He gave a self-satisfied smile, so I forbore to mention that this information tallied with what I had heard the Abbot of Reading tell Bishop Stillington, realizing that it would be impolitic to steal Oswald’s thunder. He was a man with a very high opinion of himself, I could tell. And who could blame him, sated as he was with a lifelong diet of adulation from his sisters and also, nowadays, from his housekeeper? I did, however, contribute the fact that I had seen Sir Richard Grey riding along the Strand in the midst of a great bevy of retainers.
‘Oh, him!’ Oswald dismissed the queen’s younger first-marriage son with a shrug of his shoulders. ‘A troublemaker, that one. Indeed, all the Woodville faction are hell-bent on stirring the pot and making it boil. The lord chamberlain — or should I say the ex-lord chamberlain, for I doubt Hastings will continue in office under the new young king — is desperate for Gloucester’s arrival, even though it’s my impression that the two men have never liked one another above half. But their shared love and grief for Edward should draw them together. At least, that’s my opinion. For what it’s worth,’ he added with a self-conscious laugh as he waited for the expected reassurance.
It came at once and in a chorus.
‘You’re always right, my dear, you know that,’ proclaimed Clemency with a smile.
‘I have never known your judgement to be at fault yet, Oswald,’ Celia confirmed.
‘Master Godslove is a very clever man,’ Arbella Rokeswood said, addressing her words to me but keeping her eyes fixed on him and basking in the warmth of his approval.
I tried to look impressed, but Adela, who knew me better than her cousins, told me later that she knew exactly what I was thinking. (‘You’d do as well to try and keep your features under control, Roger,’ she warned me.)
The children were, by now, growing restless and Clemency, deciding that we had been sitting over our meal long enough, made to rise from the table.
‘One moment,’ I said as she did so. Everyone looked enquiringly in my direction. ‘You’ve mentioned having two stepbrothers. Landlord Makepeace had a brother, then. Is he still alive? If so, can I meet him? Does he live near here?’
‘Julian?’ Clemency looked faintly surprised as if this was something I should know already. ‘He’s an apothecary and he, too, lives in Bucklersbury. His shop is not far from the Voyager on the opposite side of the road. You’ll see his name over the door. There are a good many apothecaries’ shops in that street.’
I nodded. ‘So I’ve noticed. I’ll pay him a visit later on.’
‘Whatever for?’ Oswald asked, frankly puzzled. ‘I’m sure he won’t be able to tell you anything. Nothing to the purpose, at any rate. A good enough man among his herbs and simples, but of limited intelligence I’ve always thought him.’
‘His life might be in danger,’ I pointed out. ‘Besides, he may know something, have seen something, however small, that could help me solve this mystery. I must speak to your priest as well. Father Berowne I think you called him. But what would help me most of all, Master Godslove, would be if you could give me a list of any of the criminals you have successfully prosecuted lately who might have cause — or believe they have cause,’ I hastily amended, ‘to bear you a grudge.’
As he hesitated, Celia came round the table and laid a hand on Oswald’s arm. ‘Dearest, you must do this. Please. For all our sakes.’
There was a further pause. Then he patted her hand and gave her an indulgent smile.
‘Very well,’ he agreed. ‘But I doubt if Master Chapman, here, will get much joy from it. My cases are all fairly conducted. Scrupulously so. Very few with whom I have dealings have cause to complain.’
His half-sister rubbed her cheek against his.
‘We know that, my love. So do all your friends and acquaintances. But a felon wouldn’t. I’ve heard you say often that very few of them ever admit, even to themselves, that they are guilty, or at least that they were not justified in doing what they did.’
‘True,’ the lawyer admitted. ‘But in general they are a lazy, shiftless crowd who would find a sustained campaign of vengeance — if that is what this is — beyond the range of their limited powers. However, as you all seem to think it worthwhile, I’ll see if I can think of anyone who might consider that he-’
‘Or she,’ I reminded him.
He turned a cold eye towards me. He did not take kindly to interruption. ‘Very well! If you insist. Anyone who might consider that he or she has been unfairly treated at my hands. It will not,’ he added austerely, ‘be a long list.’
‘Of course not,’ I agreed suavely. ‘But I think your sisters are right in supposing it could be the answer to recent events. Female intuition is never to be despised, my dear sir.’
I saw Adela’s lips twitch in appreciation of this master stroke. The women were now solidly on my side.
We at last began to move, Nicholas and Elizabeth disappearing almost at once, presumably into the garden. The housekeeper made for the kitchens, to summon the maids to clear the table, while the rest of us returned to the great hall, where the fire had almost gone out. Celia gave an exclamation of impatience and put another log on the dying flames, Oswald announced his intention of returning shortly to the inns of court and Clemency suggested that I accompany Adela upstairs to inspect the bedchamber we were to share and to unpack my own and my daughter’s clothes. In the middle of all this, there was a loud knock on the outer door, and before anyone could answer it, the latch was lifted and a man came in.
He was heavily built, with a neat curly brown beard that echoed the curly brown hair showing beneath his flat velvet cap. He was nearly as tall as Oswald but far more muscular, giving an illusory impression of squatness which a second and third glance dispelled. A pair of hazel eyes regarded the assembled company with indifference until they came to rest on Celia. Then they glowed.
He hurried forward, ignoring both Clemency and Oswald, and, bowing low, raised one of her hands to his lips.
‘Celia, my dear! Lovely as ever and looking the picture of health, as always.’
Celia withdrew her hand, blushing slightly, but she did not return the greeting. Instead, she appeared embarrassed, casting a fleeting, half-apologetic glance at Oswald.
Her half-brother said coldly, ‘Good morning, Roderick. Let me conduct you upstairs at once to see your patient. I think you’ll find Sybilla slightly improved since yesterday.’
The physician returned the other man’s look with barely concealed animosity and said, almost sneeringly, ‘I’m sure I shall. There’s nothing much wrong with her but a few bruises, which the salve I left for her should have eased. And the sleeping draught ought to have ensured her a restful night.’
‘Sybilla is still very much shocked by what happened to her,’ Clemency protested. ‘Her nerves are in a very poor state.’
‘She was always prone to hysterics,’ was the cool response. ‘I’ll bleed her again. It will quieten her. Don’t bother coming up with me, Clemency. I know my way.’
‘I’ll accompany you just the same,’ Clemency said firmly, and followed the doctor up the stairs.
Reaching halfway, he turned, looking down into the hall with a softened expression on his rather harsh features.
‘Will you stay to say goodbye to me, Celia?’ His lip curled. ‘Or have you some urgent business, as usual, that will necessitate your presence in some other part of the house?’
Once again, I thought that the younger woman seemed uncomfortable, but she answered composedly enough. ‘I will stay and speak to you with pleasure, Roderick, if you wish it. In any case, I shall want to know your opinion of Sybilla and how she goes on. My sister’s health is the important thing.’
‘Naturally.’ He laughed shortly. ‘Such a devoted family!’ He proceeded on his way, Clemency close at his heels.