‘He meant no offence,’ said Bartholomew quickly. ‘He is just surprised to see you here.’ He glanced at Michael. ‘So am I, to be honest. What is going on?’
Lucy sat again. ‘My befriending of Donwich was part of their plan,’ she said. ‘Michael’s and my brother’s, I mean.’
‘Do not tell me that you recruited her to compromise Donwich’s morals, and thus strengthen your own claim, Brother!’ exclaimed William. ‘That was underhand. Well done!’
Michael was indignant. ‘I would never stoop to such low tactics! I secured Lucy’s help over something far more important than who will be the next Chancellor.’
William was bemused. ‘Is there something more important than that?’
The monk’s plump face broke into another happy grin. ‘I have been negotiating an arrangement with the vicars-general – namely, that all the priests in the Canterbury Province should only be permitted to study here. Any cleric wanting to go to Oxford during the next decade must apply for a special licence and pay us compensation.’
He laughed with the sheer giddy joy of it, while Bartholomew supposed he should have guessed that Michael had been working on something huge when all three vicars-general and their retinues had arrived. Clearly, such an enormous party would not have been needed to pass judgement on the legitimacy of an election.
Brampton hastened to elaborate, also smiling. ‘It means we shall have a steady and reliable flow of students for the next ten years, not to mention the fact that our pact comes with a substantial donation from the archbishop’s coffers.’
William blinked stupidly at Michael. ‘So you have not been defending yourself to the vicars-general these last few days? And the chancellorship–’
Michael interrupted with an impatient gesture. ‘Do you really think important men like Teofle would waste time examining an election organised by me? A man they know and trust? Of course our meetings were not about that!’
‘Donwich played right into our hands by challenging Michael,’ crowed Brampton. ‘I could have kissed him! It gave us the perfect excuse to fetch them here early. Now we can recruit new students over the summer, instead of waiting for the next academic year – which we would have had to do if the vicars had come in August, as they originally intended.’
William continued to look bewildered, although Bartholomew began to appreciate why Michael had considered his work with the Archbishop’s agents more pressing than catching a killer. He was not surprised that it had caused him sleepless nights, as it was clearly one of the most significant coups the University had ever won.
‘So you knew Donwich was innocent of murder,’ surmised William, ‘but you let Matt persecute him anyway, to distract him from what you were really doing.’
The smile faded from Michael’s face. ‘No, I would never have done that – to Matt or to Donwich. Matt genuinely believed that Donwich was the most likely suspect for Aynton’s murder, and I had no reason to doubt his assessment.’
‘Unfortunately, we have just learned that Donwich has an alibi,’ said Bartholomew, and explained how the Master of Clare Hall had been shadowed home by March and the chaplains.
‘Pity,’ sighed Michael, ‘although I am not surprised. He is unpleasant, but I cannot see him as a killer, even so.’
‘You should have told us what you were doing, Brother,’ said William accusingly. ‘We are your friends. We might have been able to help.’
‘I wanted to, believe me,’ said Michael quietly. ‘But everyone involved in the negotiations swore oaths of secrecy – at my insistence. You see, if they had failed, I wanted to be able to deny they ever happened, so as to avoid everyone thinking that Canterbury considers our little community of scholars a poor second to Oxford.’
‘Well, it is done now,’ said Bartholomew. ‘And everyone will be delighted when they hear what you have won for us.’
‘Not everyone,’ said Michael ruefully. ‘That was part of the problem. Donwich and some of his supporters feel that we are too large already. If they had learned what I was doing, they would have sabotaged my efforts.’
‘How?’ asked William, bristling at the idea.
‘By reminding the vicars-general that Oxford has a lot more to offer. And if the other place had been chosen, it would have been the end of us. We are smaller and more vulnerable, and losing all the priests in the Province of Canterbury would have seen us wither and die.’
‘But now Oxford will wither and die?’ asked William keenly.
Brampton laughed. ‘They are powerful enough to survive without Canterbury for a few years. We are not.’
‘It was the most terrifying task I have ever undertaken,’ admitted Michael. ‘The stakes could not have been higher – the very existence of the University itself.’
‘He is the only man in the whole country who could have convinced Teofle, Ely and Tinmouth that we are worthier than a foundation that is older, richer, bigger and more stable,’ said Brampton, giving the monk a shy smile. ‘You should be proud of him.’
‘Do not scowl, Father!’ chided Michael. ‘Later today, you will have the happy duty of informing your fellow Franciscans to expect a massive surge in numbers next term.’
‘They will be pleased,’ acknowledged William. ‘But you trusted Brampton and his sister before your Michaelhouse friends. That is hurtful.’
‘I am his Senior Proctor,’ said Brampton haughtily. ‘Of course he confided in me. However, he did not recruit Lucy, I did. Her remit was to prevent Donwich from bursting in on the negotiations and spoiling everything. I never told her why.’
‘It is true, Father,’ said Lucy. ‘And in return, my brother has agreed to drop his lawsuit against Narboro. Hopefully, it will not be too late for me to find another suitor.’
‘But Lucy – and you, Brampton – befriended Donwich long before he challenged Michael’s election,’ Bartholomew pointed out. ‘How did you know he might be a problem?’
‘Because, as Junior Proctor, I monitored all the University’s most troublesome scholars,’ replied Brampton. ‘Thus I was able to predict exactly who would need distracting when Michael began his work. It would have looked suspicious for Lucy to bewitch Donwich at the last minute, so I arranged for it to happen in advance.’
‘It is true,’ said Lucy. ‘I admit I was uncomfortable not knowing why I had to inveigle my way into his affections, but needs must. However, I am glad it is over. I did not enjoy deceiving him – he was always kind to me.’
‘She is not my only agent,’ bragged Brampton. ‘I had several other schemes in play, all designed to ensure that powerful or vocal scholars did not make a nuisance of themselves. And none did, even though some of them are very difficult characters.’
‘It is what makes you such a good proctor,’ put in Michael appreciatively.
‘I suppose Ufford and Rawby from King’s Hall knew what you were doing, too,’ said Bartholomew. ‘They were suspiciously eager to fetch the vicars-general from Ely, and then host them extravagantly in King’s Hall.’
‘My College will benefit the most from the arrangement Michael has made,’ said Brampton smugly. ‘All the wealthiest and most influential of these new students will choose us, so yes, Ufford and Rawby were recruited to help, although, like Lucy, they did not know why. They were just told that it would be to King’s Hall’s advantage.’
Michael stood abruptly. ‘But pleasant though it is to bask in our glory, we have a killer to catch.’
‘It is too late,’ said William sullenly. ‘There are only a few hours left of term, so you will have to be content with winning hundreds more scholars for the University and being confirmed as our Chancellor.’