Sir Matthew groaned inwardly to see Sir Baldwin and that bailiff marching in. ‘Yes?’ he asked curtly. ‘I am busy.’
‘Yes. So am I. I would like to speak to you in private for a little,’ Baldwin said tersely.
‘I am listening.’
Baldwin smiled, but then turned to Alice. ‘My lady, if you could leave us a little while.’
She shot a look at her husband. He was fuming, she saw, but there was no point in causing an argument here in the hall. ‘Don’tworry, husband. I have affairs too. Perhaps almost as urgent!’
Her barb had struck, she saw. The keeper and this bailiff both looked a little ashamed to have been so rude. It was all youcould expect from an uncouth rural knight, she reflected as she left the room. Manners and chivalry came from exposure to Court and the fashions that pertained there. Sir Baldwin was too coarse to have spent time with ladies in a court.
With that happy thought, she left the hall and went about her business.
‘Well? You have insulted my wife. I hope you have good reason.’
‘My problem is whether I ought to arrest you myself, or merely tell the bishop about you and leave all to him,’ Baldwin said.
Sir Matthew leaned forward. ‘I could have you arrested for that. It is a gross slander to say that I deserve arrest! I could call my guard now and have you both taken from hereand …’
‘Call him in by all means,’ Baldwin said, baring his teeth. ‘But as soon as you do, this affair becomes publicly aired. Doyou want your guards to know what you have been up to?’
‘I have only ever done my duty. I think you should go now!’
Simon, watching from beside Baldwin, was taken by his demeanour. There was much bluster about him, but it was evident thathe spoke more quietly, and that he did not call his guards into the room.
Baldwin nodded as though he was in accord with Simon. He walked to a stool and sat comfortably. ‘Naturally some of this isconjecture — I do not know all the details — but I think I have put together the bulk of the story.
‘This all began some while ago, didn’t it? I do not know when you first became disillusioned with the government of the Despensersand the king, but you and others felt that you ought to hasten the end of a system that had done so much damage to the nation. Your friends found out about a necromancer of power, and they instructed him in what to do. He had to kill seven people. Theking, the two Despensers, father and son, and several others from the nearby convent.
‘When the attempt failed, because one man grew anxious and blurted the truth to his sheriff, he could hardly have known thatthe sheriff himself was in agreement with the band of conspirators.
‘They were all arrested, and then, soon afterwards, released. Except for two. One of these was the necromancer himself, of course. The other was the man who warned of the attempt. How close am I so far?’
‘Please continue. The story is fascinating.’
‘John of Nottingham somehow managed to escape from the gaol. Yet — and this is the curious part — the gaol at Warwick is allbut impregnable. I know it well enough. Be that as it may, John of Nottingham came here. And as soon as he arrived, he wasable to find a man who could give him rooms. Not only that, but in the same house was a man who had the tools necessary fora necromancer to perform his trade. That was most fortunate. What was more, he was introduced to a man who would be happyto help him kill even a king’s messenger, if ordered.’
‘And I suppose you think all this was my plan?’ the sheriff asked. He had paled, and his hand gripped the armrest of his chair.
‘Not all, no. But much of it. You wanted the assassination to succeed, didn’t you?’
‘I have come to this position because of the goodwill and support of my Lord Despenser. What would I want him harmed for?’
‘There are many who fear him. Any man who can accumulate so much power in so short a space of time is to be feared.’
‘So what exactly are you accusing me of? Trying to kill the king and his adviser? The man who had me placed in post?’
‘Someone had to tell Will that his family had been killed by Walter. Who was it told him that? You don’t want to say? Thenlet me guess. Perhaps it was Michael. I have a feeling that Michael is quite deeply involved in all this.’
‘Why?’
‘We have heard that he is here with you, Sheriff. Where exactly?’
‘He is resting. I would prefer you didn’t disturb him.’
‘Why is he here?’
‘I took pity upon him. Is that a surprise? He had his fingers cut off by that lunatic!’
‘You mean the king’s man? The man who was trying to catch the necromancer who was determined to kill your king?’
The sheriff nodded. ‘So you condone torturing the innocent? Interesting.’
Simon reached forward and placed a hand upon Baldwin’s shoulder. He could feel his friend’s muscles writhing with eagernessto strike the sheriff, but then they became rigid. After witnessing the destruction of his order, Baldwin had a deep hatredof any forms of torture or injustice.
‘How well do you know the Sheriff of Warwick?’ Baldwin asked.
‘This is all most interesting, Keeper, but I have matters of real importance to occupy me. I think our meeting is at an end.’
Baldwin stood. ‘Then I shall leave you, Sheriff. But be aware that I will investigate any fresh murders with vigour. Especiallyif I hear of any harm coming to Will Skinner or to … Robinet. I feel sure I have an interesting story to tell my Lord Despenser. And the king, of course.’
Chapter Forty-Six
Exeter Castle
While they were talking, Alice walked out in the court. She had no friendly maid now, but she was content with her own thoughts. Apart from anything else, there was no confidante whom she could trust with news of her brother.
She had not seen him since Jen’s slaughter of poor Sarra. He had appeared as though from nowhere that day, but then he hadslipped away as she was taken up to Langatre’s house.
It was probably for the best. Sarra had been able to take him food and drink on occasion, and she said that he had been verygrateful, but since her death there was no one whom Alice could trust. Perhaps, though, it was better this way. She couldnot keep on following him, hoping against hope that she might see him in town. Better that they should keep apart, and preventany additional risk to her husband. She had done enough to worry him already, poor Matthew.
But she would like to see her brother once more. Just to talk. She missed him.
Outside, Baldwin was about to cross the court when he saw Lady Alice with a maidservant. He licked his lips, hesitated, andthen crossed to her. ‘Lady, I am sorry for my rudeness just now. There were matters which had to be discussed.’
She did not pretend that she liked him. ‘Sir Baldwin, you bullied me at Master Langatre’s house, and now you have insulted meagain. I have enough to worry about, after my maid tried to kill me, without worrying about you.’
‘You are quite right. I am deeply sorry, my lady, and only hope that next time we meet, we shall do so in happier circumstances.’
‘So do I.’
She watched him turn and walk from the place. All she felt, though, was an overwhelming relief that Baldwin and the bailiffhad not realised that her brother was in the city. He — and she — were safe for now. Only her husband knew of Maurice, andhe would not do anything to harm her brother while he remained in the city.
Sir Matthew had actually seemed quite relieved to hear that the strange person whom she was seeing was only a traitor andoutlaw, and not a lover.
Thursday, Vigil of the Feast of St Andrew10
Polsloe Priory
Jen felt the shackles slip off her wrists and stood a moment rubbing her chafed skin. The sun was a thin, weakly reminderof summer, and in her thin tunic and worn cloak she was frozen.