There was no reply.
I slammed my fist on the table. ‘Answer me, damn you! No servant of mine leaves without my permission.’
‘Perhaps she was afraid of the Yorkshiremen,’ the cook suggested. ‘Is it true the rebels are camped on Smithfield?’
‘Certainly not! That is a silly rumour. She had no cause to run away and leave her mistress. Who is saying such things?’
‘Most of the people round about — and the servants you sent down from London, Master. They say there’s panic in the City and like to be war, as in our grandsires’ day. They reckon we’ll be no safer here than in West Cheap.’
‘That is foolish scare-mongering.’ I tried to sound calm and reassuring. ‘It was only as a precaution that I sent everyone down from Goldsmith’s Row. The rebellion is all in the North. You are safe here. Now, who is looking after Mistress Treviot?’
Again the exchange of embarrassed glances. At last the cook said, ‘That will be your… friend, Master Thomas.’
‘You mean Mistress Garney?’
The woman nodded.
I strode back to the hall. Lizzie was standing before the fire, cradling Raphael in her arms. Before I could speak she raised a finger to her lips. ‘Wait while I put him down,’ she said quietly.
When she returned and we were seated by the fire, I asked, ‘What has been happening here? The servants seem terrified, Margaret has disappeared and my mother is getting worse.’
Lizzie nodded. ‘Aye, I’ve seen less juggle-headed souls in Bedlam.’
‘But why? Has there been trouble — strangers calling, people making threats? Is there danger? Do you think anyone has traced you here from Southwark?’
Her face twisted into its familiar scowl. ‘If you think I’ve brought danger to your household, you can send me back. I’m only here as your conscience, anyway.’
‘What is that supposed to mean?’ I tried to keep the anger out of my voice.
‘You sent me here to do what you’ve no liking for — to care for your mother and your son.’
‘That is not true. I am trying to do the best for everyone. There are terrible things happening and I just want to be sure that you are all safe here. Can you not credit me with some finer feelings?’
Lizzie shrugged and stretched out her hands towards the glowing logs. ‘Bad things are happening here, too,’ she said. ‘Three men were arrested in Ightham for speaking against the closure of a local nunnery and there was a brawl in the church on Sunday when someone tried to pull the preacher out of the pulpit. You talk about being safe, is anyone safe anywhere?’
‘I don’t know. All I can do is try to protect everyone under this roof.’
After a pause, I asked, ‘What became of Margaret and why did she leave?’
‘She found your mother difficult to handle. I tried to help. She resented it.’ Lizzie stared into the red heart of the fire and added, ‘They all hate me. They think I’ve brought bad luck to Hemmings.’
‘You must not pay any attention to such nonsense,’ I said. ‘Anyway if anyone is a courier of bad luck it’s me.’ In as few words as possible I told her about Robert’s murder and the mystery assassin.
Lizzie showed no emotion. ‘Death and trouble seem to follow you everywhere,’ she commented eventually.
‘I was just wondering…’ I faltered. ‘Look, I don’t want you to take this the wrong way… I’m completely at a loss because this creature lives in a world I know nothing about. Can you think of anyone who might be able to tell me something about such an assassin.’
Her reply was prompt. She turned to face me. ‘No, and if I did, I wouldn’t tell you.’
‘Lizzie, I…’
She stood abruptly. ‘You talk about keeping us all safe and in the next breath you tell me you want to stalk a murderer. God, Mary and all the angels, I see now why your mother is beside her wits. ’Tis in the family. You’re all mad!’ She turned to walk away.
I stood in her path and grabbed her arm. ‘Lizzie, I owe it to Robert. I have to find this villain.’
‘Go on, then!’ Her face was inches from my own, her cheeks flushed with anger. ‘Get yourself killed. I’ll lose no sleep over that. But what’s to become of everyone here… poor Mistress Treviot… and little Raphy. He has no mother and now you want to make him an orphan. And all out of some petty thirst for vengeance. Do you think that’s what your precious Robert wants? Is he looking down from heaven,’ she crossed herself, ‘and urging you to throw away everything, destroy even more lives? Some friend that! Now let go or, by the saints, I’ll kill you myself!’
I retained my grasp. ‘Lizzie, please listen. All you say is absolutely true and don’t think I haven’t thought of it. In fact, I’ve thought of little else these past twenty-four hours and more. But things are not that simple.’
‘Why not?’ She shook herself free. ‘You can leave everything to the coroner and the constables. ’Tis their job. I doubt they’ll find the assassin but your conscience will be clear.’
‘I have no choice. If it was just a matter of getting justice for Robert and his widow, I might walk away. I don’t think I would but it’s possible and your arguments just might persuade me. But what if the murderer and his paymaster are really after me? Suppose Seagrave’s family is determined to avenge his death. They blame me… and probably you. And they certainly have money enough to pay a professional killer.’
‘But, you don’t know — ’
‘No, I don’t! That’s the trouble. I just don’t know what all this is about. What I do know is that until the mystery of Robert’s death is solved, none of us may be safe… not me, not my mother, not my son… and not you. Whatever you may think of me, I have the utmost respect and… admiration for you. Do you think I can stand by and do nothing while there is just a chance that all our lives might be in danger?’
Lizzie sank on to a stool. She groaned. ‘I should have known you were trouble the first time I set eyes on you. If I had not been such a fool and taken pity on you…’ Her hand went to her cheek and she left the sentence hanging.
‘I shall always be grateful for that,’ I said. ‘Is there really nothing you can tell me that might help settle this matter quickly?’
She sat staring into the hearth for a long time before answering. At last she said, ‘Very well. Go to the Red Lamb beyond Southwark. Go in broad daylight and when there are many people abroad and, in God’s name, don’t go alone. Ask for Doggett. John Doggett knows everything but tells nothing unless he is sure it’s safe… and unless the price is right. You might take Ned to vouch for you. Doggett and his associates don’t care much for strangers.’
Chapter 13
The following morning, before I made the return journey to London, I called the whole household together. I had to exhort them to vigilance without alarming them — no easy matter. I told them not to believe wild rumours about the northern rebels. The king’s army, I assured them, had the situation under control. London, I reported, was its usual busy but calm self. Nevertheless the disturbed times inevitably encouraged an increase in lawlessness and they were to be on their guard, especially if they encountered strangers. On no account were the doors of Hemmings to be opened to anyone unknown. In private I instructed my steward to employ all the extra men he needed to patrol the estate. He was also to find a competent and trustworthy replacement for Margaret. In the meantime, I told him, Mistress Garney would attend my mother as well as my son and should be treated with courtesy by all the servants, if they valued their jobs. Part of me — a large part — wanted to stay longer but if I was to have any chance of locating the man I was looking for, I would have to act quickly.
On my way through Southwark later that day I called at St Swithun’s House in the hope of enlisting Ned’s help. He was not there so I left a message asking him to call at Goldsmith’s Row as soon as he could.
Ned came that evening and I settled him in my chamber with a glass of sack while I recounted the circumstances of Robert’s death.