‘Some of us did, yes.’
‘Then in God’s name, Brother, why didn’t you tell anyone?’
Peter smiled and sat again, resting his hands in his lap with a serene expression. ‘Why should we do that?’
‘If the man was guilty of stealing–’
‘God will know. And God will punish that which He feels He should. It is not my place to accuse or seek another’s punishment.’
‘You knew?’
‘Aye. And I tried to make the boy see by my own example that it was pointless and silly, but he wouldn’t listen to an old fart like me. Besides, I think that there was some coercion used. Perhaps he had committed some more minor crime, and Augerus sought to make him obey his commands to prevent his secret being discovered. That, I think, is most likely. I don’t believe this boy is peculiarly evil.’
‘What sort of hold could Augerus have had on him?’ Baldwin asked.
‘Some trifling matter, Keeper. A youngster is always hungry – perhaps it was merely the naughty theft of a bread roll, or some pieces of sausage from the salsarius’ room? Who can tell? A minor offence like that might have been discovered and the evil, older man used it to bend the younger to his will. Make no mistake, the older will be evil. Not this poor child. And now,’ he added, climbing to his feet, ‘I must warn the Abbot. We know all about the thefts in the Abbey. Although there is one detail I am keen to understand.’
‘What is that?’
‘How he managed to steal the wine. Surely that was a wonderful thing to do. And just think of all the Abbot’s good spiced red wine. I could certainly be persuaded to bribe the lad for that secret, eh, Keeper?’ he said, and winked.
In a moment he was gone and Baldwin sat back on his chair. ‘Well, boy, you still have many secrets which others would like to learn,’ he said wearily.
As Simon left Mark, he gave in once again to the old feelings of despair. The Abbot was right to doubt his abilities. He was nothing more than a fool. Useless. He had no idea who had killed Wally or Hamelin. His enquiry was going nowhere, and so was he. There could be no surprise in the Abbot’s decision to replace him with another man better able to investigate crimes. Almost anyone must be better than him, Simon thought bitterly.
Just for a moment his mind returned to his wife. Meg would take the idea of leaving their house very badly. She would not say anything, of course, she would be entirely loyal and supportive, but he knew she would hate the thought of going from Lydford. They had been very happy there.
Just then, he arrived at the Great Gate. From here he could see the scarred monk leaving the infirmary, and he walked across to him.
‘Not now, Bailiff, please!’ Brother Peter said hastily.
‘What is it?’
‘Gerard has just told us who was guilty. It was Augerus who persuaded the lad to steal.’
‘Yet not who killed Walwynus?’
‘No. Walwynus was alive when I left him, and when I returned after seeing the shepherd, he was not at his house. I came straight back to the Abbey. I spoke to my friend the groom and drank ale with him because Augerus and Mark were away and there was no refreshment.’
Simon nodded. ‘Are you sure of that?’
‘Aye. Why?’
Simon gave him no answer, but stood deep in thought. Obviously the only reason for the lack of drinks was the absence of Augerus and Mark. Ellis had said that Mark had returned and was already in the Abbey when he went to shave some heads later. Perhaps Mark had gone elsewhere, not straight back to his storerooms?
He was about to enter the infirmary when he saw Mark waving to Peter, and Peter hurried over to the salsarius’ room. The two spoke for a moment, and then Peter made straight for the Abbot’s lodging. Mark immediately locked up his room and crossed the court to the infirmary, and entered by the door which Peter had just left.
Simon suddenly had a strange idea… then dismissed it. Surely, he thought, he was leaping to foolish conclusions. To clear his mind, he walked to the trough near the stables and sipped water from his cupped hands. After wiping a little over his face to refresh himself, he stared down into the water.
Wine! Simon had ignored the theft of the wine, at first because the Abbot had told him to leave it alone, and later because there were so many other things for him and Baldwin to consider, with the murder of Wally and Hamelin, but there was still that central problem of the wine. Who had taken it – and why? For some reason he recollected what he had seen when he was leaving the Abbot’s presence that first time, when he had just begun to suspect that Abbot Robert had lost his faith in him: a syphon.
Simon was still standing and thinking when he heard shouting at the entrance to the court. Looking up, he saw Ellis. At his side was an attractive woman, and he had his arms about her waist, while her head rested upon his shoulder. Ellis pointed to him meaningfully.
‘Christ Jesus, what now?’ Simon muttered to himself, and strode forward. ‘Well?’
‘Bailiff, this is my sister. I couldn’t tell you her secret before, but she is happy to tell you herself now.’
Simon glanced at her. ‘Lady? I don’t need to know if it will embarrass you.’
‘Embarrass me?’ She stared at him, her face empty for a moment as she recalled the last minutes she had spent with Joce. A sob threatened to burst from her bosom. All her hopes, which had been crushed on the day of the coining, then briefly fanned to life again today, had at last been shattered in horror as he attempted to throttle her. ‘My Lord, Joce swore his oath of marriage to me, in secret, purely so he could enjoy my body. Then he denied that oath in public, shaming me, and calling me whore. Today I saw him in town, and he assured me that he was my husband, that he would protect me and my child, but then he tried to kill me! He took me by the throat, see?’
Simon could see the red marks of fingers and a thumb. ‘Good Lord! Why?’
‘He wanted me to walk with him to his house. I think he wished to fetch fresh clothes, because he had fallen or been thrown from his horse, but I wouldn’t go with him. I have some pride left, even after his deceits!’
‘What happened then?’
‘He ran from me because two guards saw me being attacked by him at his back doorway.’
Simon nodded. ‘And where did he go?’
Ellis answered. ‘He knocked a man from his horse and stole the beast, riding up the road to the moors.’
‘Then he shall be caught by Sir Tristram’s men,’ Simon stated.
‘Won’t you fetch him?’ Sara asked.
‘I have other pressing matters,’ Simon said as gently as he could.
‘Did you know that Joce beat Wally on the day after the coining?’ Sara interjected quickly. She was determined that the Bailiff should know. Seeing Simon’s quick interest, she told him about Joce’s words. ‘He said he had beaten Wally because Wally told him to leave me alone. Perhaps he did more than beat Wally, though?’ she finished.
Simon nodded doubtfully. No one had seen Joce up on the moors, so far as he knew. Ellis had said that Wally had been in a fight that morning. Maybe it was Joce who had beaten him. Joce himself showed no sign of having been thumped. Could he be so professional that he could protect himself against a strong lad like Wally?
‘I am grateful you told me this,’ he said, signalling to a passing novice.
‘Find Sir Tristram for me, lad. I think he is in the guest house still. Tell him that Joce Blakemoor has taken a horse towards his men.’ Turning to Sara, he added, ‘I shall tell the knight about his escape. Sir Tristram will find him and bring him back, never fear.’
She nodded fretfully. ‘I had hoped you would fetch more men and seek him out.’
‘There is no need,’ Simon said. He could see Sir Tristram, who descended from the guest rooms with a pot of wine in his hand.