King's Gold

He gritted his teeth. It would be impossible to feel safe while that bastard was with the escort. If Sir Jevan so much as caught a glimpse of his face, John was done for. It was a miracle that he had not already been recognised. Fortunately he had changed his clothing when he arrived at the castle, giving his tunic and hosen to the laundress who had joined the party, which was perhaps why he had escaped Sir Jevan’s attention so far. That, and the strategic use of his hood, had probably saved him.

He would have to try to keep out of Sir Jevan’s way. With so many men sprawling over so large an area, it was easy enough to remain undetected. Here at the rear, John was nearly a quarter of a mile or so behind the knight.

The only other option was to escape entirely and leave the party. Or kill Sir Jevan.

Kenilworth

Simon stared at him, and then gave a guffaw of laughter. ‘Me? What, you reckon Hugh and I could try something?’

‘Not alone, Simon,’ Baldwin explained. ‘But think about it from Sir Edward’s point of view. He was captured, saw his closest companion hacked to pieces, and was brought there, to Kenilworth,’ he jerked his thumb at the great castle, ‘and there, while protected by a mass of men, a tiny group managed to penetrate the defences. They forced their way into the outer ward and would have got further, were it not for a little bad luck. They were discovered as the curfew was imposed, and killed.’

‘All?’

‘All those who remained in the castle. A posse was sent to capture the others outside the castle walls, but it was curfew and growing dark, and although a few were found and slain, they suspect the ringleaders escaped. Or weren’t there,’ he added as an afterthought.

Simon grinned. ‘You’re being evasive, or merely impenetrable?’

Baldwin chuckled. ‘No, merely I find conversation so much more elevating when I hold it with myself! Sir Edward thought that this transfer to Berkeley was a pretext. Away from Kenilworth, it would be easier to have him killed.’

‘Ah!’ Simon breathed. ‘You mean Mortimer.’

‘He did,’ Baldwin said, shooting him a glance.

‘But you don’t?’

‘Of course not! Why would Sir Roger kill Sir Edward? Killing the King must inevitably come back to haunt him, because it would be impossible to keep such a scheme secret. So the fact of the assassination would become public knowledge, and then King Edward III, Sir Edward’s son, and his mother, Isabella, must both turn upon Sir Roger. They could not support him if they learned that he had ordered the death of Sir Edward.’

‘But removing him . . .’

‘Serves no useful purpose.’

‘It would prevent another freeing him and installing him once more on the throne.’

Baldwin shook his head. ‘Who would support Sir Edward? Some few, perhaps, but when it came to a battle, would his men stay at his side against his son, the King? The risks of killing Sir Edward are greater than those of holding him in comfort. The rage that Queen Isabella would show, were she to learn that her husband had been murdered – that would scare me!’

‘But she and Mortimer are lovers.’

‘I know that is the rumour. But once she loved her husband. Still, that is not important. What is important is that she is a most pragmatic lady. If it were to become thought that she had colluded in his death, she would herself be guilty of gross treason. And she would also think of the danger to her own son. If a king could so easily be done to death, her son would run that same gauntlet through his life, should a powerful baron rise against him. No, she is a French princess. She would not dream of insulting her peers and her blood in such a manner.’

‘So who . . .?’

‘There is nothing to say anyone will try to assassinate Sir Edward.’

Simon closed his eyes. ‘My head hurts, but were it a little less painful, Baldwin, I would knock you from your horse, knight or no knight.’

‘It is not confusing. Mortimer may well have pretended to attack Kenilworth to show that Edward was not secure there. Kenilworth is held by my lord the Earl of Lancaster, is it not? To slander the Earl by showing that his guards and precautions are not sufficient, then to have Edward taken to another castle, which is run for Mortimer and which would keep the King under his closer control, would be perfect for Sir Roger. It upsets Lancaster at the same time, for which he would be grateful.’

‘Unless the guard at Berkeley Castle show themselves to be less reliable than Sir Roger thought,’ Simon guessed.

‘Which is not likely, since the Lord Berkeley is Sir Roger Mortimer’s son-in-law,’ Baldwin finished.

‘That all makes sense,’ Simon agreed. ‘So why is the King worried?’

‘Because all this is my reasoning, not the King’s. He thinks that there will be an ambush, and someone will attack us on the way to Berkeley.’

‘To kill him.’

‘Yes.’

CHAPTER THIRTY

Worcester

It felt stifling.