Revelation

We passed into Lambeth Palace yard, where the sweet smell of wet grass met us, unfamiliar after those weeks of snow. I turned to Harsnet. 'I do not understand Sir Thomas Seymour's involvement. He seems—'

'Unreliable? A foolish braggart?' The coroner smiled wryly. 'He is all that and more. A man of proud conceit, born to mischief. An elbow-hanger on his brother. But we are stuck with him.'

'Why?'

'Thomas Seymour wished to marry Catherine Parr. And she was in love with him. Heaven knows why, though even sensible women may have their heads turned. He has had to step aside for the King. But he has made his brother involve him in this. To protect her interests, he says. If Lord Hertford has one weakness, it is devotion to Thomas. But Thomas is something even worse than a papist.'

'What?'

I saw disgust in Harsnet's look. 'An atheist,' he said. 'A man who denies God.'

Chapter Ten

HARSNET LEFT ME at the river, where I caught a wherry back to Temple Stairs and walked up to Lincoln's Inn. The fierce anger I felt after the inquest had been replaced by sober fear; as I thought of the mighty men in that room my stomach twisted and knotted with anxiety. Yet I told myself that at least this time there was no ambiguity, we were all clearly on the same side in wanting this killer caught.

It was a relief to find Barak in chambers, working at his desk beside young Skelly. I inclined my head to Barak that he should follow me to my room. Skelly looked at us through the glasses he wore for his weak sight, his expression sad. I guessed he felt excluded, left out of the events whirling round Lincoln's Inn. Well, he was safer out of it all.

I told Barak all that had transpired at Lambeth Palace. I had expected him to show pleasure at the prospect of some excitement, but he heard me in silence and then sat frowning. 'That Thomas Seymour's a dangerous character,' he said. 'Lord Cromwell distrusted him and blocked his advancement, though he respected his brother.'

'His romantic interest in Catherine Parr complicates matters.'

'He's known as an indiscreet woman-chaser. Sounds like an indiscreet man is the last thing this business needs, if Cranmer's keeping this from the King.'

'I know. But I am bound to assist them, I promised Dorothy.' I looked at him. 'But you do not need to be involved if you do not wish,' I said. 'There is no reason for you to place yourself in danger.'

'No,' he said. 'I'll help.' But he still looked uneasy. 'Though I don't understand any of it. One man killed as your friend is strange enough, but two?

'Could the killer be mad? Someone who conceived a wild hatred for Roger and that doctor, perhaps developed a belief they had wronged him?'

'A mad person couldn't have organized and carried through something like these murders.'

'No. The killer tricked Roger cleverly with those letters. Maybe did something similar with the doctor. Took them to a lonely spot, drugged them somehow, then carried them to the fountain and the tidal pool, and slit their throats.' I shuddered.

'That time you disturbed an intruder near the Elliards' lodgings, maybe he was looking over Gatehouse Court? Preparing the way.'

'That would mean he was unfamiliar with Lincoln's Inn. Yet he knew enough about the law to fake a solicitor's letter for Roger, and enough about medicine to be able to make dwale.' I shook my head. It occurred to me that if I had come out from Roger and Dorothy's a little earlier that night I might have encountered the killer. Would he have killed me too, lest I identify him later?

'I don't understand how this arsehole got to know them,' Barak said. 'And he must have done.'

'Yes. And who could possibly have hated Roger enough to make that ghastly display in the fountain?' I looked at him seriously. 'It was a display, wasn't it? He was meant to be found like that, in a public place. And by the sound of it, Dr Gurney too.'

Barak nodded slowly. 'I came across some strange things when I worked for Lord Cromwell, some grim things. But I never heard of anything like this before, never.'

'Nor I.' We said nothing for a moment, then I roused myself. 'Come, we do not know enough yet to speculate. We must think of practical steps.'

'All right. Where do we start?'

'First I am going to prepare a list of Roger's clients and acquaintances, to see if he had any in common with Dr Gurney. I will go across now and speak to Roger's clerk, and to Dorothy. How was she on the journey back?'

'Quiet. But you could see she was upset at how the inquest went.'

'Yes.' I sighed. 'I must be careful how much I tell her. I should like you to come with me to meet the man who found the doctor's body, out by the river. Harsnet is arranging it.'

'What's Harsnet like on closer acquaintance?'