‘Did you want it? Oh, I am sorry. It was only a scrap of mine,’ Despenser said, and now there was a harsher edge to his voice, ‘So, Sir Baldwin. What proof exactly do you have of my crimes? You allege that I had this man Jack working for me — I deny it; you say I had him killed — again, I deny it; you say I had Mabilla killed — that is nonsense; you suggest that I attempted to have my man Ellis killed — and all this without the slightest hint of proof. I am tempted to demand justice from the King for such disgraceful accusations. But no, I can afford to be lenient. You have much to learn about this little isle, Sir Baldwin. It will be a pleasure to witness your education. Do not mind if I leave you now. I do not think that there is any point in continuing this discussion.’
‘I shall carry on to find who …’
‘Yes, yes, yes,’ Despenser said with an elaborate yawn. ‘I am sure that you will, Sir Baldwin. Be careful, though. Such a task could prove to be a heavy cross to bear, eh?’ and he glanced at the sword sheathed at Baldwin’s hip. ‘Do we really wish to rake over old ashes?’
‘Well!’ Coroner John said when Sir Hugh was safely out of earshot. ‘I think, my Lords, that he has you by the short hairs. There’s little enough to be said, I think.’
‘I am sorry,’ Baldwin said. ‘I appear to have wasted your time.’
‘Yes. Well.’ Coroner John paused, shot a look at the Bishop, then held out his hand to Baldwin. ‘Friend. For all the good it will do, I would say that the Despenser was right. You have much to learn about this place. The Palace appears to be built on solid foundations, but in reality its bedrock is politics, and that means lies and deceit. Don’t worry yourself unduly, eh? Ach, what do I know? I’ll take my leave, lordings. My Lord Bishop.’
The Coroner nodded to Simon and Baldwin, made a cursory bow in the direction of the Bishop, and walked from the room.
He had misjudged the two men. They were no more dishonest than he himself. Perhaps less so.
After he left the room there was silence for a while.
‘Baldwin, I am sorry,’ Bishop Stapledon said. ‘Truly. I did not expect to-’
‘My Lord, you knew that piece of paper was the vital link between him and the assassin, yet you kept it back and gave it to him?’
‘I did.’
‘You had sworn to keep it safe for us,’ Simon pointed out, aghast. ‘Why did you give it to him?’
‘Do you think it will be best for our Kingdom to be thrown into disarray just now?’ Bishop Stapledon demanded. ‘Look about you, gentles. Look at the King’s council. Did you see much by way of rational, logical debate? Was there much unanimity? Was there agreement? No! There was a bear-pit of dispute, and then Sir Hugh Despenser was able to close it down and bring matters to a reasonable conclusion. What would that scrap of paper have achieved?’
‘It could have brought a murderer to justice,’ Baldwin said with ponderous emphasis.
‘Do you think that one, or two, or three, or even four murders would justify removing the last baron capable of maintaining the realm? Sir Hugh is unique. He has the King’s ear. With his arguments, we may be able to renegotiate a truce with France. You think we can afford to lose such a man, just now when the whole of the King’s French territories are under threat? You would not destroy Sir Hugh, but you could bring him under such scrutiny that his ability to command men would be restricted, and then where would we be?’
‘My Lord, you justify his murders?’ Simon asked quietly.
‘No. I do not condone murder. But there are times when commanding a kingdom, when a man must look to the necessities of the ruler, not the ruled.’
‘I will have no part of it!’ Baldwin spat. He turned on his heel.
‘Sir Baldwin,’ the Bishop called. ‘I do not expect you to understand me in this matter. But do not condemn too swiftly. Your anger may be misdirected.’
‘Misdirected,’ Baldwin fumed ‘My arse!’
Simon glanced up and down the corridor. ‘Old friend, I think it would be best were we to leave this place as soon as we may.’
‘I agree. There is nothing for us here. All here are shallow and dishonourable. My God — I despair of this. That the Bishop himself could suggest that I might condemn too swiftly! Dear God in heaven, what must a man like Despenser do to be found deserving of punishment? He is safe from accusations of murder, so how may a man find justice?’
‘I don’t know. It was an odd thing, though.’
‘What?’
‘The way the Bishop said that — about not condemning too swiftly. Did you hear his words? That “when commanding a kingdom, a man must look to the necessities of the ruler” — could he think that the King was responsible?’
Baldwin looked at him and there was some wildness in his eyes. ‘You think that the Bishop considers Despenser a gentle, kindly fellow? Simon, we have merely seen a glimpse today of the Bishop’s own heart. He would prefer stable government to honesty! A man must not rock the balance of power in the state in case it topples. I suppose that was what he meant. But for my part, I would see Despenser accused, gaoled and hanged if there was even a remote scrap of evidence.’
‘But there cannot be,’ Simon said. ‘You cannot find a man who would have seen Despenser walking the passages during the night, because you know that the killer was the man Despenser himself hired. And the other, the man who killed Mabilla, was built in a more scrawny manner than a knight, if that woman Joan is to be believed. It was probably some fellow discovered in the streets, like the lone bowman sent to kill Ellis.’
‘Sir Baldwin, Master Bailiff,’ the Coroner called breathlessly. He had been trying to keep up with them since seeing them leave the chamber, but their anger had made their steps fly over the ground.
‘Sir John,’ Baldwin said coolly. ‘How may we serve you?’
‘I think it is unlikely we can do much, except I was not sure whether I hold any information which could be of use to you.’
‘You did not mention it in there,’ Simon said curtly.
‘Aye, well, a man may love truth and honour, and yet choose to keep from accusing a man like Sir Hugh,’ Sir John said with a twisted grin.
‘You didn’t trust us?’
‘No, not at first. I do now, though, seeing how you tweaked the tail of Despenser. No, I was just unsure whether you had spoken to Arch.’
‘Yes. And got little of any use from him,’ Simon admitted.
‘Did he tell you about the moon’s halo?’
Simon and Baldwin exchanged a blank look.
‘I checked with the men. He asserted that he saw a moon with a halo. All others said that the night was black and there was no moon until the middle watches. I asked that guard to the Queen’s door, and he said that it was only then that the moon rose, and it did have a halo, just as Arch stated. So he wasn’t lying. He was awake through to the middle of the night. Arch even recalled the guard walking the circuit.’
‘I do not see how that helps us, my friend,’ Baldwin said after a moment’s consideration. ‘It means we know the assassin must have arrived late into the night, I suppose, but that is all.’
‘Why did the guard walk about?’ Simon wondered.
‘Hmm?’
‘Surely all the guards should have kept to their posts, not wandered about like lovers under the stars?’
‘Arch said that the Queen’s guard was checking because there were rumours of danger,’ John shrugged. He left them shortly afterwards, declaring a desire for ale.
Baldwin stood watching him with a frown of concentration marring his features. ‘Eleanor was certain that it must be Pilk or Ellis — but either of those two she would have recognised, surely.’
‘Yes,’ Simon said, frowning. ‘Although in the dark …’
‘We both know that they were all accustomed to candlelight. No, I believe that if it were either of those two, Eleanor and Alicia at least would have recognised him and told us.’
Alicia, Simon thought. ‘Alicia never gave us a description of the man, did she? It was only Cecily and Joan and their lady. The Queen and Alicia did not.’