Luke gave a strangled gurgle that might have been an attempt at laughter, then groaned. ‘My head’s bursting.’
‘Roger!’ Margaret’s voice rang out peremptorily. ‘Jenny’s waiting for us.’
I grimaced at Luke and moved away. Then, realizing that he might not yet have heard the news, turned back.
‘Robin Avenel’s dead,’ I said. ‘Murdered. That idiot Richard Manifold has arrested Burl Hodge.’
I hadn’t thought it possible for Luke’s face to get any whiter than it already was, but I was wrong. Every last trace of blood seemed to disappear, leaving his skin, beneath the dirt, the colour of old parchment. He struggled for words and finally whispered, ‘Marianne … How’s Mistress Avenel?’
‘I don’t know,’ I answered, my sympathy for him evaporating. ‘My concern’s with Jenny Hodge. I’m sure Mistress Avenel won’t prove inconsolable.’ Then my conscience got the better of me. I patted one of his hands, where it hung limply through the boards. ‘I’ll let you know if I get any news of her.’
As I moved out of range, another mob of children arrived to pelt Luke and the unfortunate apprentices with handfuls of dung which they had stolen from a cart further along the street. But by this time, Margaret Walker, together with Adela and the children, had walked on to the Hodges’ cottage, so there was no one to reprimand them.
The one-roomed dwelling was overflowing with people — concerned neighbours who had been told of Burl’s arrest and had come to express their outrage. There were a few faces I failed to recognize: strangers from without the city walls. I knew that Jenny and Burl were Lollard sympathizers, although the fact was never mentioned aloud.
‘Roger!’ As soon as Jenny caught sight of me, she leaped up from her stool, pushing aside her many well-wishers, and came towards me, hands outstretched. She had been crying; her face was puffy and tear-stained, and when I took her in my arms, I could feel her trembling violently. Jack and Dick were right behind her, her protectors; two boys who had been forced to grow up overnight and learn to act and think like men.
‘It’s all right,’ I soothed, awkwardly patting her back. ‘It’s all right.’
But of course it wasn’t all right: everyone knew that. Nevertheless, they all looked hopeful, as if they were expecting me to perform an instant miracle and tell them who had really killed Robin Avenel. I glanced despairingly at Adela, but she was busy soothing Adam, who was not only hungry, but highly annoyed at finding himself in a crowd of people to whom he had taken immediate exception. Margaret had her hands similarly full with our two elder children and the dog.
Something had to be done. I raised my voice. ‘I should like to speak to Mistress Hodge and her sons alone, and I’d be grateful if you would all go home. Margaret, take Adela and the children back with you and feed them. Hercules, as well. It’s past their dinnertime. I’ll join you later.’
There was a good deal of muttering and indignant sniffing, but eventually, urged more diplomatically by Jenny and her boys, the neighbours dispersed one by one until I was left alone with her and Jack and Dick. Adela pressed my arm lovingly as she went, her way of wishing me good luck.
I sighed. I was going to need it.
Thirteen
I knew Jenny’s story would be the same one she had already told to Richard Manifold, but I wanted to assess her truthfulness for myself. In spite of my remarks concerning her honesty, I thought it possible that she might lie to save her husband.
‘Burl came to find me shortly after the fighting started,’ she said, drawing me forward to sit at the table. ‘We both of us knew that apprentices’ riots can turn violent. It was obvious Burl had been brawling, but I didn’t realize then it was with you. We looked for the boys to make sure they weren’t involved.’
‘Got more sense,’ grunted Jack.
‘More sense,’ agreed Dick, and I remembered how, when they were children, he had always echoed his elder brother.
‘We never touch cuckoo-foot ale,’ Jack went on. ‘We’ve seen what it leads to. Seen what it leads to with Father.’
‘With Father.’
Jenny flushed painfully. ‘That’s one of Burl’s failings, Roger, as you know. He can’t hold his drink. Anyway,’ she continued, ‘we found the boys, came home and waited for the Deputy Sheriff and his men to arrive. Once they did, the riot fizzled out, as we’d known it would. Then we went to bed.’
‘You two, as well?’ I glanced across the table at the boys, who nodded. ‘And did you sleep soundly? You didn’t wake up?’
This time they shook their heads, although I thought Jack hesitated a second or two before doing so.
I looked back at Jenny. ‘And you and Burl? You slept the night through as well?’
She returned my look defiantly. ‘Yes. Both of us.’ Her expression softened and she appeared to be on the verge of tears. ‘Oh, Roger! I’ve shared the same bed with Burl for over sixteen years. His slightest movement wakes me. I think I’m conscious of his body next to mine even when I’m asleep. I should know if he got out of bed, let alone if he left the cottage.’
I believed her. She and Burl had their disagreements, but there was a closeness between them that I had often envied. I leaned forward, resting my folded arms on the table.
‘Jenny, forgive me, but I have to ask you this. Even if you suspected Burl of being Robin Avenel’s murderer, wouldn’t you still protest his innocence? Wouldn’t you protect him?’
Jack jumped to his feet. ‘If that’s all you have to say, chapman, get out now!’
‘Get out now!’ came the faithful echo.
‘Sit down, the pair of you!’ Jenny ordered fiercely. ‘And mind your manners. Roger’s here to help us. He can’t do that if he doesn’t get at the truth.’ The boys subsided reluctantly and she turned to me. ‘Yes, I would. Of course I would. I’d even endanger my immortal soul and commit perjury for Burl if I thought it necessary. But it’s not necessary. I swear to you, Roger, as I trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and hope for eternal salvation, Burl did not stir from my side all night.’
I laid a hand over one of hers. ‘Your word’s good enough for me, Jenny, but we’ll need more evidence than that to convince Sergeant Manifold that he has the wrong man. What was Burl’s quarrel with Master Avenel?’
I knew, of course, but I wanted her version of events.
‘It was so foolish. When I was a girl, I worked for Gregory Alefounder and his family. Marianne Alefounder, as she was then, was a pretty, lively little soul, very spoilt and allowed to run a bit wild. She spent more time in the kitchens than she did at her lessons. I was the youngest of the maids and she took a fancy to me. I taught her how to cook, and in spite of the difference in our ages, we became friends. And we stayed friends, even after I got married and she grew up. Her father made no objection. But when she married Robin Avenel, it was a different story. He found out that she still came to visit me and was furious. He told me to my face that no wife of his was going to consort with a low-born wench who’d worked in his father-in-law’s kitchen and was married to a tenter. I didn’t take any notice. Nor did Marianne; she just went on coming to see me. But when Burl found out what had happened, he was angrier than I’ve ever known him. I begged him to let the matter drop, but he swore he was going to get even with Master Avenel. I know that sounds bad, but it didn’t mean he wanted to murder Robin. The truth is, he’s never liked him. All those airs and affectations …’ Jenny’s voice faltered, then died altogether.
I glanced at Jack. ‘Did either of you two know about this?’
Jack shook his head. ‘If we had,’ he said grimly, ‘we’d probably have beaten Robin Avenel senseless ourselves.’
‘Ourselves,’ agreed Dick.
‘Nonsense,’ declared their mother stoutly. ‘You wouldn’t have been so foolish. Indeed,’ she added, ‘I was certain Burl himself had thought better of tackling Master Avenel. It was just unfortunate that Robin decided, for some reason or another, to come into Redcliffe last night, when Burl had had too much cuckoo-foot ale to drink. But to suggest Burl murdered him is ridiculous. You know him, Roger. He really wouldn’t hurt a fly.’