‘Words fail me, sir. Sorbus insists the man never set foot on our land, but I do not know whether to believe him. If such men have been wandering around Giltspur House, then none of us can sleep easy in our beds.’
‘You see, what worries me, Mr Giltspur, is how Kat – Katherine – gained access to the strong room and how she was able to remove so much gold and silver unseen. From what I know of Giltspur House, you have many guards. How would she effect such a crime undisturbed? Nor can I understand how she did it without the aid of an accomplice. So much precious metal would be no easy thing for a young woman to drag away. Unfortunately, your grandmother refused to sanction a search of the house, which might have revealed much.’
‘And who would do the searching? She would never allow strangers to trample across her property.’
Perhaps, thought Shakespeare, there were too many other secrets concealed within those walls.
‘You believe then that she did not work alone?’ Giltspur continued. ‘You seem to be saying this Will Cane was her partner in the crime of robbery as well as murder.’
‘I didn’t say that.’
‘But the implication . . .’
‘Was yours to read. For myself, the whole thing is a maze or puzzle. Cane said he was offered a hundred pounds. From what I know he was quite specific about that. That does not sound like a man taking a share of thousands of pounds. Nor does it explain why he killed your uncle or why he was so quick to implicate his so-called acomplice, Kat.’
‘Your point is taken, but the riddle is far from solved. I still find myself wondering whether Cane and Katherine were . . .’
He hesitated, then spoke the word low. ‘Lovers. If he was in the
lady’s maid’s chamber, why not the lady’s too?’
‘Do you believe that, Mr Giltspur? For I do not.’
‘Well, as you say, it is indeed a puzzle. Grandame and I would be most grateful if you could solve it. The Giltspurs are a wealthy family, but that will not last long if our gold and silver disappears in such quantities. Did she tell you, too, that the Giltspur Diamond is missing?’
The small hairs on the back of Shakespeare’s neck stood up. ‘No. She refused to even discuss the jewel.’
Arthur Giltspur all but laughed. ‘I think she is ashamed as much as she is distressed at its loss.’
‘Ashamed?’
‘Such a valuable piece. One hundred carats. It is the size of a small egg. I had always thought she kept it separate from the other treasures. Now I am not so sure. She is extremely secretive about such matters.’
Shakespeare tried to make sense of this news. Why would the old woman call him in to investigate the disappearance of the gold and silver but not mention the Giltspur Diamond?
‘I believe Grandame has promised to reward you handsomely if you can bring the culprit to the noose.’
Shakespeare met Giltspur’s eyes. ‘I think you must know that money is not the reason I have agreed to help with the inquiry, sir.’ Shakespeare finished his beer and stood.
‘Off so soon, Mr Shakespeare? Perhaps I could teach you some strokes.’
‘Your sporting prowess is remarkable. I can imagine you must be an exceedingly fast runner.’
‘I suppose I am. Yes, I skip about the tennis court quickly enough. But what a strange thing to say, Mr Shakespeare.’
Shakespeare smiled again and handed his empty blackjack to a passing footman. ‘Think nothing of it, Mr Giltspur. My mind sometimes travels in curious directions, that is all. One more thing: did Sir Robert perhaps mention the Smith sisters?’
Giltspur frowned in curious bewilderment. ‘Smith sisters? What are they?’
‘Whores, Mr Giltspur.’
‘Well, well, the Smith sisters, eh? Has Robert been up to some mischief ? I shall make a fine jest of it at his expense.’
‘Indeed.’ Shakespeare nodded his farewell and began to walk away. He could not get the picture of Huckerbee and Giltspur out of his mind. Somehow seeing them here in the different context of court, with thoughts of gold in his head, changed everything.
Shakespeare found Goodfellow Savage in the King’s Head, by St Giles in the Fields. He was drinking with Dominic de Warre, at the younger man’s expense. De Warre looked at Shakespeare through bleary eyes and offered no word of welcome, merely continued to sup unsteadily.
‘We are all to meet at the Three Tuns in Newgate Street,’ Savage said when Shakespeare had ordered himself wine. ‘Will you come with us, John?’
‘I will.’
Dominic de Warre grunted and announced to no one in particular that he needed a piss. With glazed eye and teetering step, he stumbled outside into the night.
‘He is as drunk as a seasick dog.’
‘Don’t blame me, John. He has been boozing all day. He called on me this evening and begged me to go out with him. I only agreed to accompany him so that I might keep an eye on him, for I feared he would be easy meat for footpads.’
‘But why do you have anything to do with him? If you need a few shillings, I can help you.’ He poured a few coins from his purse into his left hand and held them out to Savage. ‘Here, take this.’
‘I have no way of repaying you, nor any prospect of ever being able to do so.’
‘It would please me, Goodfellow. Take it.’
Savage hesitated, then nodded. ‘Thank you, John. You are a good friend.’ He looked at the coins and counted them out. Two pounds and an angel. ‘This is too much.’
‘No, it is not, and nor am I a good friend. I wish to God that you had never entrusted your secrets to me. If you want to repay me the loan, keep young Dominic de Warre away from Babington. We all know the dangers, but to him it is a fine game. He should be at his studies, not talking sedition.’
‘Then let us convey him back to Barnard’s Inn and put him to bed. He will sleep like a babe while we head for the Three Tuns. I am told that Anthony has tidings of great moment to impart to us.’
De Warre came back into the taproom and stood in front of Shakespeare, his face so close that Shakespeare could smell his beer-drenched breath.
‘You are Walsingham’s man. You work for the tyrant.’
Shakespeare stood back and threw a look at Savage. ‘I think it is time to go.’
‘Mr Shakespeare is one of us, Dominic.’ Savage’s voice was quiet. ‘You would do well to listen to him.’
‘You look a good man, Mr Shakespeare. Are you a good man, or are you a tool of the tyranny? Do you stretch men on the rack and press women to death for the crime of being a Catholic?’
‘You are drunk, Mr de Warre.’
‘And so I speak false because I have taken beer?’
‘This is a public place. Walsingham’s spies are everywhere.’
‘One day, Mr Shakespeare, men and women will worship free in this land. All will be as one. And none shall have their bellies ripped open to spill their bowels for their faith. Would you say that were a good world to hope for?’
Shakespeare did not reply.
‘I drink to the Pope and the death of tyrants.’ De Warre said the words without lowering his voice. Though his speech was slurred, the words were all too easily heard. Two men drinking nearby turned and looked upon him as though he were mad.
Savage was behind de Warre. He had his upper arms in an iron grip and was pulling the young man towards the door.
‘All tyrants,’ Dominic bellowed. ‘Topcliffe, Torquemada, Protestant and Catholic. I curse the torturers-’
But before he could say any more, he was out in the street and Shakespeare was wrapping a kerchief about his mouth to shut him up.
They left a subdued de Warre at his lodgings in Barnard’s. He stood unsteadily, glaring through half-closed eyes. ‘I am coming with you, Goodfellow,’ he said.
‘No, Dominic, you are cup-shotten. Bed is the place for you. I think you will need a seven-night to sleep it off.’