‘I can unbuckle it,’ the man suggested. His face shone with fear out of the darkness. ‘There’s a key on a lace round my neck.’
‘Don’t move!’ growled Gregory as the courier made as if to reach for something. ‘Keep very still. I’ll get it.’
Reaching inside the courier’s jacket he felt around, found the key, and slashed his knife through the leather lace to free it before the man could think of moving. He wedged an arm across his chest while Hildegard felt for the key then fumbled it into the lock. It sprang open and she quickly unbuckled the strap, slid off the satchel then backed away.
Grabbing the satchel in both hands she ran for cover into the bushes and set off, as they had agreed, towards their waiting horses. By the time she was astride with the satchel on the pommel in front of her Gregory was emerging from the darkness and running for his own mount. He jumped into the saddle in one easy movement and urged her on.
‘Smooth as silk, Hildegard. We could do this for a living!’
They reached the edge of the woods where the field strips took over and brought their horses to a halt. The clouds had parted and a falcate moon hung overhead in a sea of stars.
‘I shall ride on to Netley Abbey now,’ said Gregory putting a hand on the pommel of her horse’s saddle after she had handed over the courier’s satchel. ‘Are you sure you’re going to be safe, riding back to Salisbury alone?’
‘I sometimes wish I had my two old hounds with me. But don’t worry. I’ll wait here until dawn then ride in with the carters going to market.’
‘Good idea.’ He lifted the courier’s satchel to a more comfortable position.
Before he could ride off she asked, ‘What did you do to the escort?’
‘Knocked him out. He’ll recover in time to have a nice long walk back to Salisbury. That’s after he’s untied his companion.’
‘By the way,’ she reminded as they began to separate, ‘when you speak to the Netley Abbey courier, impress on him that speed is essential in order to save Sir Simon’s life.’
‘The thought is uppermost in my mind,’ he replied.
Raising one hand he disappeared quickly into the darkness.
She stared after him for as long as she could before she found she was merely staring at shadows. Netley was closer than Winchester. The courier monk who rode out from the abbey would be well on the way to London before anyone guessed that the Salisbury man had been waylaid.
Her thoughts returned to her two faithful hounds, Duchess and Bermonda, and how they were seeing out their old age back at the Priory of Swyne. She missed them now. Slipping down from the saddle she made sure her horse was concealed and then found a hidden place under a tree to wait for the dawn.
NINETEEN
Salisbury was just waking up when she arrived at the town gates to stand in line with a train of carts carrying produce in from the manors. Her horse sniffed at a pile of cabbages on the back of the wagon in front. He tried to take a bite before Hildegard edged him away.
On the other side of the town gates shutters were being banged opened and people were beginning to emerge onto the streets when the Watch let her through. She made her way to the ostler’s. A lad took her horse as soon as she entered the yard.
Dragging the saddle from off the horse’s back he led him into one of the stalls. Hildegard followed. ‘Where’s your master, young fellow? I need to settle my bill.’
‘He’s in a tither, domina. You’ve missed all the excitement.’
‘Oh?’
‘There’s been another killing.’
‘Another?’ She stared at him.
‘As well as that there mason’s apprentice hung in the steeple, I mean.’ He grimaced. ‘Everybody knows he didn’t do it himself.’
‘So what is this other one you mention?’
‘Another apprentice. Yon Master Gervase is going to have to finish the work with his own bare hands if this goes on. Two down!’ He chuckled.
‘You’re a hard hearted young fellow. I assume you did not know the poor soul you say is dead?’
‘I did not. I don’t mix with the likes of them. He probably had it coming to him. Them apprentices are fighting lads. Always causing trouble. Well rid, say I.’
She gave him a sharp glance. ‘Your callous disregard for a fellow being shocks me. I shall pray for the redemption of your soul. Now fetch your master to me.’
He looked shame-faced. ‘Nothing much happens round here and now it’s two in a seven-day,’ he excused.
