“You… Hugh!” he exclaimed. “You are not dead? And Kate? Is she… I was told…”
“Dead? Nay. I am well, as is Kate. Why would you think otherwise?”
“I was told so but this morn.”
“You were told falsely, but an attempt was made two nights past to murder us in our beds. I would hear more of this.”
I dismounted so I could speak more readily to my father-in-law, and asked what he had been told, and when, and who it was who brought him the news.
“This morn,” he began, “I had just raised the shutters and opened the shop when a young gentleman entered my door. I thought he sought parchment or ink. He was no scholar, but wore the garb of a wealthy young burgher or knight.
“I bid him good day, and he replied that it was indeed, for some, but not for me. His words were a mystery to me. I asked, ‘How so, good sir?’
“‘You have a daughter, wed to the bailiff of Bampton Manor?’ he said. ‘Is this not so?’
“‘It is,’ I answered.
“‘Word has come this day that your daughter and her husband have perished. Their house burned night before last, and none escaped the flames.’
“I asked the fellow how he knew this. He said ’twas spoken of by many.”
“Did the gentleman visit your shop to make a purchase, or was it only to give you this sad account?”
“He made no purchase… turned and was gone after he made his report.”
“Do you know the fellow? Have you served him before?”
“Seen him about Oxford. Think he may have done business with me, but ’twas a long time past. What of Galen House? Did it burn, as the man said?”
“It did, and whoso set it afire thinks Kate and me dead in the ashes and ready for a place in the churchyard.”
“Set it afire? But… why would a man do such a thing?”
“Come, ride behind me. You have walked far and fast, and Bruce is a sturdy animal. We will speak more of this while we travel to Bampton. You will see Kate well enough, and in six months’ time she will make of you a grandfather.”
Caxton’s somber expression was gladdened at this report. I mounted Bruce and gave a hand to my father-in-law to assist him up behind me.
“I did not wish Kate to go to the churchyard without me there to mourn her,” he said, “or if she and you were already in the ground I thought to pay the vicar to pray for your souls.”
“We are both safe,” I said. “I moved Kate and our goods to the castle, because there had already been other attempts to set fire to our house. I thought this would preserve it. Who would destroy it if I no longer lived under its roof?”
“Who indeed?”
“Some man who knew not we had changed our residence,” I replied. “Or someone so filled with malice that he would do me harm in any way he might.”
“Why would a man be so spiteful?”
I explained to Caxton the death of Thomas atte Bridge, and told him of the many folk in Bampton and the Weald he had harmed. Yes, and in Cote, also. I spoke of my belief that the attacks upon Galen House were an attempt to murder me and thus halt inquiry into atte Bridge’s death. I told him that my mind was to travel to Oxford this day and seek Sir Simon Trillowe’s squire, to learn, if I could, had the youth been absent from Oxford two nights past.
By the time Bruce ambled past St Andrew’s Chapel, Robert Caxton knew all. I wonder if he was now less pleased about his daughter’s choice of husband than he once seemed. If so, he spoke no word of it.
Kate was astonished to see her father, and nothing would do but to repeat his tale of the visitor — for customer he was not — who had told Caxton of our deaths. While he enlightened her I considered his account and came to a conclusion regarding the matter. I was very nearly correct.
“The man who burned Galen House is from Oxford,” I said when his report was done. “This is why he did not know we were abed in the castle when he set it alight. He did not desire vengeance, he wished to do murder.”
“And believes he has done so,” Kate added solemnly.
“Indeed.”
“Who is the man?” Caxton asked.
“I believe it must be Geoffrey Homersly. He resides in Oxford, had reason to murder Thomas atte Bridge, and is squire to Sir Simon Trillowe, who has little love for me or Kate.”
“How may this be proven?” Kate asked.
“When I set out for Oxford after dinner it was my thought to find Homersly and observe him as he goes about his day. He will accompany Sir Simon much of the day, but soon or late he will visit a stable where his horse is kept. A silver penny or two may persuade the keeper of the mews to say if Homersly’s horse was absent the night Galen House burned.”
“Perhaps it was this Homersly who visited my shop this morn?”
I thought at the time this was likely so.
“When the fellow told you of Galen House burning, was he pleased or sorrowful?”
“He was not distressed. Now I think back upon it, the report seemed agreeable to him.”
“I will seek Arthur and Uctred and tell them to make ready to leave again for Oxford in the morn. You may sleep in a guest chamber this night. We will sort out this business, and should the youth not wish to admit his felony, Arthur and Uctred are brawny and a scowl from them will persuade him to confess all.”
We broke our fast early next morn with a wheaten loaf, cheese, and ale, and before mid-day passed Osney Abbey and crossed the Thames at the Hythe Bridge. We stabled our horses at the Stag and Hounds. My father-in-law insisted he had room and enough above his shop for us all to sleep.
Arthur knew Sir Simon Trillowe. After a dinner of roasted capon at an inn on the Canditch I sent him and Uctred to prowl the streets and watch for the knight. If they found him they would follow to see where he dwelt, then report to me at the castle.
I set off for the castle. Sir Roger de Elmerugg, newly made Sheriff of Oxford, was a friend of Lord Gilbert and had been of good service in the matter of Master Wyclif’s stolen books.
Chapter 13
The stone-walled passageways of Oxford Castle are familiar to me. I went unhindered to the clerk’s anteroom, where I found several other men waiting also to see Sir Roger. I introduced myself and my office and told the clerk I sought audience with the sheriff upon Lord Gilbert Talbot’s business. Although I, a mere bailiff, did not outrank the prosperous burghers who were before me, Lord Gilbert surely did. I hoped such announcement would gain me quick access to Sir Roger, and I needed but little of his time.
At the mention of Lord Gilbert the clerk, who until that moment seemed unimpressed of my appearance and office, became more alert. When I had done with my appeal he rose from behind his table, cracked open the door behind him, and in a low voice delivered my request.
I heard a chair scrape against the flags of the sheriff’s chamber and a moment later Sir Roger appeared in the narrow opening. His eyes were crinkled in a smile beneath his shaggy brows.
“Master Hugh. Lord Gilbert requires some service? Come in… come in.” He drew the door wide. “How may I serve Lord Gilbert?”
I caught a glimpse of unhappy scowls upon the faces of those who had awaited Sir Roger’s pleasure from before I entered the anteroom. My request would not take long, and when I entered his chamber I saw no other man there. Sir Roger was engaged in some business which prevented him hearing the pleas of his petitioners. It was not my request which restrained him from attending to their needs. I felt less guilty.
“Good to see you again, Master Hugh. Are you well?” Sir Roger clapped a meaty hand across my back as he pointed me to a chair. “Be seated… be seated. Is all well in Bampton? No, of course not. Foolish question. You would not seek me was it so.” The sheriff dropped his brick-like body into another chair, then continued. “How may I serve Lord Gilbert?”
I explained the cause of my visit, relating the death of Thomas atte Bridge, the destruction of Galen House, and my suspicion as to the felon who worked these evil deeds.