‘We knew that. He had the mark of the bloody peacock, didn’t he?’ Ricard snapped. ‘What of it?’
‘I want to know who he is. But I want to know who told him we’d be looking to get Jack, too. Jack said his friend knew we’dbe there. So who told him, eh, Janin?’
‘Not me,’ Janin declared. ‘Did you discuss killing Jack in the street? In a tavern? Where?’
‘In the quiet. We’re not stupid!’
‘Well, I told only Ricard, no one else. Why’d we want to go to the man who got us into this mess? You must have been overheardby someone.’
‘Look, I’m sorry, I know you don’t want me to say it, but that man is responsible for Peter’s death,’ Adam said. ‘I neverliked Jack, but you wouldn’t listen to me.’
‘Oh, shut up, you prickle! You were the one who demanded that we should take him on, and don’t ballock about it now. It’syour fault he’s here!’ Janin said.
‘Me? I never-’
‘Adam, just belt up or I’ll shut you up myself,’ Ricard snapped. ‘Christ Jesus! I’ve had enough of this! You lot had bestcalm yourselves and remind yourselves who it is who pays your upkeep while we’re here. Just leave Jack alone, and we can playour music. It’s what we’re here for.’
‘But what if he’s here to try to kill the Queen?’ Adam said. ‘We know he wants to spy on her. What if it’s more serious thanthat?’
‘Oh, for God’s sake!’ Janin said. ‘What on earth makes you think that?’
‘If he killed the man last night, there’s no knowing who else he might kill,’ Adam said, wide-eyed and earnest. ‘He’s a madman,a murderer. For God’s sake, if we don’t tell her, what’ll she think if he’s caught red-handed? She’ll have us all hanged for his crimes. You want that? I certainly don’t.’
‘Then what do you propose we should do?’ Ricard demanded sourly. ‘Run away?’
‘At least try to tell her. Tell her comptroller, or someone, so we can show we did our best to warn her before the next mandies. All we have to do is say that he’s been off walking about the place when someone died. That fellow last night. Jackwasn’t in his bed when he was killed. Let’s just tell the comptroller. If he doesn’t tell the Queen, then it’s his fault,not ours.’
Chapter Thirty-Five
Baldwin and Simon returned to the castle a short while after lunch had been served, but Simon managed to find a sergeant-cookand acquire some bread and a small cheese. These he and Baldwin shared out in the court, for the day was growing warm, witha clear sky and the sun shining as though it was summer already.
‘Sir Baldwin — I am glad to see you again.’
Baldwin looked up to find himself being studied by Earl Edmund of Kent. The sight was not appealing. The Earl was not thekeenest mind in the realm, and had attempted to plot the removal of Despenser earlier in the year. In the event, the Despenserhad triumphed, as he tended to. Sir Hugh le Despenser had a sharp mind and a committed, absolute ruthlessness. It was thatfacet of his nature that made him such a dangerous foe. Earl Edmund detested him for his lackadaisical response when the formerhad been in charge of the King’s men in Guyenne the previous year, and Despenser had been responsible for support and resupply.He still blamed Despenser for the speed with which the Agenais was overrun.
He gathered his thoughts. ‘My lord earl, it is good to see you again. What makes you travel all this way?’
‘It is always good to be reminded of one’s inadequacy. I think that is why I’m here. There were messages to be given to theLord John Cromwell, and someone had to bring them. I confess, the idea of leaving England’s unhappy shores was appealing.’
‘I can understand that,’ Baldwin said. ‘It must be very difficult for you.’
‘You can have no idea! Bloody Despenser rules all now.’
Baldwin and Simon exchanged a glance. The man’s voice dripped with poison.
‘Still, I suppose the truce is holding for the time being?’ the cad asked.
‘Oh, yes. We hope it will not be too long before we can pack our belongings and set off homewards again.’
‘I hope so. The King is keen to have the embassy finished and returned to our shores. I think he is unhappy because of thecost of maintaining this mission. It is an extravagant expense, but then, I told him, the lands we’re talking about are worthmore than England. It is worth being a little extravagant to win them back.’
‘Of course.’
‘Not that the idea pleases Despenser, of course. But nothing much does.’
Baldwin said cautiously, ‘I suppose he must be careful of not over-stretching the King’s budget.’
‘More likely he’s nervous that the King will be told to hie him over here. If that happens,’ he continued, scratching at hisnose pensively, ‘Despenser will have a fit of the vapours, I think. The idea of being left alone in England with all thosenice, gentle barons whom he has insulted, denigrated and downtrodden for the last three or four years would make him anxiousas hell, I’d imagine.’
Baldwin and Simon said nothing. This was the sort of dangerous conversation that could cost a man his livelihood, family,lands, wealth and life.
The Earl sniffed absently, gazing about him. ‘My sister-in-law — is she about here somewhere? I suppose I ought to make mycompliments to her. How has she been?’
‘She has her own rooms. Would you like me to show you to her?’ Baldwin asked.
‘No. For a little I should enjoy a chance to wander about here in wanton idleness. I find that I am good at being idle. Thereare skills even for men such as me. You didn’t say how she was?’
‘I am sure she is well enough, but she will be grateful to see a friendly face.’
‘Mine? Perhaps. Why, have you heard her say anything about me?’
There was a sudden abrupt sharpness to the question that somewhat surprised Baldwin. He shook his head. ‘No, but you are knownto be a sensible, rational man, my lord earl. And I know that you and she are on cordial terms. She does not blame you forany of her loss of fortune in the last months, does she?’
‘No, thanks to God. She is a good, sensible woman. Always found her so, anyway. Has she had any setbacks?’
‘The course of negotiations has been so fast that we have been able to study every cobble in this yard in some detail,’ Simonsaid.
‘Ah. So the King is right to be concerned about the length of time spent here and the cost of maintaining this embassy. Anythingelse giving you trouble here?’
‘We have had some incidents. A French comte, Enguerrand de Foix, was killed one night,’ Baldwin said slowly. There was noneed to mention his own proximity at that death. ‘We don’t know who did it, but I should think that some outlaw saw him lateat night and took a fancy to his purse or something. Then another man was killed, again a Frenchman killed by a countryman.But last night, more seriously, a man-at-arms was murdered just outside the gate there. He was the servant of Sir Charles.’
‘In truth? Gracious heaven, you have been enjoying a small glut of murders in this fair land, then. And now, if you will excuse me, I think I have an urgent need for some alein my belly. Is the buttery through here?’
‘Yes, my lord,’
‘There is a man here, a musician called Jack. Tallish, skinny, has an Irish accent. He’s gone to deliver my bags to my chamber.If you see him, tell him where to find me, eh? He’ll be wearing the Queen’s tabard — he’s one of her musicians — so shouldn’tbe hard to see.’
‘Of course, my lord,’ Baldwin said, and then watched as the brother of the King made his way to the hall’s entrance, and duckedinside.
Simon pursed his lips. ‘So things improve not at all back at home.’
‘So it would seem. I have to admit, Simon, I would give much to have my wife and family here in France with us now. It isa country where a man could make a good life for himself.’
Simon looked at him in surprise. ‘You think so? You wouldn’t consider finding a lord over here, would you?’