‘You might think on that and praise God it is not you,’ she reproved. ‘Maybe then it would not seem so exciting.’
‘Beg pardon, domina. I spoke without thought.’ He looked at the ground and edged a small stone with the toe of his boot.
‘You did. Now go.’ Without thought and without feeling, she said to herself as the lad ran off to find his master. The times we live in are breeding a generation of insensitive brutes. Was the lack of a sound education to blame or was it something evil in the hearts of men that could not be curbed?
When the ostler appeared he had obviously been told what Hildegard had said to his lad. ‘They have no feelings these young ‘uns,’ he puffed. ‘Age will teach him, else he’ll finish up damned in hellfire.’
Hildegard produced some coins. ‘Your horses do you credit,’ she told him. ‘It was a pleasant ride. I may have need of your services again. But tell me, who is the unfortunate apprentice who died?’
‘One Jack Winter, domina.’ He had the grace to cross himself.
‘I see.’ The name was familiar. ‘What was it, the usual hot-tempers and too ready knives?’
‘Drowned in a puddle while crossing Cathedral Close.’
‘I expect there were enough witnesses?’
‘Not at all. Nobody’s come forward. He was found by the Watch shortly before prime. We’re assuming he was drunk and tripped over something but they’re being tight-lipped. A sad business when you can’t walk about inside the town walls without let or harm. Go careful yourself, domina.’ He pocketed the coins and they shook hands.
Sister Elwis was on door duty again. When she saw Hildegard coming in she shook her head. ‘You must have heard, domina?’
‘If you mean about the murder of Jack Winter, yes, I have.’
‘Such a dreadful business. What is the world coming to?’ She frowned. ‘London and Westminster set a bad example to us down here. We’re a peaceful town, or were until ...’ she broke off.
‘You mean, until the King’s Council moved against King Richard?’
Elwis took Hildegard impulsively by the hands. ‘I guessed you would understand, domina. No greater evil exists than to threaten the lord’s anointed.’
‘But why do you think the violence in Westminster has anything to do with Jack?’
‘It’s the example they set the lads down here. They seem to think it’s now the lord’s will that you should settle your disputes with a knife.’
‘But Jack drowned in a puddle, so I’ve just heard – ’
‘Haven’t you heard the latest? When they got him into the mortuary they found a mason’s gouge in his back.’
‘Dear heaven!’
‘He’ll have got himself embroiled in an apprentice to-do. Those boys have no more sense than fleas on the back of a hog.’ She brightened momentarily. ‘We can at least go and comfort poor Master Gervase. He must be half out of his wits. What with his wife dying so young only last year and now two of his apprentices dead he won’t know which way to turn.’
‘Shall I come with you?’
‘If you would. We’ll take Sister Ann too. She’s probably got some concoction she can give him to sustain him.’
While she bustled off to find the herberer Hildegard went up to her chamber. She was bone weary after last night’s exploits and wanted nothing but to lie down and have a good sleep but it seemed churlish to refuse help if there was anything she could do. It would be a chance to find out more about Master Gervase and his men too so she thre
w down her bag, shook out her clothes, washed her face in the water provided by one of the lay-sisters and went down again.
Together the three nuns made their way along the street to the house of the Guild Master.
It was like a battle field inside. Five children under ten with no idea why they had no supervision were making the most of their freedom. One was hanging upside down from the rail where the master hung his cloaks. Another was trundling a baby round and round on a wooden stool turned on its side to make a cart and another two were brawling over a toy. In and out of it all a small terrier yapped and bared its teeth.
The master himself, oblivious to the uproar, was standing at the window looking at the sky as if he wished to be somewhere up in the peace and quiet of the April clouds.
He turned when his maid ushered them in. Hildegard wondered what his immediate thought was when his gaze encountered three nuns, two in black and one in greyish stamyn. He did not look like the dapper fellow of yesterday but even so he came swiftly across the tiled floor with a sorry smile on his face.
