‘Then take me to him now. I have done nothing.’
‘I don’t know if I believe you.’
Thomas shook his head. ‘I don’t know what you are talking about.’
‘Open his bags,’ Despenser commanded.
Thomas watched silently, keeping absolutely still as the knife under his jaw pressed upwards. He was sure he could feel the dribble of blood at the tip as the second man with Despenser took his dagger to the roll of blankets. He cut through the hempen string binding them, and unrolled them. There was nothing inside, but the man was nothing if not thorough. He ran his blade along the blankets until there was nothing but a shredded mess. Nothing useable.
The pack was a simple canvas one with a single strap. He took his knife to this too, opening the material and laying the lining bare. All the items inside were taken out and studied, before being crushed or ruined. There was nothing inside of real value, for Thomas had never owned anything of genuine worth, but the sight of the man merely ravaging his property for no reason was enough to set Thomas’s blood racing.
‘Not here, then, eh? We’ll find it,’ Despenser said coolly. ‘And when we do, I’ll take you to the King myself for judgement. You’d best be ready for that.’
‘I do not have it.’
‘What made you kill Richard? Eh? What had he done to you to deserve such ill-use? Or the monk, come to that? And after the poor devil had brought you the oil in the first place. It doesn’t seem very kindly to accept his aid, and then cut his throat.’
Suddenly there was a shout, and Thomas felt the man behind him slowly release his hold, the knife blade running slowly to the line of his jaw-bone, then backwards to beneath his ear, where it remained a short while. Then it was gone. Meanwhile Despenser and his other man had retreated, and now were out of sight.
He was alone again. Gradually he sank to his knees, then fell forwards to all fours, choking and retching with shame and rage, as another man hurried to him.
‘Are you all right?’ Jack demanded.
Thomas was so relieved, he could not speak, but instead closed his eyes and allowed his head to droop.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Lydford
‘Baldwin! Baldwin, stop, please,’ Margaret called, running from the house to him. He was already astride his horse, his wife nearby; Edgar tightening the saddle a short distance away, while Wolf capered with one of Simon’s hounds on the grass beside the road.
‘Baldwin, don’t, please. There’s no need for you to do anything which might lead to more danger for you!’
‘Margaret, do not worry about me, my dear. I am perfectly content that I am doing the correct thing.’
‘You cannot go alone,’ Margaret said.
Jeanne had heard their words, but was unsure of their import. ‘What is this? Baldwin, tell me what is happening? Why do you want to leave so soon?’
‘He has decided that he will go to the Despenser and fight him!’ Margaret said.
‘No, I have not,’ Baldwin said reasonably. ‘I have decided I need to return to speak with him, though, to try to ensure that there is no further risk to Simon and Margaret from his men. There is no point in his attacking people who have nothing whatever to do with his affairs. If that itself will not work, I shall petition the King himself.’
‘When you say there’s no point in his attacking someone, you mean yourself?’
‘Jeanne, I have not picked a fight with the man. Not intentionally, at least. Yet he now appears to blame me for something which he is solely responsible for. If he proposed to hound us to death, I may as well ask why. And if I can deflect a little of his ire from Simon and Margaret, that is worth attempting.’
‘You are going again, then? How long will you be gone this time?’
‘In honesty, I do not know. All I can say is, I shall be home again as soon as I may be,’ Baldwin said.
‘Husband, I ask you not to go,’ Jeanne said. Her face was pale, and she leaned towards him beseechingly. ‘Please, Baldwin, don’t do this. I have already missed you so much this year, and I do not want to have to live as your widow yet.’
‘I will not be gone for too long. Hopefully only a week or so,’ Baldwin said. ‘Now, Margaret, do not fret, and don’t think of moving from here yet. Leave it to me, and I shall let you know the best thing to do.’
‘But I have already decided to leave Lydford and return to Sandford. It is more sensible. It is safer there, and nearer to you.’
‘That itself does make sense,’ Baldwin muttered.
Another horse clattered over the cobbles, and Simon crossed to Baldwin’s side. ‘I can’t leave you to go alone, Baldwin.’
‘In heaven’s name,’ Baldwin cried. ‘Is there anybody else? Do you want to bring your chickens, too?’
‘You are both determined?’ Jeanne said, looking from one to the other. ‘Is there nothing that your wives can say to you both that would cause you to reconsider? Not our sorrow, nor our fears? How safe will Margaret be here if you go away, Simon? How safe will I be, if Baldwin’s gone from his home?’
That was also in Baldwin’s mind. He sat on his horse a moment, considering. ‘Simon, could you have Hugh travel? Good. Then let him accompany Margaret and Jeanne along with Edgar. Your Peterkin will go with them, as well as any valuables, and Edgar will deposit them at my house. They will be safe enough at Furnshill, won’t they, Edgar?’
‘Aye. Especially if I can recruit a couple of men from the vill.’
‘Then it is settled. Margaret, you are to bring your boy to Furnshill, where you will have a peaceful time. Meanwhile, I should install someone else here in your house, someone who can defend it,’ Baldwin continued.
Simon grinned. ‘There is another bailiff from the moors who’d like the chance to live here: Ham Upcott. I’ll ask him to come. He’d enjoy beating up a king’s officer or a man from Despenser.’
‘Make sure he realises the sort of men we’re talking of, Simon,’ Baldwin warned. ‘These are harder men than many about here.’
‘Christ’s cods — do you really think so?’ Simon asked. ‘You’ve forgotten what sort of men they are who mine for tin on the moors. I’d have more sympathy for the next poor fool Despenser sends down here, than for a moorland bailiff.’
Vigil of Ascension Day30
Guildford
Jack’s worst fears were not realised.
To his amazement, the men who were with the King were so efficient and organised that every day, the majority of the men set off before dawn, and the next lodgings were always ready before they stopped travelling. This meant that they were outpacing Jack and the Bishop’s journey from Canterbury to Beaulieu, which was only helped by the fact that the roads were much better here. The King was often about this part of his realm, Jack assumed, and the Keepers of the King’s Peace maintained the roads and verges with more care than elsewhere in the country.
‘Are you all right?’
Thomas was at his side, riding along with a fixed expression of distaste on his face every time he caught sight of the Despenser or his men. ‘I am fine.’
It was fortunate that Jack had possessed two blankets, for having seen what Despenser had done to Thomas’s own, he was able to share one of his. It did mean he grew a little chilly on some of the evenings, but for the most part he was fine, and it was good to feel that he had performed an act of kindness. A strange feeling, but curiously warming to the soul. ‘You should try not to keep staring at him.’
‘Despenser? Why not? He ravaged my belongings, accused me of murder, suggested I stole the King’s possessions, and you think I should forgive and forget?’
‘Neither. But I do recommend that you leave him alone. He’s too powerful, too rich, for you to think of hurting him.’