Dark Fire

WE FETCHED THE HORSES and rode down to the City. Barak was still morose, saying little. As we rode under the Ludgate I noticed a patch of lighter colour in the wall where the repairs had been completed.

'The stones from the old synagogue came from there,' I said to make conversation.

Barak grunted. 'I bet the watchman had some ripe comments about Christ killers ready when you said they came from a synagogue.'

'I don't remember,' I said, though I well recalled that he had.

We rode on past St Paul's, the huge spire casting a welcome patch of shade. As we came into the sun again, Barak pulled his horse in close. 'Look round slowly,' he said. 'Don't stop the horse. By the bookstalls near St Paul's Cross.'

I turned and saw Toky leaning against a rail, ignoring the crowds and scanning the passers-by with that pale ravaged face of his.

'I thought he'd disappeared,' I said. 'Could we not try to apprehend him? Or call the constable?'

'If Toky's there, Wright's nearby and they'll be armed. I don't fancy a tussle with the two of them, and some old constable wouldn't last long.'

'They know a great deal. Their capture could solve many of our problems.'

'That's why Lord Cromwell's men are looking for them all over town. The yard's a good place to see who's coming in and out of the City. I wonder who he's looking out for.'

'Us probably.'

'Well, he missed us. I know who's dealing with it for the earl – I'll send word to them.' He shook his head, half-admiringly. 'They're as smart a pair of rogues as I've ever seen, the way they dodge about the City.'

'They swim in its filthy waters, hidden by its blackness.'

'You sounded like your evangelist friend Godfrey, then.' He rode on into the crowds of Cheapside and I followed, keeping a wary eye out even though Toky was far behind us.

* * *

WE PARTED COMPANY at the Walbrook. Barak went off to send a message to Cromwell, saying to my dismay that he would call to collect me in an hour at Lady Honor's. We should stay together, he said, if Toky was about. I could think of no objection, though that meant I could not go to Guy's. Barak rode off and I went on to Blue Lion Street.

At the House of Glass a couple of servants were washing the windows with vinegar. Informed that Lady Honor was at home, I passed Genesis to a stable boy and was ushered through the house to the inner courtyard. A servant was watering the plants set in pots round the walls. Lady Honor sat on a bench watching him. She wore a blue dress and her blonde hair was uncovered today, tied in a bun with a silk ribbon. She smiled in welcome.

'Matthew. This is an unexpected visit.'

I bowed. 'I apologize for coming unannounced. But –'

'Official business?'

'I fear so.'

She took a deep breath. 'Come then, sit with me. Edward, that will do for now. Finish the watering this evening.' The man bowed and left us. Lady Honor looked over her courtyard. 'I fear my little bushes are dying in the heat. See there, I have been trying to grow pomegranates, but my foolish servants know nothing about the care of plants, they water them at the wrong times, too much or too little.'

'Everything is dying in this fierce weather. The crops will be bad.'

'Will they?' she asked indifferently. 'But you have not come to talk of planting, I think.'

'No. Lady Honor, I have a confession.' I cursed my awkwardness. I should not be apologizing for questioning her, it was my duty. 'I know about the Duke of Norfolk's pursuit of you,' I said bluntly. 'I needed to follow up the question you left me with on the river bank. I spoke to Marchamount.'

I half-expected anger but she only turned away and stared ahead for a moment. When she turned back to me her face wore a tired smile. 'After we spoke on the river I feared you would report me to Cromwell and I should be in trouble. Did you ask Marchamount first to save me from the earl's rough ways?'

'Perhaps.'

'You are gentle with me, more than I deserve. I felt that if the duke's insulting demands were forced out of me by Cromwell, my honour would be less besmirched. A foolish notion, perhaps.'

'I am sorry I could not save you from my knowing.'

'At least you will not gossip like most would.' She looked at me seriously. 'Will you? It is a tasty morsel, I realize.'

'You know I think too much of you for that, Lady Honor.'

She laid a hand on mine for a second, then lifted it, although I had the odd sensation it was still there. 'You are a natural gentleman.' She sighed. 'I have sent Henry back to the country. He could never make his way at court. So I have been able to reject the crude advances of that old brute with a clear conscience.'

'I did not realize you disliked the duke so.'

'He is unfit for the position he occupies. He may be the senior peer of the realm, but his lineage is not old, you know.' She smiled. 'Unlike the Vaughans.'

I took a deep breath. 'Lady Honor, I must ask – for the last time, I promise – is there anything you have not told me that could be of any possible relevance, however remote, to my search for the Gristwoods' murderers?'

She looked at me impatiently. 'Matthew, I swore that already on the Bible. If you recall, I made oath the duke had put no pressure on me about Greek Fire. And I swore true. He has never mentioned it to me and Marchamount did so only to warn me against you. As I have said, I wish my foolish curiosity had never led me to look at those papers.'

I looked into her eyes. 'I felt when Marchamount spoke about the duke and you this morning he was still keeping something back.'

She smiled again. 'If he did, it is nothing to do with me, I swear. Shall I fetch the Bible again?'

I shook my head. 'No. That is not necessary. Forgive me.'

She looked at me indulgently. 'By Our Lady, you are a courteous inquisitor.'

'Marchamount would not agree.'

'That puffed-up creature.' She looked over her wilting plants again. 'He is a rogue despite his smoothness and he would do anything to advance himself.' She gave a shudder. 'I told you I am thinking of escaping to the country, to my Lincolnshire estates. I have had enough of the City, of Marchamount and the duke and everyone.' She smiled quickly. 'Almost everyone.'

'I would miss you. Though I have also been thinking of taking a quiet house in the country.'

She looked at me in surprise. 'Would not the country bore you?'

'I come from Lichfield – my father has the freehold of a farm there. Though he is old now, even his steward is not getting any younger. The farm is hard for them to manage.' I smiled sadly. 'But I have never been fitted to be a farmer, nor wanted to be one.'

'But he would like to have his son by him in his old age?'

'I don't know.' I shrugged. 'I always felt he was ashamed of me. Yet he seems pleased to see me when I visit, which I do not do enough.'

She was silent a moment, then asked quietly, 'The Wentworth girl comes back before the judge this week, does she not?'

'On Thursday the tenth. She is very ill and may not last till then.'

'Poor Matthew. How you take the sufferings of others on yourself.' She laid her hand on mine again and this time did not move it. I turned to her and she inclined her head towards me. Then she jerked away as footsteps sounded in the yard. I turned to see Barak standing with the steward, cap in hand. The steward's face was impassive but Barak was grinning broadly.

'Come at a bad time, have I?' he asked.

Lady Honor stood, her face dark with anger. 'Matthew, do you know this fellow?'

I rose too. 'This is Jack Barak,' I said hastily. 'He is assisting me. He works for Lord Cromwell.'

'Then the earl should teach him some manners.' She rounded on him. 'How dare you burst in on us like this? Do you not know how to comport yourself in a lady's house?'

Barak reddened too, his eyes angry. 'I have a message for Master Shardlake from Lord Cromwell.'