’ll give you a word of advice, Mr Cates. The next time the devil’s on your shoulder, urging you to take one of the serving girls, brush him away. Remember that they might not want it.’
He left Cates staring into space and closed the door quietly.
The walk up Briggate to Town End didn’t take long. Ben Cates had joined so many of the other merchants up there, a little removed from the stench of the city. There were fields close by, the smell of wild flowers mingling sweetly with the scent of money. Somewhere close by, doves were cooing in their cote.
Will Cates wasn’t at home, the servant told him coldly. He was meeting someone at the Talbot. That place again, Sedgwick thought as he retraced his steps. It seemed as if half the bad things in Leeds happened there. If he had his druthers, he’d tear it apart, brick by brick. But no one was going to grant him that wish.
The place was a warren, a cockpit in the back, rooms for whores and private gambling up the stairs. He wasn’t surprised that he couldn’t spot Cates when he entered. He found a place on a bench close to the door, ordered a quart of ale and waited.
Much of the talk had stopped when he came in, and over the next half hour he was gratified to see many of the customers leave. He allowed himself a small smile at ruining trade for a while. One of the few remaining, half hidden in a shadowed corner, was another of the Constable’s men, watching for the thief taker. The deputy didn’t acknowledge him, but stayed alert for a glimpse of Cates.
When the man finally emerged he was adjusting his coat then stooping to wipe some dust off the silver buckle of a shoe. A wig stood slightly askew on his head and he took the time to straighten it. As he walked towards the door Sedgwick stood and said,
‘Mr Cates? I’d like a word with you, if you’d be so good.’
Taken by surprise, Cates raised his eyebrows, scrutinizing at the deputy’s old clothes and wild hair.
‘And who are you? Looking for charity?’
‘I’m the deputy constable of the city, sir,’ Sedgwick replied, emphasizing the title. ‘We can talk here, or we can go to the jail. Or to your house, if you prefer.’ He allowed the threat of the words to hang in the air.
‘I’ve already talked to Rob Lister,’ Will Cates said impatiently. ‘Didn’t he tell you that?’
Sedgwick smiled. ‘Of course, but there are some more questions I need to ask. Where do you want to talk?’
Cates let out a frustrated sigh and sat, snapping his fingers for the potboy to bring ale. Finally, when they were alone, he said,
‘I hope this is important. There are places I need to be.’
‘Just a stop for a doxie on the way?’ the deputy wondered with a smile.
‘None of your business,’ Cates told him.
‘You knew Lucy Wendell, the serving girl at your house?’
‘Bloody Lucy again?’ Cates raised his voice. ‘Haven’t you found the girl yet?’
‘Oh yes, sir, we’ve found her,’ Sedgwick said.
‘Then what’s the problem?’
‘She was dead. Someone had killed her and her baby.’
Just like his brother, the colour vanished from Cates’s face and his hands trembled as he took a drink.
‘And what do you think?’ he asked. ‘That I had something to do with it? Is that it?’
‘Did you?’
‘Of course not. Don’t be so stupid. I told Rob I wouldn’t have fucked her with another man’s pizzle.’