Sovereign (39 page)

‘What!’

‘Culpeper saw us first,’ Barak said. ‘He turned and looked at us and stood rooted to the spot. Then Lady Rochford leaned out and stared at us; Jesu did she look angry. And
frightened. She pulled the Queen in – she gave a startled little cry – and slammed the door. Young Culpeper just stood there like a ninny, he’d no idea what to do. Then he doffed
his cap and turned and walked away.’ He gave that strange harsh laugh again. ‘Doffed his cap.’

I reached and took a swig of ale, for my mouth had gone dry. I thought a moment, then turned to Tamasin. ‘How was the Queen dressed?’

She saw what I was aiming at. ‘Fully. In a yellow dress, one of her finest. Her face was made up and she wore a necklace and earrings.’

‘No evidence they’d been romping, then. In fact, if she was fully dressed, and her face painted, that’s evidence they hadn’t.’

Barak shook his head. ‘It doesn’t matter. Culpeper had been in her rooms at one in the morning. That alone is enough to lose him his head.’

‘And the Queen hers. She’d not be the first. Lady Rochford too. Jesu, why would that woman risk her life by getting involved in this?’

‘Heaven knows, sir,’ Tamasin said wearily. ‘Perhaps it is as some say, she is half crazed.’

I frowned. ‘Are you sure Culpeper was leaving? Could he not have just called for some reason? He knocks and they answer the door?’

Barak shook his head impatiently. ‘If someone knocks at the kitchen door at one in the morning, are the Queen and her principal lady in waiting going to come down and answer?’

‘No, they’re not. It looks bad, I agree.’

‘There have been rumours among the ladies,’ Tamasin said. ‘That Master Culpeper and the Queen had some affection before she married the King. And that she and her secretary,
Master Dereham, had a dalliance when the Queen was a girl. Dereham and Culpeper dislike each other. But no one suspected she would —’

‘She must be
mad
,’ Barak said, clenching his hands.

‘Jesu,’ I said. ‘If the Queen announces she is pregnant, the child may be Culpeper’s.’ I bit my lip, breathing hard. ‘That fits exactly what Oldroyd said.
“No child of Henry and Catherine can ever be true heir. She knows.” He meant the Queen.’

‘Exactly,’ Barak said. ‘This could have been going on for months, what if somehow the northern conspirators got to hear of it? Jesu.’ He shook his head in amazement.
‘Has Culpeper been foolish enough to tup the old man’s ewe?’

I nodded slowly. ‘If there were an announcement the Queen was pregnant and this came out, imagine how it would weaken the King. Remember when we brought that box in – Lady Rochford
and Dereham saw it. What you saw casts a new light on that fact.’

‘Perhaps that confession you saw was written by someone who saw them together, like us,’ Barak said.

‘No.’ I shook my head, frowning. ‘Blaybourne’s confession was years old. And the
Titulus
dates from 1484.’

‘You said there were other papers, that you never saw.’

I nodded slowly. ‘Yes. There were.’

‘Perhaps about the Queen and Culpeper.’

‘Sir,’ Tamasin ventured. ‘I do not understand what is this
Titulus
, nor this Blaybourne.’

I looked at her. I was so shocked by what they had told me that I had mentioned the contents of the casket without thinking. I had put her in even more danger than she was in already. All three
of us were in danger now; we had to pool our resources. I took a deep breath.

‘Jack and I found a box with papers in it, which were stolen later. In the glazier Oldroyd’s house.’

‘I know. That was when Jennet and I were questioned.’

‘Someone killed him because he had it. And is now, I think, trying to kill me because I saw what was inside. Saw only a small part, though they will not know that.’ I told her about
the attacks on me at King’s Manor and at the camp, about Blaybourne’s confession and the
Titulus
, adding that I had found another copy in Wrenne’s library. Her eyes
widened.

‘Jesu,’ she said quietly. ‘What have you got into?’

‘The biggest pile of shit you ever saw,’ Barak answered starkly.

I looked round at a noise from the far end of the refectory. The soldiers had risen wearily to their feet and were making their way to the door, leaving us alone but for the servant. He had
fallen asleep on his table, head pillowed in his arms. I turned back to Barak and Tamasin. The strained expressions on their faces made both look years older.

‘What do we do now?’ Barak asked. ‘Report this to Maleverer?’

‘Not just yet,’ I said. ‘There is only your word for this. They’ll deny it. You’ll just get into trouble, perhaps serious trouble, for nothing.’

Barak leaned forward. ‘But if there’s a connection between the Queen and Culpeper and the papers in that casket, Lady Rochford could be behind these attempts on your life. She will
redouble her efforts now.’

‘No.’ Tamasin spoke quietly. ‘The Queen would never involve herself in murder. Of that I am sure. She is a kind, generous woman – no, girl. In some ways she is very
innocent.’

‘She’s part of the vipers’ nest that is the court,’ Barak said.

‘But that’s just it, she isn’t. She’s a silly innocent girl, everyone says so. She’s at sea, she must be, or she wouldn’t be as foolish as she has
been.’

‘But Lady Rochford looks capable of anything,’ Barak replied. ‘Look at her history.’

‘And yet I cannot see her being behind these attacks,’ I said thoughtfully. ‘She does not strike me as a careful organizer.’ I considered a moment. ‘Tamasin, what
do you think Lady Rochford will do now? About what you and Jack saw?’

‘The Queen would decide, surely,’ Barak said.

Tamasin shook her head. ‘The Queen will take Lady Rochford’s advice, I think.’ She looked at me. ‘If I were her, I think I would try and scare us into silence, or buy
it.’

I nodded. ‘I think you are right. I think we wait and see if she approaches you. What we do after that can depend on what is said. If we are
not
approached, and especially if
anything more is attempted against us, we go to Maleverer. On Monday. And meanwhile we stick to safe places.’

