‘I wondered if he might have come here,’ said Nicholas.
‘Why should he do that?’
‘I understand that he used to play with your children, Master Enderby.’
‘He did, sir,’ admitted the other, face darkening. ‘But that was some time ago when his father and I were on speaking terms. Jerome Stratton was a friend of mine once even though we are rivals in business. Yet he suddenly announced that his son would never come here again and that my children were no longer welcome at Holly Lodge.’
‘Did he give no reason?’
‘None that made any sense.’
‘Might not Davy be defying his father on purpose in coming here?’
‘He might,’ said Enderby, ‘but that’s not the case. It would be a wasted journey on the lad’s part because my children are not even at Oakwood House. My wife has taken them to visit their aunt and uncle in Chelmsford.’
‘I see.’
‘They’ll not be back until tomorrow and I’ll hold them to that.’
‘Will you, Master Enderby?’
‘Of course,’ replied the other with a chortle. ‘We’ve been invited to Silvermere to watch Henry the Fifth. How often do we get a chance out here to see a famous theatre company from London? Sir Michael is keeping open house while you’re here.’
‘His hospitality has been overwhelming.’
‘I’m sorry that Davy Stratton has not found it to his taste. But, then, I’m rather surprised that the lad has been apprenticed to you in the first place. I’d assumed that he’d follow his father into trade.’
‘Not all sons of merchants wish to ape their fathers, Master Enderby.’
‘Mine do,’ said Enderby firmly. ‘I made sure of that.’ His eyes narrowed. ‘It will be interesting to see how Jerome Stratton greets us at Silvermere. He’s sure to be there.’
‘By that time, we hope to have Davy back in harness.’
‘Did you have any forewarning of his disappearance?’
‘A little,’ conceded Nicholas. ‘He hasn’t taken to the life. Davy’s been fretful and picked fights with the other apprentices.’
‘That doesn’t sound like him. Whenever he was here, Davy always behaved very well. It was my own sons who had to be schooled for rough play. Poor lad! He must be so unhappy to run away from you like that.’
‘It’s upset us all, Master Enderby.’
‘What does his father say?’
‘He knows nothing about it yet,’ said Nicholas, ‘and there’s no reason why he should if we can retrieve Davy. The one certain fact is that he’s not gone home to Holly Lodge. I don’t think Master Stratton would be too pleased to see him.’
‘No, Jerome could be very strict with the lad.’
‘So I gather. But I’ll trespass on your time no longer, sir. Davy is not here, alas, so I’ll have to continue my search elsewhere.’
‘How are you finding things at Silvermere?’
‘We’ve no complaints at all, Master Enderby. Sir Michael has seen us like old friends. He could not have done more for Westfield’s Men.’
‘Romball Taylard is the man to thank.’
‘Yes, we’ve seen rather a lot of the steward.’
‘He runs the household superbly,’ said Enderby. ‘Taylard is not the most appealing individual but he knows how to control his staff. Anyone who has worked at Silvermere is a cut above the ordinary servant. Well,’ he added, tossing a look over his shoulder. ‘Kate is a perfect example.’
‘Kate?’
‘Katherine Gowan. One of my own servants here. A splendid young woman. She was employed at Silvermere for a while then she moved to Lincoln. When she wanted to come back to the area, I offered her a post at once and have never regretted it. Silvermere leaves its mark upon people.’
Nicholas gave a pained smile. ‘I fancy it will do that to us, Master Enderby.’
‘Good luck with your search.’
‘Thank you.’
‘I hope to see young Davy back on stage tomorrow,’ said Enderby, opening the front door. ‘What can we expect from Henry the Fifth?’
‘Stirring words and hard-fought battles.’
Enderby grinned. ‘Those may occur if I bump into Jerome Stratton.’
‘Has he always been so truculent?’
‘It’s got worse since the death of his wife. That changed everything.’
Nicholas bade him farewell and went out to his horse. Though he had not found Davy, he had learnt facts about him that helped him to understand the boy a little better. He rehearsed them in his mind as he rode through an avenue of trees past the neat lawns with their rectangular flowerbeds and well placed statuary. Nicholas noticed for the first time that the ice in the fountain had melted in the midday sun but all that concerned him was where Davy Stratton had spent a cold night.
When he reached the forest, he had the sensation once more that he was being watched. He could hear no sound of pursuit and wondered if his imagination was playing tricks on him. There was one way to make sure. Instead of looking behind him, he waited until he came to a thick outcrop of bushes that would obscure him from anyone on his tail. Swinging his horse around, he waited for several minutes in his hiding place. It was all to no avail. The only sounds that disturbed the forest were those of the birds. Nicholas pressed on, kicking his horse into a canter along the winding path. Sunshine was slanting in through the branches above him. He was in the heart of the forest when the attack came and it caught him off guard. As he came round a bend and slowed his horse to cross a little stream, there was a sudden explosion only yards away. The horse reared in fright, lost its footing and staggered violently. Nicholas was unseated and thrown into the water. Pulling out his dagger on instinct, he stood up to defend himself but nobody came. Hoofbeats departed at speed among the trees but he could not be sure in which direction they went. What was clear was the fact that he had just had a fortunate escape. Someone had trailed him in order to ambush him.
After reclaiming his own horse, he tethered the animal securely while he went to investigate. The loud report could only have come from a musket. If the ball had missed him, it must have spent its venom elsewhere. He began a long, lonely, painstaking search, first working out where his attacker had been when he fired the shot then trying to guess at its likely trajectory. He poked among bushes, studied the trunks of trees and felt along the ground. It was taxing work but his patience was eventually rewarded. The musket ball had passed perilously close to his head and embedded itself in the mossy interior of a hollow yew. Nicholas used the point of his dagger to dig it out. Aimed at his skull, it soon lay in the palm of his hand. It was a valuable clue.
Mother Pigbone emptied the food into the trough and watched with satisfaction as Beelzebub guzzled it down. She leant over to pat him on the back then played fondly with his ears. Without warning, the boar suddenly raised its head and exposed its teeth.
‘Is someone coming, Beelzebub?’ she asked, listening hard. ‘I’m getting old. Your hearing is so much better than mine.’ She soon picked up the drumming of hoofbeats. ‘Yes, another visitor. As always, you’re right.’
The animal remained alert until the rider brought his horse to a halt. Beelzebub then relaxed and addressed himself to his meal once more. Mother Pigbone grinned.
‘A friend this time, is it?’ she said. ‘Good. No need to let you out again.’
As she turned around, she saw a familiar figure waddling towards her on bow legs, his face pale and lined with anxiety. He touched his hat in a token greeting.
‘Good day, Mother Pigbone.’
‘And to you, sir. What can I do for you this time, Doctor Winche?’
When they resumed their work in the Great Hall, the company continued to work well. It was almost as if Egidius Pye’s arrival had lifted a cloud from them. It soon descended again. Nicholas Bracewell returned without their missing apprentice and there was general disappointment. Lawrence Firethorn was grateful that the book holder had come back unharmed. Calling a break in the rehearsal, he took Nicholas aside to hear the details of his search. Owen Elias joined them.