‘Sisters, most kind, most kind.’ He indicated a bench and a couple of chairs then called for his housekeeper to bring wine and water.
‘We thought,’ began Sister Elwis, ‘that you might need a spare pair of hands.’ She glanced at the unruly children who were undaunted by the presence of nuns. ‘Sister Ann has something to clear your mind which we believe will be somewhat confused by last night’s dreadful event.’
She indicated that the herberer should hand over her pot of herbal brew.
‘Most kind, most kind.’ Master Gervase seemed dazed and only able to repeat himself.
‘So it is true, after all? We were hoping it was a mere rumour.’ Sister Elwiss inclined her head.
It encouraged Gervase to gather his thoughts. ‘He was a good lad. Close friend of Frank, both good lads. They found a gouge, you know? Did you know? It was near the body. Is the story all over town?’
Sister Elwis shook her head. ‘A gouge associated with the murderer, was it?’
‘They’re taking it as such.’ His face was white. ‘One of my men? I cannot believe it. It’s an impossibility. It cannot be true.’
‘Master, please, sit down. Let’s make space. Come on my little angels, make room for your dear father and then go and play in the yard.’ She pushed a couple of brawling brats from off the settle.
To Hildegard’s surprise the children obeyed at once apart from the one hanging upside down who continued its bat like activities undeterred. When Master Gervase was sitting in his chair Sister Ann poured some of her herbal into a beaker and handed it to him.
‘Now then, my dear old friend, tell me what is so difficult to believe?’ invited Elwis.
‘The gouge,’ he muttered in a broken tone. ‘Don’t mention this to anyone. I was told in confidence but I must speak to someone about it and I know I can trust you. It’s something I cannot believe.’ He stared into the nun’s face. ‘I cannot believe it, sister. The gouge belonged to Frank! To my dear Frank. My trusted lad. He would not do such a thing. To one of his own brethren? Never.’
Sighing heavily he drank the entire contents of Sister Ann’s beaker, bringing a look of alarm to her face.
‘My gratitude, sister.’ He handed the beaker to her and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth.
‘I’m going to send in a couple of lay-sisters to care for your children until matters are more settled,’ Elwis told him in a tone that brooked no opposition. ‘Now you, master, must get some rest. I warrant you’ve been up half the night with all this?’
‘The Watch came banging on my door while it was still dark.’
‘Near prime, we heard?’
‘That’s right. Just after prime. How long he’d been lying there in the Close they had no idea. They’ve taken him to the mortuary. I expect they’re over there now.’ He stood up. ‘It’s where I should be. I’m grateful for your solicitude, sisters. A couple of lay-sisters will be just right. My housekeeper, bless her, is all aflux. She’s older than I am and today I feel like a hundred and one so God alone knows how old she’s feeling.’
‘We’ll take care of everything. You get off to the mortuary if you feel you must. Leave everything to us.’
Gervase pulled his cloak from where his child was still hanging on the rail, slapped its legs, then dragged his cloak over his shoulders and headed for the door. The two Benedictines followed him then went off down the street towards their house to fetch help. Master Gervase was waiting indecisively on the threshold when Hildegard approached and it was he, turning, who spoke first.
‘You came along with that Cistercian monk to have a look at the steeple,’ he began. ‘I got the impression it was more to do with young Robin Treadwell’s murder than a genuine interest in building works.’
‘Both,’ Hildegard answered truthfully.
‘And did your visit provide any answers?’ He eyed her sharply. Whatever Ann had given him had evidently cleared his head.
‘It made us believe that several accomplices were involved in Robin’s murder and that is something we cannot understand. It seems to place a good proportion of your workers under suspicion, one might think.’
‘Does it?’ He glanced off into the distance. ‘And now this. Does it condemn the rest of ‘em?’ He swivelled his head to give her a searching glance. ‘It was Frank’s goudge. Soon the whole town will know it. And then what?’
‘Are you concerned for his safety?’
