She had a point, and a good one. I was a little shocked to realize how I had allowed the febrile atmosphere and general sense of panic to blunt my common sense. A wider search should have been instituted for Celia’s whereabouts before we all decided that she had been abducted, or worse. It suddenly dawned on me that three or four or possibly more hours had passed since Celia’s absence was discovered, and no one had thought to enquire beyond the environs of the house itself. Even Adela, normally so level-headed, had succumbed to the fear that held Clemency and Sybilla in its paralysing grip.
Although still feeling a little shaky after my queer turn earlier that afternoon, I recognized that, as the only man present, it was undoubtedly my duty to bestir myself and undertake more extensive enquiries than had so far been set afoot. I stood up.
‘Where are you going?’ Adela asked sharply, and I recognized the underlying note of concern.
I smiled reassuringly at her. ‘I’m going to ask around the Bishop’s Gate, in the houses and the alehouse, if anyone’s seen Celia. If she went that way, someone might remember her passing by, and might even have noted who she was with.’
‘A very sensible notion,’ the housekeeper approved. ‘Not that I think you’ll get much joy of it. There’s so much traffic around the gate, what with the workmen, folk visiting the hospital or the Bedlam or the alehouse, and the cottagers in and out of the city all the time, that one woman, or a man and a woman, could easily pass unremarked. Not that I’m trying to deter you, Master Chapman. Indeed, I blame myself — ’ she glanced scornfully at Clemency and Sybilla as she spoke, clearly indicating that it was not merely herself she blamed — ‘for failing to have done so already. But better late than never. And now I must go and see what disaster has befallen in the kitchen during my absence. With only Audrey in charge, we shall be lucky to get any supper at all.’
I recollected that the other maid had been sent to Westminster, a long journey for the poor child on foot, to find Oswald and wondered how soon we could expect to see him. I hoped not too soon; I suspected his presence would only add to the general sense of doom.
I took my cudgel to lean on, glad of its support as I trudged south again in the direction of the Bishop’s Gate. Arbella Rokeswood had been right, there were plenty of people about on a warm May Day afternoon. Even though the drovers and swineherds had driven their animals to market far earlier in the day, there were still carters bringing in wagonloads of vegetables and plants from smallholdings further up the track, in the hope of making a late sale to those goodwives who had been out bringing in the may that morning.
I pressed on, my eyes constantly searching the crowds, desperately seeking for a glimpse of Celia’s trim form.
‘Roger! Roger Chapman!’
I turned my head quickly, trying to see who was calling my name.
‘Roger!’ Father Berowne was beside me, a detaining hand on my shoulder. ‘Is anything wrong? Why are you wearing that worried frown? And why aren’t you laid down upon your bed? You’re still far from well and shouldn’t be junketing about the countryside in this foolish fashion.’
‘Father!’ I exclaimed thankfully. ‘You haven’t by any chance seen Celia pass this way any time today, have you? She’s been missing from the Arbour since this morning, after breakfast.’
He smiled tolerantly. ‘She’s a grown woman, Roger. There’s probably a perfectly simple explanation for her absence. But yes, now you ask, I think I may have seen her earlier today, before dinner in fact. She was wearing that blue cloak of hers and going towards the city.’
TWELVE
I caught my breath.
‘You saw her? You’re sure of that?’
‘I’m not absolutely certain, no. But as sure as I can be. As I said, she was walking towards the Bishop’s Gate. I was just on my way to ring the bell for sext, or I would have tried to attract her attention. That’s how I know it was before dinner.’
I frowned. ‘I thought sext was at noon.’
‘Not in the summer,’ he reminded me gently. ‘The office is said earlier once the warmer days arrive.’
‘I’d forgotten,’ I answered vaguely, my mind only half on what the priest was saying. I laid a hand on his arm and shook it. ‘Can you recall if she was alone, Father, or was there someone with her?’
Sir Berowne shook his head. ‘Now that I couldn’t tell you. There were so many people abroad this morning. What with it being May Day and then folk crowding into the city to hear the Duke of Gloucester’s proclamation at Paul’s Cross as well as all the usual traffic of a normal day, the track was very crowded. Mistress Godslove might have been accompanied, it’s true. There was a man close on her heels, but that could just have been coincidence. I’ve told you, the roadway was busy. Even busier than normal. But for sweet heaven’s sake, my son, why are you so concerned? At the risk of repeating myself, Celia is a grown woman; even, some might think, a little long in the tooth. Oh, don’t misunderstand me.’ He threw up his hands, grimy as always from digging in his garden. ‘An attractive enough woman, but long past the age when she should be wed. And she’s not a prisoner. Surely, she can come and go as she pleases?’
Impatiently, I pulled him into the side of the track where we were less likely to impede the progress of others. We had already given offence to more than one person in a hurry and caused at least three carts to swerve to avoid us.
‘You don’t understand, Father,’ I said. ‘Celia went out without leaving word for anyone as to where she was going or who she was going to visit, and has not been seen since early this morning. She joined the children in the garden, just after breakfast, to play hide-and-seek. .’
‘Oh, was that all the noise I heard, then?’ my companion interrupted with an air of enlightenment. ‘I had occasion to visit one of my parishioners who lives further up the track, a poor childless widow who has been unwell, and as I passed the Arbour I could hear the children laughing and shouting. Such a merry sound I thought it, and just what that old house needs, so sombre and gloomy as it always seems. And good for Mistress Celia, I should-’
I cut in ruthlessly on these happy reflections. ‘For heaven’s sake, man, Celia hasn’t returned from wherever it was she was going and it’s nearly suppertime! Her sisters are frantic with worry after all that’s occurred these past two years. They are beginning to believe that something terrible has happened to her. So try to remember, I beg of you, what exactly you saw this morning.’
The blue eyes widened in sudden comprehension. ‘Dear me! Dear me! How very stupid of me not to have thought of that. But do you know, Roger, I’ve never really believed in this mysterious stranger who is trying to kill them all, one by one. Nobody has that sort of time and patience. People’s sense of injury cools, you know. All right!’ Once again he flung up his hands, but this time in a gesture of submission. ‘I accept that the Godslove family believe it, so naturally they are worried about Celia’s absence. But I’m afraid I’ve told you all that I can regarding my sighting of her this morning. There was a man behind her, it’s true, near enough to make me think that he could have been accompanying her. Then again, he could have been a stranger walking a little too close, in a hurry, trying to get past. Why? Do you think there might have been someone with her?’
I explained about Adam and what he had overheard. Father Berowne remained unimpressed.
‘There you are, then! Somebody came for Celia’s help. It was urgent and all she had time to do was to grab a cloak. She probably thought it wouldn’t take long and that she would be home again in time for dinner. But, as I know from my own experience, these cries for assistance are not always as simple and straightforward as they seem. She’ll be back eventually telling you all not to be so foolish.’