Heartstone

'Thank you. By the way, I no longer need a clerk but would very much welcome a trusty strong fellow to accompany us on our journey.'

'I have a good man I can let you have. I will send him to your house tomorrow.'

'Thank you.'

'Safe journey,' he said.

I bowed. 'And to you.'

* * *

THAT EVENING I spoke to Guy. I had already told him the outlines of the Curteys case and he knew I might have to go to Hampshire. I had been dubious about asking him to look after both Ellen and Tamasin, but to my relief he seemed pleased to have some responsibilities again. He said he was happy, also, to take charge of the household while I was away. I began to think, he is coming out of his melancholy. I had to tell him of Ellen's outburst, and I warned him not to press her about her past, which he agreed would only do harm just now.

I spent the next day in chambers, placing my papers in order and leaving instructions for Skelly. The last two days had been beautiful; the stormy weather seemed a distant memory. I hoped fervently that the good weather would continue.

I left chambers late in the afternoon. As I walked across Gatehouse Court, I thought again of Dyrick. I did not relish the time I must now spend with him and his strange little clerk. At least Barak would be with me. And I had sworn to myself that I would not involve him in my investigation of Ellen's past.

I was not pleased, on entering the house, to see Coldiron bent at the closed parlour door, obviously listening to a conversation within. He jumped up. 'I thought I saw mouse droppings on the floor,' he said quickly.

'I see nothing,' I answered coldly.

He put his hand to his eyepatch. 'My vision is not what it was, with only one eye.' He smiled obsequiously. Since the letter from Hampton Court his manner towards me had become full of awed respectfulness.

'I am going away tomorrow,' I told him, 'for ten days or so. To the south coast.'

He nodded eagerly, bringing his skinny hands together and performing a half bow. 'Is it royal business, sir? To do with the war, perhaps? Setting those Frenchies to rights?'

'Legal business.'

'Ah, I wish I was still young enough to fight those French gamecocks myself. As I did at Flodden. When I cut the Scotch King down the Earl of Surrey himself praised me—'

'Arrangements will need to be made for while I am away—'

'You can rely on me, sir. I'll keep everyone in order. The tradesmen, the boys, JoJo—'

'I am leaving Dr Malton in charge of the household.'

I enjoyed the sight of his face falling. He said in a whining tone, 'In my last place the steward was in charge when the master went away.'

'When there is a gentleman staying in the house, like Dr Malton, he should be in charge.' Coldiron gave me one of his quick, vicious looks. 'Now, I am hungry,' I said lightly. 'Go and see how supper is progressing.'

I entered the parlour, curious to see what he had been listening to. Guy was sitting at the table with Josephine. She had bared her right arm, showing a blistered red mark running from her hand up her wrist, which Guy was bathing with lavender oil. Its smell filled the room.

'Josephine burned her hand,' Guy said.

She stared at me anxiously. 'I am sorry, sir, only good Dr Malton offered to help—'

'I am glad he did. That burn looks nasty.'

'It is,' Guy said. 'I do not think she should use the hand for a little while. She should put oil on it four times a day.'

'Very good.' I smiled. 'Do light work only till Dr Malton orders otherwise.'

She looked frightened. 'But Father—'

'I will speak to your father. Do not worry.'

Josephine looked between me and Guy. Tears came to her eyes. 'You are so kind, sirs, both of you.' She rose, knocking a stoppered bottle of ointment off the table. Guy caught it deftly and handed it to her. 'Keep this safe,' he said.

'Oh, thank you, sir. I am so clumsy. I am so sorry.' She curtsied, then left the room with her hurried little steps. Guy looked at me seriously.

'That burn is three or four days old. She says her father told her to go on working. She must have been in agony handling things.'

'He is a brute. Guy, are you sure you are willing to have charge of him while I'm away?'

'Yes.' He smiled. 'I think so.'

'Handle him as you think fit. I will arrange for a new steward as soon as I return, then he can go.' I hesitated. 'Though I am concerned for Josephine.'

'She relies on him so utterly.' He looked at me. 'I am not sure she is quite as stupid as she seems. Only used to being afraid.'

I said musingly, 'I wonder if there might be some way of detaching her from Coldiron.'

'You have enough responsibility with Ellen.' He looked at me keenly, then asked quietly, 'What should I say, Matthew, if she tells me she is in love with you?'

I blushed deeply. 'Can you say you do not know the answer?'

'But I do.'

'Then tell her she must talk to me about it.'

He looked at me with his penetrating brown eyes. 'She may decide to do so. What will you do then?'

'Let me see what I can find out in Sussex.'

'I suspect it may be nothing good.'

I was relieved to be interrupted by a loud knocking at the front door. 'Excuse me,' I said.

A young messenger wearing the Queen's badge prominently on his doublet stood in the doorway. Coldiron had let him in and was staring with wide eyes at the badge.

'A message from Master Warner, sir,' the young man said.

I turned to Coldiron. 'The supper,' I said. Reluctantly he returned to the kitchen. The messenger handed me the letter. I read it. 'Damnation,' I breathed.

It was from Warner. He told me he could not after all send the man he had promised; like many of the stout bodyservants at Hampton Court, he had that day been conscripted.

'Is there a reply, sir?' the messenger asked.

'No reply,' I said. I closed the door. It was not like Warner to let me down, but there were even stronger pressures on those working at court than on those outside. I thought, we leave tomorrow morning, it is too late to find anyone else now. I was more thankful than ever that I had not told Barak about what Ellen had blurted out to me about men burning. Now I would have to try to deal with that matter on my own.

Part Two THE JOURNEY

Chapter Twelve

I ROSE SHORTLY after dawn on Wednesday, the first of July. I donned a shirt and light doublet, pulled on my leather riding boots and walked downstairs in the half-light. I remembered how, whenever I had set out on a journey before, Joan would be up no matter how early the hour, bustling around to ensure I had everything I needed.

At the foot of the stairs Coldiron and Josephine stood waiting, my panniers on the floor beside them. There was too much for me to carry alone and I had ordered Coldiron to walk with me to the river stairs, where I was to meet Barak.

Josephine curtsied. 'Good morning, sir,' Coldiron said. 'It looks like a fine day for travelling.' His eyes were hungry with curiosity; he thought I was going on royal business.

'Good morning. And to you, Josephine. Why are you up so early?'

'She can carry one of the panniers,' Coldiron answered. Josephine gave me a nervous smile and held up a small linen bag. 'There's some bread and cheese here, sir, some slices of ham. And a sweet pastry I got at market.'

'Thank you, Josephine.' She blushed and curtsied again.

Outside, it was already warm, the sky cloudless. I walked down a deserted Chancery Lane, Coldiron and Josephine behind me. Fleet Street was silent, all the buildings shuttered, a few beggars asleep in shop doorways. Then my heart quickened at the sight of four blue-robed apprentices leaning against the Temple Bar. They detached themselves and approached with a slow, lounging walk. All wore swords.