Tombland

IT WAS AN HOUR before he returned. I sat there, thinking of all those I had known that summer who had died in the rebel cause, poor Simon Scambler most of all. I would have brought him back to London and found him work, young Natty, too. I thought, How could Parry, or anyone I knew in London, understand the things I had seen? But he was right, I must invent some new story about Josephine and Edward’s death.

When he returned, Parry’s mood had softened. ‘Well,’ he said, ‘the King’s birthday present has arrived. The Lady Elizabeth is much relieved.’ He folded his hands across his broad stomach and studied me. ‘As for Southwell, she may confide the matter to William Cecil, and leave things to his judgement. She will think on it.’

I sighed. If the matter went before Cecil, whatever he did would be a political decision. Parry added, ‘And I am to send him the depositions you brought, which should make the pardon a formality.’ He looked at me sharply again. ‘The Lady wishes to see you, Blanche Parry will come in a moment to take you. Be careful what you say, Matthew. Do not mention this proposed adoption.’

There was a knock at the door and Mistress Parry entered. She curtsied briefly, her face expressionless. ‘Serjeant Shardlake, please come with me.’

* * *

ELIZABETH WAS AGAIN in her study, writing at her desk. Probably in anticipation of her birthday celebrations, her black clothes had been replaced by a bright red dress with sleeves slashed to show a yellow lining. She looked healthier than in June, and had gained some weight. Mistress Parry announced me and went to stand behind her mistress, but Elizabeth, without looking up, said, ‘You may go, Blanche. I wish a private converse with Serjeant Shardlake.’

Blanche’s mouth tightened a little, but she said quietly, ‘As you wish, my Lady,’ and left the room with a swish of skirts. Elizabeth put down her quill and carefully sanded the document she had been writing; only then did she look up, smiling slightly. I bowed deeply.

‘A translation of Virgil, Latin to French. I ever enjoyed study.’ She indicated a chair. ‘Sit,’ she said. Her gaze was keen, questing. ‘You look thin, sir.’

‘I have had a – difficult time, my Lady.’

‘I have read your letter, and heard the story. So, John Boleyn is likely to be freed. At last.’ There was a bite in her voice at the last words.

‘I would think so, my Lady.’

‘What did you think of him?’

I considered. ‘An ordinary country gentleman, caught in the toils of a conspiracy to gain his land.’

Elizabeth inclined her head. ‘Did I catch a note of contempt in your voice when you called him ordinary? But then, of course, you have been consorting with rebels for two months, have you not?’ Her voice sharpened.

‘My Lady, I was captured by them. Yes, I helped Captain Kett, but I did all I could to ensure his judgements were based on law.’

Her voice rose. ‘His judgements . And who was he to make himself a judge of his betters?’ Impatiently she brushed aside a strand of long auburn hair.

I ventured to say, ‘That is all over now.’

‘Over! You say it is over !’ She was shouting now. ‘No, Serjeant Shardlake, it is not! You have brought me accusations against Sir Richard Southwell. I may decide those should be passed to William Cecil.’ She leaned forward, her brown eyes boring into mine. ‘I can trust him to make a decision that will not jeopardize me in any way. He may well consider it best to keep the whole thing quiet.’

‘Three people were murdered, my Lady,’ I dared to say. ‘Surely it is a question of justice. Justice is something we have discussed before, and I thought we agreed that all deserve it.’

Elizabeth banged her fist on the desk, making me jump. ‘God’s blood,’ she shouted, ‘your time consorting with those rebel dogs has made you insolent, sir! You, of all people, should know that justice is often the servant of politics. It is your duty, it was always your duty, to protect me ! But instead you spend half the summer in that camp of seditioners, the spittle and filth of our society! Did you ever think of the repercussions that might have for me, when you sat helping Robert Kett dole out his monstrous perversions of justice?’

And now my own temper flared. ‘And why did they rebel, those men? Because they had no alternative after the injustices wreaked by greedy landlords and crooked royal officials!’ Realizing that I had gone too far, much too far, I added quietly, ‘And I was always careful to say and do nothing that could harm you.’