‘He loved Bess,’ said Margot moving the baby from one shoulder to the other. ‘She’s now quite beside herself with grief. She keeps to her room and won’t see anyone. I’ve tried to persuade her to come down into the garden for some fresh air, but she refuses. I’ve sent for Mistress Jane to come and see her this afternoon. She’s the only person Bess lets near her.’
‘Jane Warrener coming here?’ said Nicholas, feeling his heart miss a beat at the mention of her name.
‘Yes. Jane’s been a good support.’
‘I can’t think how that misery of a father produced such a delightful girl,’ said Mortimer. ‘He and that devil of a Vicar are a real menace, praising the King to high heaven and stirring up the villagers against the monks. As soon as the monks are kicked out, Warrener will be up at the Priory with his wheelbarrow and pickaxe. It’s monstrous, Lord Nicholas. You must stop it. You’ve got the ear of the King.’
‘I’m sure Lord Nicholas is doing his best,’ said Margot evenly. ‘Your family’s been patron of the Priory since Duke William came over from Normandy. You’ll not see it pulled down without a protest.’
‘I shall certainly try to dissuade the King when next I see him. But he’s a very determined man.’
‘Then if you don’t succeed we shall have to take action ourselves.’
Nicholas looked at him sharply. ‘Have a care, Sir Roger. The King doesn’t like criticism. It’s a small step from opposition to treason as far as he’s concerned.’
‘So we should all submit to the tyrant’s will?’
‘I refuse to listen to any more of this. Remember my position as a Justice. Do you want to be arrested?’
‘Are you threatening me?’
‘Just warning you. That’s all. Now, Lady Margot, is it possible to have a word with Bess? She might be able to tell me more about Matthew. Whom he associated with – that sort of thing. Everything can be helpful in a murder investigation.’
Nicholas saw a look pass between Mortimer and his wife. She shook her head. ‘Not yet, my Lord. She’s still in a state of shock.’
Nicholas saw Margot’s face close down, and he knew he wouldn’t see Bess that day. But the Mortimers knew more than they let on. How much did they know? And how could he find out?
‘The funeral’s tomorrow. Bess will be there, of course? Maybe I can speak to her then.’
‘I’ll see to it that she’s there. But she’ll not be up to any questioning,’ said Margot firmly.
‘I wouldn’t want to upset her any more. But there is one thing that puzzles me. I understand my under-steward, Giles Yelman, has been coming to see you. Now why does he come? Is he courting one of your dairymaids?’
‘Your under-steward, Lord Nicholas?’ said Mortimer. ‘He’s never been here, not to my knowledge anyway. Have you seen him, my dear?’
‘Your under-steward? No, he’s not been here, I’m sure of that,’ said Lady Margot, looking down at her baby, who was becoming fretful.
They were lying, thought Nicholas, as he picked up his riding gloves. Jane had told him that Giles had been here. Jane wouldn’t have made it up. Now what were the Mortimers trying to hide? He must talk to Giles.
Outside in the courtyard, the groom brought Harry out of the stable. Mortimer looked at Nicholas.
‘We must talk some more about these things, my Lord. Come and dine with us soon. We are all interested to know the King’s mind.’
‘If I knew that, Sir Roger, I would be a magician, not a man. He goes his own way.’
‘But I’m sure he’ll listen to you. After all, you come from one of the oldest families in the land. Your ancestors have always been close to the King. As for myself, I’m only a nonentity. My family only goes back to the days of the Black Prince.’
‘And by all accounts, your ancestor did him a great service at the Battle of Poitiers?’
‘He saved his life, yes, but it only earned him a knighthood.’
‘And he was given this house. One of the royal hunting lodges. Not a bad reward for services rendered.’
More to the point, thought Nicholas as he rode away, your wife is related to the Yorkist King Edward. And it’s best to keep quiet about that. Henry Tudor doesn’t take kindly to anyone with Yorkist connections.
Chapter Five
‘She’s in her room, Jane, my dear,’ said Lady Margot, who was in the kitchen supervising the stuffing of a brace of woodcock. ‘She’s very upset. Nothing we can do or say seems to have any effect on her. I’m glad you’ve come; you might be able to rouse her. She won’t eat anything. Hannah takes her up some water in the morning and she only takes a tiny sip. You might be able to persuade her to eat something. Matthew certainly wouldn’t want her to starve herself for his sake. She’ll listen to you, I know. You’ve always been such good friends; she’s waiting for you to come.’
Jane went upstairs to the small room tucked under the eaves which had been Bess’s room ever since she’d come to Mortimer Lodge with Lady Margot twelve years ago. She knocked and went in.
Bess was sitting in a chair by the casement window, which looked out over the commons to the manor of Dean Peverell. Jane was shocked at her appearance. Bess had always been slim but that morning she looked gaunt, and her sweet, oval face was haggard. Her dark eyes, her best feature, usually glowing with mischief, were dull and lifeless. She looked the picture of desolation, and Jane went over to her, wrapped her arms round her painfully thin shoulders and buried her head in her dark hair.
‘Bess, my dear Bess, I am so sorry. I know how much you loved him. But please don’t give up. He wouldn’t want to see you like this. Is there anything I can do to help? Forgive me, I know that sounds stupid but we’re all so worried about you.’ Bess shook her head, but Jane could feel her begin to relax. She pulled over a footstool, put it beside Bess’s chair, sat down and waited.
‘Yes, I loved him, Jane,’ Bess whispered. ‘We were planning to get married, you know. Lady Margot was happy about it. Next month, after the feast of Corpus Christi. Our baby would be four months by then. Yes, I am carrying his baby,’ she said as Jane looked up at her in surprise. ‘What’s wrong with that? We loved each other. Why should we have waited for a priest to make us man and wife? I was so glad when I knew, but now … I think I ought to leave this place, and go back to Guisborne. There’s nothing for me here. I’m sure Lady Margot wouldn’t want to be bothered with an unmarried mother with a fatherless child.’
‘I’m so pleased about the baby, Bess, and I’m sure Lady Margot will be very supportive. After all, she’s like a mother to you. Have you told her yet?’
‘She’s guessed. I’ve been very sick in the mornings and haven’t been much use in supervising the children’s breakfast.’
‘Then nothing’s changed. Lady Margot will love your child. So why go back to Guisborne? Those days are over. You’ve been here twelve years, ever since you were a child. You were just six years old.’
‘It’s where I was born. Someone will remember me and take me in.’
‘But you told me you never knew your father, and your mother’s been dead these five years. We all love you and if Lady Margot dismisses you, which I’m sure she won’t, then there will always be a place for you and your child with us.’
‘Jane, how wonderfully kind you are. But I’m sure your father…’
‘Oh, he’ll not mind. Besides, he always does as I say.’
A smile lit up Bess’s wan face for a brief moment. ‘Jane, you’re wicked. But I love you all the same. I don’t want to be a burden to anyone. Just look how weak I am.’
She stood up slowly, levering herself up out of the armchair like an old woman. Then she tottered over to the bed, and sat down on the edge of it, breathing heavily.
‘See how it is? I couldn’t possibly go downstairs. I can hardly walk. Jane, what’s the matter with me?’
‘You’re weak, and ill. I’ll tell Lady Margot you need a doctor, some fortifying soup and a long, sound sleep.’