His master was at once annoyed and reassured. He was angry that his assumptions about his rival were false. Mauger Livarot had not instigated the theft nor, it now seemed, the murder of the steward. At the same time, Hermer was exonerated. Instead of being another traitor in the household, he was a faithful servant who became a hapless victim. It was one consolation; there was another. Mauger Livarot, it now transpired, did not know the true origin of the gold elephants. Fortunately, that had been kept from him. Richard de Fontenel was baffled by the revelations. If his rival was not responsible for Hermer’s death, the killer had to be someone else. He looked back at Clamahoc.
‘Who killed Hermer?’ he said, still holding the torch.
‘I don’t know, my lord.’
‘But you were listening outside my door.’
‘Only until you called for Hermer to bring the wedding gift,’ said Clamahoc. ‘I hid in the kitchen until he went out again. I heard him open the door of the strong room to put the gold elephants away again.’
‘What else did you hear?’
‘What you said to the lady Adelaide.’
‘Didn’t you hear a cry from Hermer?’
‘No, my lord.’
‘Not even the sound of a scuffle?’
‘Nothing. I had my ear pressed to your door.’
‘But while you were doing that, someone was overpowering Hermer and stealing my priceless wedding gift. They must’ve made some sort of noise.’
‘I didn’t hear them, my lord,’ whispered Clamahoc. ‘Truly, I didn’t.’
‘Who else was in the house at that time?’
‘Nobody, as far as I know.’
‘Then how did Hermer and those gold elephants disappear?’
‘It’s a mystery.’
‘Don’t you dare lie to me, Clamahoc,’ said the other, waving the flame close to his victim’s face again. ‘Tell me everything you know about Hermer’s death.’
‘There’s nothing to tell, I swear.’
‘You were the one who brought his hands back in that box.’
‘I found it lying outside your door, my lord.’
‘Did you put it there in the first place?’
‘No!’ protested the other as the torch made his eyes smart. ‘If I’d known what was in that box, I’d never have looked into it. The sight of those hands turned my stomach.’
‘Be glad that I don’t cut off your own hands and hang them up in front of you.’
‘Please don’t!’ begged Clamahoc. ‘I’ll do anything for you.’
‘It’s too late.’
‘But it isn’t, my lord. It’s true that I spied on you but I can work against the lord Mauger instead. I can find out things that will be of use to you,’ the man gabbled, desperate to avoid further punishment. ‘I can mislead them, if you wish. I can give false information to Drogo. I’ll do anything, if only you’ll spare me.’
Richard de Fontenel handed the torch back to the servant and toyed with his whip. He looked at the sweating face and blood-covered torso in front of him. Clamahoc had suffered enough for the time being. He might yet come in useful. His master turned to the two brawny men in attendance on the beating.
‘Lock him up without food,’ he ordered. ‘Just give him water.’
After one final swipe with his whip at Clamahoc’s back, he walked quickly away.
To travellers who had come all the way from Winchester, it was a relatively short ride. The lady Adelaide lived in the hundred of Humbleyard, slightly to the east of Heigham. It was attractive countryside, making the journey from Norwich a source of pleasure and curiosity. Alys and Golde were accompanied by four of Ralph’s men, for whom it was an easy assignment and a welcome change from the long ride to the abbey of St Benet.
‘What did you think of him, Golde?’ asked Alys.
‘Of whom?’
‘Richard de Fontenel.’
‘I thought him a veritable ogre.’
‘Could the lady Adelaide ever love such a man?’
‘The question I’d ask is whether or not he could ever love her,’ said Golde with scepticism. ‘All that interests a man like him is power. That’s what he loves. Power over his servants, power over his rivals and power over his wife.’
‘She must see that.’
‘The lady Adelaide is an astute woman. She sees everything.’
‘Then why does she let such a man near her?’
‘He’s one of two suitors, remember. We haven’t seen the other yet, though Ralph tells me that the lord Mauger is every bit as abominable.’
Alys gave a wan smile. ‘It makes me feel grateful for Gervase.’
‘Yes,’ said Golde. ‘Ralph may not have wooed me with a pair of gold elephants but he’s a paragon compared with that oaf who interrupted our banquet the other night.’
‘Which one of them will the lady Adelaide choose?’
‘I don’t know, Alys. Let’s hope that she tells us.’
They rode on until the manor house rose up before them in the middle distance. Constructed of local flint, it was a long, low building with large windows and a thatched roof whose eaves undulated gently like golden waves. At the front was an avenue of trees and shrubs, at the rear a well-tended garden. It was an impressive house, larger than the one that Golde shared with Ralph on his Hampshire estate and much bigger than the modest abode in Winchester where Gervase and Alys lived. The visitors were duly struck with the size and solidity of the exterior. Once inside the house, however, they had even more cause for approbation.
‘What a beautiful house, my lady!’ exclaimed Golde admiringly.
‘Thank you.’
‘There’s so much colour and ornament.’
The lady Adelaide nodded. ‘I could never live in drab surroundings.’
‘It’s more comfortable than the castle,’ said Alys in wonderment.
‘Give the lord Roger more time and that will be improved out of all recognition. It was only built of timber in the interests of speed. When a stone fortress is erected, I’m sure it will be more daunting on the outside and more opulent within. That, at least,’ she said with a confiding smile, ‘was what the lady Matilda told me. Norwich is still growing. It’s only a matter of time before Bishop William moves his seat here.’
‘Why, my lady?’ Golde wanted to know.
‘Thetford is too small a town from which to administer a diocese.’
‘Is it?’
‘Can you imagine anyone wanting to build a cathedral there? Norwich is the only fitting place for such a structure. Come back in five or ten years and we’ll have a stone castle and the foundations of a magnificent cathedral.’
They were seated in the parlour of the house. Golde and Alys had both worn their finest attire but it seemed dowdy beside the pale blue silk chemise and gown of the lady Adelaide. A gold necklace and a large brooch sparkled in the sunlight that flooded in through the open shutters, and her fingers were adorned with rings. The lady Adelaide looked supremely at home in a room that featured oak furniture, splendid wood carvings, a series of tapestries on the walls and some gleaming gold plate, worthy of display in any cathedral. Sitting in the middle of it all, she exuded wealth and sophistication. As she talked about the future of Norwich, her visitors were astonished at how well-informed she was.
‘You seem to know everything about the city, my lady,’ said Alys, curiously.
‘I like to keep abreast of affairs. I know that women are not supposed to take an interest in such things but I don’t see why men should make all the decisions.’
‘I agree with that,’ said Golde, firmly.
‘Do you influence the lord Ralph’s decisions?’
‘As often as I can.’
‘What about you, Alys? Your husband seems to me a most considerate man.’
‘He is, my lady. Gervase is an angel. He does everything I could wish.’
‘Does he discuss his work with you?’
‘No,’ admitted Alys. ‘He fears it would bore me.’
‘Is that the only reason?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well,’ said the lady Adelaide, casually, ‘when I spoke to the lord Ralph at the banquet, he told me that this was the first time Gervase had brought you with him on one of his outings as a royal commissioner. Whereas you, I believe,’ she went on, looking at Golde, ‘have been at your husband’s side a number of times.’