‘I am.’ He frowned. ‘So far as I know they have not picked him up yet. He must take his chance.’
‘Do you have any thoughts about motive here?’ She gave him a steady look. ‘You know your boys. You know their animosities. You must have some idea why these two apprentices were murdered.’
‘And if I do why should I tell you?’
‘Because the truth is always better revealed than hidden and it will surely come out in the end. Better for everyone when it does and certainly better for those directly involved so that they may receive absolution. And,’ she added in a practical voice, ‘if you want to find the killer or killers you could do worse than speak to me because I have some experience in matters such as this which I am willing to place at your disposal.’
He scowled. ‘I don’t need a nun. I go to confession. To a priest. That’s enough for me.’ He turned rapidly and walked away.
In one thing Master Gervase was right. The town was soon abuzz with speculation about the stone mason’s goudge and its owner.
Frank and Jack were well known in the town, close friends since childhood, and nobody could understand why Frank should turn against an old friend to do such a vicious thing. It seemed to be accepted that the gouge clinched the identity of the murderer.
The suggested causes were various.
Drink was one, but then Frank was a lad who drank only on a par with his mates.
Somebody hinted darkly about his sister and how trouble followed her as it always followed beauty but nobody made much of that.
Hildegard went unremarked as she stood by the town well, or waited in line at a food stall while such speculations continued. Afterwards she was no wiser. She felt as confused as everybody else.
The next rumour to start was that the constables had arrested Frank Atkinson and everyone went around saying “I told you so.”
The rumour followed on its heels that he had escaped.
An embellishment was that he had laid one of the constables out flat. Vicious temper, somebody else remarked, but there was disagreement about that too. Bark worse than his bite. A lamb when you got to know him. It was later hinted that nobody had been punched because the constables liked gold as much as anybody else and had turned a blind eye to the key to the jail left lying around. One thing was positive, nobody really knew how he had escaped, nor, indeed, where he now was.
Puzzling over what she heard she returned to her lodgings.
As soon as she stepped inside the clean little entrance hall her nostri
ls were filled with the heady scent of lavender.
TWENTY
Sister Elwis came bustling forward, on door duty as usual. ‘Here, domina, this is for you!’ While she cooed and murmured over the large bunch of lavender she thrust into her arms, Hildegard gazed in horror at the sweet smelling flowers.
It was the sign they had agreed on.
Something had happened at Clarendon.
Her daughter was in danger.
Stuttering thanks she hurried upstairs and grabbed her scrip from off the bed. Making sure her knife was inside its sheath on her belt and another one inside her sleeve, she hurried back down the stairs.
‘I must leave for Clarendon, sister. If Brother Gregory returns and asks where I am, please tell him so.’
‘I will, indeed, domina, but what about supper - ?’
‘I will not be back in time.’
Hildegard had gone no further than the end of the street when a grey shape detached itself from the wall where he’d been loitering. He loped towards her. ‘I looked for you yesterday.’
It was de Lincoln.
Stopped in her tracks Hildegard could only stare at him and for a moment she had no idea what he was talking about. She recovered. ‘Oh, you mean after I took the - after I went to the courier’s?’
‘What else?’ He looked surprised that she seemed to have forgotten.
‘This latest murder has quite taken it from my mind,’ she explained in her most helpless tone. ‘Such a dreadful business. What is the world coming to?’ No need to appear intelligent in front of de Lincoln. He liked to think of himself as top dog and she would pander to his illusion if it served the purpose of finding out what he was up to.
He bowed now, a deep, courtly flourish. ‘My lady, I trust you encountered no problems?’
‘None. As you told me, they expected the consignment and were ready to send it. Here, I have a docket - ’ She began to fumble at the tie on her scrip but he put out a hand.
‘No, you keep it. I would not be found to have it on me for fear of implicating innocent men. No-one will suspect a nun, will they?’ His smile was only around his mouth and did not reach his eyes.
The Scandal of the Skulls Page 18