‘I think we should go to Maleverer now,’ Barak said.

‘No. Not without evidence. Not when you and I are in trouble already. Can you imagine how the King would react if this story were brought to him, and turned out to be untrue? It would be
our heads in danger then.’

I turned to Tamasin. ‘We’ll walk you back to the manor. Will the soldiers let you in at this hour?’

‘Ay. There’s more than one girl sneaks out at night.’

I smiled wryly. ‘The morals of the court.’ I turned to Barak. He still looked dubious. Then he saw something behind us; his eyes widened and his lips set.

‘Too late,’ he said.

I turned quickly. Another troop of soldiers had come in, Sergeant Leacon at their head. We stared as he left his men and marched up to us, his pike grasped firmly. He looked at the three of us
in puzzlement.

‘What’s amiss? You all look startled as dogs cast out of a window.’

‘Nothing, sergeant, we—’

‘You are supping late.’

‘We got to talking. We should go to bed.’

‘There is something I must mention to you, sir. In confidence.’ The sergeant inclined his head. I got up and followed him. His soldiers, I saw, were crowding round the servant, who
had woken up and was serving them beer. I realized they had all just come off duty; they had not been sent to arrest us after all.

Leacon looked at me seriously. Always when we had met before he had been open and friendly, but now I sensed something wary, almost hostile, in his manner.

‘One of my men reported there had been some trouble outside Broderick’s cell,’ he said. ‘Between you and gaoler Radwinter.’

‘Ah,’ I said. ‘That.’

‘I should report it to Sir William Maleverer. But my man said that Radwinter provoked you.’

‘Yes, sergeant, he did. But I should not have let him.’

‘I will say nothing for now. I do not want trouble with Radwinter, and Sir William has enough to occupy him. But I must have your assurance nothing like that will happen again.’

‘It will not.’

He nodded.

‘How does Broderick fare? I should have visited him today.’

‘The same.’ He gave me another measured look, then made a little bow and went off to rejoin his men. I went back to Tamasin and Barak.

‘What was that about?’ Barak asked.

‘My fight with Radwinter. He says he won’t report me if I don’t let Radwinter provoke me again. Well, I have other things to think on now.’

We walked Tamasin back to King’s Manor. All was dark and silent; a gold half-angel ensured Tamasin was admitted by the guards. Barak and I walked back to the lodging house. I went to bed,
but it was long before I slept.

S
UNDAY MORNING
dawned fine. I was dressing in my cubicle when Barak knocked at my door.

‘That cook’s outside, Master Goodrich.’

I finished dressing hurriedly and stepped out. He was standing by the door.

‘How is your son?’ I asked.

‘Better, sir, but he’s a nasty gash on his head. I’ve told him not to work again today.’

‘Thank God it was no worse.’

‘True. But, sir . . .’

He looked at me. I wondered if he was going to ask for money, and slipped my hand to my purse. The cook shook his head.

‘I only wanted to ask – who would do such a thing? Is my boy safe?’

‘I am sure he is, Master Goodrich. The person who struck your boy down was after me. Rest assured, we will find who is responsible.’

‘It ought to be reported, sir. With the King himself here . . .’ He cast a look of mingled awe and fear in the direction of King’s Manor.

‘Leave it with me. And my good wishes to your boy.’

I watched as the cook walked off towards the camp. Barak joined me. ‘Is he all right?’

‘Ay. Come, let us get some breakfast.’

We began walking to the refectory. Outside, among the animal pens, I saw that one pair of bears’ cages was being taken to pieces by some workmen under the bearward’s supervision. I
stopped and looked.

‘He killed six dogs before the King and was left standing,’ the bearward said to me. ‘But then he died most honourably.’ He gave a satisfied smile. The other cage was
still occupied; the surviving bear was awake, lying curled up in a corner on the floor, its back to us. The creature shifted its position and gave a low, whimpering groan. Its coat was slashed and
stiff with blood in several places.

‘Will that one fight again?’ Barak asked.

He studied the bear professionally. ‘Ay, he’s fit for another bout. They’re strong brutes.’

I walked away, suppressing a shudder.

I
N THE REFECTORY
we ate in silence, among courtiers and servants breakfasting before church. I thought of the day before. Those quiet hours in
Wrenne’s library seemed far off now.

‘I don’t like leaving Tamasin alone at the manor,’ Barak said at length. ‘It worries me.’

‘I believe this way is best, Jack, we mustn’t act precipitately.’

He shook his head. ‘I can’t think straight after last night. Are you going to church? They’re doing Mass in shifts at St Olave’s.’

‘No. I can’t face it.’

‘I don’t want to sit cooped up here all day.’ ‘I know somewhere we can sit and watch what goes on.’ I led him to the bench where Tamasin and I had talked two nights
before. Crowds of people were going in to the first service at St Olave’s. The whole atmosphere at St Mary’s had changed now the King was here: people moved and talked quietly,
sedately.

A little group of courtiers appeared, and I recognized some of the young men who had been at the camp two nights before. Dereham was among them; he flicked me a contemptuous glare as he passed.
Culpeper, I saw, was not with the group.

‘I wonder where the King and Queen will be hearing Mass,’ Barak said.

‘Privately at King’s Manor, I should think.’ ‘For security? Keeping safe from the Yorkers?’ ‘Maybe.’ I sighed. ‘I don’t wonder they
rebelled.’ Barak looked at me askance. ‘You’re not turning papist, are you?’

‘No. I mean, the way they’ve been treated for years. Like second-rate Englishmen.’ I saw Master Craike passing with a group of richly robed officials, and raised a hand in a
wave. He hesitated, then came over to us.