‘Do you care nothing for the dead man?’
‘Perhaps if you told me who it was, I’d be able to say. If at the same time you were prepared to release me, I might feel disposed to discuss my feelings with you.’
‘The miller: Serlo from Cardinham.’
‘In truth?’ John asked. ‘A shame, I suppose. Although he wasn’t the sort of man to be missed by many.’
‘You seem callous, priest,’ said the second knight.
‘Should I pretend affection? He wasn’t from my flock and I won’t miss him.’
‘You should be more helpful,’ Roger grated. ‘My master here is a Coroner. We could insist you answer our questions on oath.’
‘I am a priest. I don’t have to respond, even to a Coroner.’
‘We have heard already that you are a supporter of Lancaster. How would it be if we were to spread news of your loyalty?’
John gave him a hard stare. ‘It wouldn’t change my attitude to my flock, clerk. I’m not the sort of man to be scared by threats like that and I am surprised that you should suggest I could be.’
Baldwin released him and John motioned to the trough. ‘May I sit again?’
‘If you wish,’ Baldwin said, but there was a half-grin on his face, acknowledging that there was little point in attempting to scare this man. Father John would be resistant to all threats … and yet there was something in his eyes that looked very much like fear. Baldwin studied him more closely. Many a man who was unused to killing would drown the memory in wine or ale, as he knew; some would get themselves drunk in order to steel themselves to the task of murder. ‘Did you see Serlo yesterday?’ he asked.
‘No. I was up here all day,’ John said with a twist of his mouth as he burped uneasily. ‘And all night.’
‘You were upset?’
‘I was lonely,’ John said with perfect honesty. ‘I often am.’
Simon stepped forward. ‘I am Simon Puttock, Father. We have heard that a girl, Julia, who is living with the priest in Cardinham, came from here.’
‘If by that you mean to ask, was it I who put her in pup, the answer’s no,’ John said testily. ‘Nor was it Father Adam. Another man did that to her — or with her, I suppose,’ he corrected himself. ‘I don’t think there was any coercion involved. Just subtle words and a certain kindness to a young and impressionable woman.’
‘Perhaps the promise of a marriage?’ Simon asked. ‘It’s what all too often happens, and then the man bolts like a cat with his tail on fire when he realises she’s with child.’
‘Perhaps.’
‘You can’t tell us?’
John looked up at Simon. ‘Perhaps I could, but I don’t betray the confessions of my flock to men who barge into my house, no matter how wellborn they may be.’
‘What do you fear?’ Baldwin asked.
‘I fear giving away information that could cause trouble for others. It is not my place to cause other folk problems,’ he said coolly.
‘Very well,’ Baldwin said. ‘Perhaps you can answer some other questions, though. We have heard of a woman, Matefrid, who is dead. Her son died in the machinery of Serlo’s mill. Do you know of him and her?’
‘Danny and Matty?’ John recalled with a smile. ‘Lovely folk. Good-looking, too. It was a great shame. Horrible death, and made worse by the way that Serlo ranted afterwards, claiming that the boy was no more than a cretin. It didn’t endear him to many people. Mind, it was an appalling fine that the Coroner imposed upon him.’
Jules glanced at Baldwin in response to his enquiring look. ‘Before my time,’ he said.
Simon had heard something in John’s voice. ‘You say Serlo ranted afterwards, but you don’t seem to condemn him.’
John shrugged. ‘I’m the youngest of five brothers. The oldest has the manor, the second and third died, the fourth was born a fool, and I was told I had this vocation. I always looked up to my older brother and in return he defended me from all my foes. I think Serlo was the same as me in many ways; the only difference was, I grew independent, but Serlo was always in his brother’s shadow. Was he an evil man? I knew Danny while he worked for Serlo, and he never complained. If anything, Serlo was kind towards him, but that doesn’t mean he knows how to describe his feelings. He was out of his depth when Danny died, and he presented himself as a tough man of business. It was all he knew.’
‘Who was Dan’s father?’
‘What is it with you and paternity?’ John demanded. ‘Do you mean to accuse me of fathering all the bastards in Cardinham and Temple? Anyway, I don’t know. There were rumours, though.’
Simon snorted. ‘We’ve heard some. A man from the castle.’
‘So I believe.’
‘Our interest lies in the other women here: Athelina was supported by a lover, as was Julia, whom you threw from the parish, and also Matty.’
‘No one threw Julia from here, she was offered an opportunity to go nearer to her lover and took it.’ He was still a moment, then added, ‘I heard her say once that her lover was Athelina’s too, but that he stopped supporting Athelina when he fathered Julia’s child.’
‘That would explain why Athelina found money coming scarce,’ Simon noted.
‘And why she started going to the castle to demand more,’ Baldwin agreed.
‘And possibly why she was killed,’ Jules concluded. ‘Come! Let’s return and see if we may learn who this man was.’
Roger and Sir Jules spun on their heels and left.
‘What’s their hurry?’ John muttered.
‘The good Coroner needs to return to Bodmin,’ Baldwin explained. ‘It’s this escape. He wants to be back with the Hue and Cry.’
‘What escape?’
‘Lord Mortimer has escaped from the Tower of London,’ Baldwin told him, but then he murmured, ‘Friend, what scared you so last night?’
John paled. ‘Why should anyone have scared me?’
‘You drank to excess like a man who was living in terror.’
‘You imagine it.’
‘Could Dan’s father be alive still? Might he wish to punish Serlo for Dan’s death?’ Simon asked.
‘I suppose it’s possible — but who can tell?’
‘You know of no surviving members of the boy’s family? No uncle or brother who could desire revenge?’
‘What do you ask all this for?’ John said as the acid bubbled into his throat again. He swallowed hard. ‘The man’s dead — isn’t that enough?’
‘No. He was killed and then thrown into his machine, like the apprentice Danny,’ Baldwin said. ‘Had you heard about Athelina?’
‘I’d heard she was dead.’
‘Murdered as well. Perhaps these murders are connected?’
John stared out over the valley to the south. ‘The man was never here, but he confessed to another cleric. I can’t betray that confession. Matty was a good girl, but trusting. I suppose Julia is a little like that; Athelina as well. All fell for kind words and hints of possible marriage. All were used as wives for as long as it suited their lover.’
‘Matefrid remained here,’ Simon noted, ‘but Julia left. Why was that?’
‘Matty wanted to stay and raise her child. Julia was still seeing her lover, and it was more convenient for her to be nearer the castle. There is one thing, though …’
‘What?’ Simon asked.
‘I heard that Julia has been abandoned by him too. She may be willing to help you, if she wants revenge on the man. After all, when he dropped Athelina like a hot stone, she became vindictive about his promised money — and who can say but that Julia won’t feel the same?’
On the journey back to the castle, the men were quiet, mulling over John’s words. As the priest had suggested, they must speak to Julia and see whether she would tell them who her lover had been. He could be the key to the deaths; indeed, he might be the murderer of Athelina and her children.
Clattering up the path to the castle itself, Simon sat more upright in his saddle. If this matter could be resolved speedily, the Coroner would conclude his inquests, and they could all go home. Back at last to Simon’s family, he told himself, and in his mind’s eye he saw a delightful picture of his wife.