Dark Fire

I frowned. 'Corrodies are attached to monasteries, not friaries. What's he really doing here?'

'He mentioned Rich.'

'Yes.' I hesitated. 'Could Cromwell have the clerk questioned?'

'That would be difficult, it would mean Sir Richard Rich would get to hear of it.' Barak ran a hand through his thatch of brown hair. 'I've seen that pinch-faced old arsehole before somewhere.'

'Bealknap? Where?'

'I'll have to think. It was a long time ago, but I swear I know him.'

'We must go,' I said. 'Joseph will be waiting for me.'

I had arranged for Simon to bring Chancery and Sukey down to Westminster so that we could ride back from Westminster to Chancery Lane, and he was waiting by one of the buttresses by the east wall, sitting on Chancery's broad back and swinging his newly shod feet. We mounted, leaving him to walk back at his own pace, and set off.

As we passed Charing Cross, I noticed a well-dressed woman on a fine gelding, her face covered from the sun by a vizard. She was attended by three mounted retainers, with two ladies walking behind carrying posies and looking hot. The woman's horse had stopped to piss and the party was waiting till it had finished. As we passed she turned and stared at me. Her vizard, framed by an expensive hood, was a striped cloth mask with eyeholes and the blank, masked stare was oddly disconcerting. Then she lifted the mask and smiled and I recognized Lady Honor. She looked quite cool, though the mask must have been stifling and women's corsetry is an unkind thing in hot weather. She raised a hand in greeting.

'Master Shardlake! We are met again.'

I reined Chancery in. 'Lady Honor. Another hot day.'

'Is it not?' she replied feelingly. 'I am pleased to have met with you. Will you come and dine with me next Tuesday?'

'I should be delighted,' I said.

I was conscious of Barak at my side, his eyes cast down as befitted a servant.

'The House of Glass in Blue Lion Street, anyone will tell you. Be there at five. It's a sugar banquet only, it won't go on late. There will be interesting company.'

'I shall look forward to it.'

'By the way, I hear you are representing Edwin Wentworth's niece.'

I smiled wryly. 'It seems all London knows, my lady.'

'I've met him at Mercers' Company dinners. Not as clever as he thinks he is, though good at making money.'

'Really?'

She laughed. 'Ah, your face went sharp and lawyerly then, sir. I have piqued your interest.'

'I have the girl's life in my hands, Lady Honor.'

'A responsibility.' She grimaced. 'Well, I must get on, I am visiting my late husband's relatives.'

She lowered her vizard and the party moved off. 'A fine looking piece.' Barak said as we rode on.

'A lady of natural distinction.'

'Bit too pert for me. I like a woman who keeps her place. Rich widows are the devil for pertness.'

'Know many, do you?'

'I might do.'

I laughed. 'She is out of your league, Barak.'

'Out of yours too.'

'I would not be so impertinent as to think otherwise.'

'She'll never fall to beggary.'

'The great families don't have the assured places they once held.'

'Whose fault's that?' he said roundly. 'They fought each other in the wars of York and Lancaster till they near wiped each other out. I say we're better off under new men like the earl.'

'He still likes his earldom, Barak. A coat of arms is everyone's dream. Marchamount has made a joke of himself round Lincoln's Inn trying to persuade the College of Heralds he has people of gentle birth in his background.' A thought struck me. 'I wonder if that's why he is cultivating Lady Honor. Marriage to someone of birth-' At the thought I felt an unexpected pang.

'Got his eye on her?' Barak said. 'That could be interesting.' He shook his head. 'This chasing after status among the high-ups, it makes me laugh.'

'If one aims for gentlemanly status one aims for a higher way of life. Better than a lower.'

'I have my own lineage,' he said with a mocking laugh.

'Ah, yes. Your father's trinket.'

'Ay, though I keep quiet about my blood. They say the Jews were great bloodsuckers and gatherers of gold. And killers of children. Come on,' he said abruptly. 'I've to find this Kytchyn fellow.'

'If you find him, ask him to meet with me tomorrow. At St Bartholomew's.'

Barak turned in the saddle. 'At Barry's? But Sir Richard Rich lives there now. My master wants him kept out of this. And your friend Bealknap mentioning his name worries me.'

'I must see where the stuff was found, Barak.' He raised his eyebrows. 'Very well. But we have to be careful.'

'God's death, d'you think I don't realize that?'

At the bottom of Chancery Lane we parted. As I rode up the lane alone I felt suddenly nervous, remembering how we had been followed yesterday and seeing again those bodies in the Queenhithe house. I was relieved to approach my gate. As I did so I saw Joseph approaching from the other end of the lane. His shoulders were slumped, his face sad and preoccupied, but as he saw me he smiled and raised his hand in greeting. That heartened me; it was the first friendly gesture I had had since the trial.

Chapter Eleven

AS I REINED IN BESIDE HIM I saw that Joseph looked tired and hot. Simon had not yet returned, so I bade Joseph go indoors while I led the horses to the stables.

Returning to the hall, I removed my cap and robe. It was cooler indoors and I stood a moment, savouring the air on my sweat-coated face, then went into the parlour. Joseph had taken a seat in my armchair and he jumped up, embarrassed. I waved a hand.

'Don't worry, Joseph, it's a cursed hot day.' I took a hard chair opposite him. Despite his tiredness I saw there was an excited gleam in his eyes, a new look of hope.

'Sir,' he said, 'I have been successful. My brother will see you.'

'Well done.' I poured us some beer from a pot Joan had left on the table. 'How did you manage it?'

'It wasn't easy. I went to the house; they had to let me in or else cause a scene in front of the servants. I told Edwin you were uncertain of Elizabeth's guilt and wanted to talk to the family before deciding whether you could continue to represent her. Edwin was very hostile at first, angry at my interference. And I'm no good hand at lying; I feared I would become confused.'

I smiled. 'No, Joseph, you are too honest for that trade.'

'I don't like it. But for Lizzy's sake – anyway, my mother persuaded him. That surprised me because she was against the poor girl most of all, though she's her own granddaughter. But Mother said if we could convince you it must have been Elizabeth that killed Ralph, you would leave them alone to grieve. Sir, they'll see us tomorrow morning at ten. They will all be at home then.'

'Good. Well done, Joseph.'

'I fear I let them believe you have doubts about Lizzy's innocence.' He gave me an imploring look. 'But it was not an unchristian thing, was it, to lie for her sake?'

'Often the world does not allow us to be too pure, I fear.'

'God sets us hard dilemmas.' He shook his head sadly.

I looked at the clock on the mantelpiece. I should have to hurry. 'I am sorry, Joseph, but I must leave you again. I have an engagement at Lincoln's Inn. Meet me at the Walbrook conduit tomorrow, just before ten.'

'I will, sir. You are good to give me your time when you are so busy.'

'Have you eaten? Stay here, my housekeeper will fetch you something.'

'Thank you, sir.'

I bowed quickly and left him. I told Joan to fetch him some food, then hurriedly donned my robe again; it had been washed the day before but already had a City stink. I wanted to catch both Marchamount and Bealknap before the dinner. As I hurried out to the street, I thought: poor honest Joseph, if he knew the nightmare tangle of deceptions Cromwell had involved me in he would flee the house. But no, he would not; while I was his only hope of setting Elizabeth free he would stand fast, like a much-battered rock.