Dark Fire

  I was stiff and aching, and as I dressed slowly I told myself that when this matter was done I would leave London. It seemed my clients had had enough of me, and I had just enough money for a quiet life in the countryside if I was careful. Still frightened by my dream, I stumbled downstairs to find Barak sitting at the parlour table, staring gloomily at a letter.

  ‘From Cromwell?’ I asked, taking a seat.

  ‘Ay. It’s from Hampton Court, he must be there on some business for the king. You might as well see it.’ He tossed the sheet of paper over to me. It was in Cromwell’s own hand.

  I have spoken to Rich. You have both been worrying at the wrong hare, his schemes with that churl Bealknap have nothing to do with Greek Fire. Continue your investigations, for what they are worth, and I will see you at Whitehall tomorrow, when I return to London.

  I laid the letter on the table. ‘He’s not pleased with us.’

  ‘No. What in God’s name were Bealknap and Rich up to?’

  ‘Jesu knows. We will find out tomorrow. Today there is Marchamount to deal with.’

  ‘We’d better get on. I left you to sleep, or I thought you’d be fit for nothing, but half the morning’s gone. We’ve only four days left.’

  ‘D’you think I’ve forgotten that?’ I snapped, then raised a hand. ‘We do no good sniping at each other, I’ve told you before.’

  ‘No.’ He scratched his stubbly head. ‘The tone of that letter worries me, that’s all.’

  I ate a hasty breakfast and then we walked along the dusty lane to the Inn. Looking at the cloudless sky, I thought of Joseph and his ruined crops. Wheat would be scarce and there would be hunger by autumn.

  ‘Elizabeth had a moment of consciousness last night,’ I said. ‘I mentioned the well again and she said, “Death of God”. Guy said it means she’s in despair. And she said something about the girl and “that evil boy”.’

  ‘Her young cousin or the mad girl’s brother?’

  ‘I don’t know.’ I looked at him. ‘But we must go to the well again tonight. We must delay no more.’

  He nodded. ‘I want to see the truth of this too. That poor creature reminds me of when I was in the gutter, consumed with fury at my mother for marrying that confederate of Bealknap’s.’ He laughed bitterly. ‘I may end up back in the gutter if I lose the earl’s favour.’

  ‘There’s still time,’ I said.

  I hoped Marchamount would be in. I hoped desperately that, whatever secret Lady Honor was still keeping, it was not incriminating. As we entered the courtyard I saw the service had ended in the chapel and the lawyers were filing out. I saw Marchamount among the throng, walking back to his chambers, his robe billowing around his portly form.

  ‘All right if I come with you?’ Barak asked.

  I hesitated. What if Marchamount told me something that led the way to the Gristwoods’ stock of Greek Fire? But I could not exclude Barak again. I nodded, wondering whether Guy was even now examining that dreadful stuff.

  We caught up with Marchamount at the door to his chambers. He looked round in surprise.

  ‘Brother Shardlake, this is an unexpected meeting.’ He smiled, that little flash of white teeth. ‘What happened to you on Friday? Had you no stomach for the bear-baiting?’

  ‘Lady Honor did not feel like attending,’ I said briskly. ‘I went for a walk with her.’

  He stared at Barak. ‘Who is this?’

  ‘An agent of Lord Cromwell’s. He is helping me on the Greek Fire matter.’

  Barak took off his cap and made a little bow. Marchamount’s eyes widened at his bald head, then he frowned in exasperation. ‘I have told you all I know. How many times—’

  ‘As many times as I see fit, Serjeant.’ I had decided bluntness was the best way. ‘May we come in?’

  He set his lips but permitted us to follow him to his private room. There he sat in his thronelike chair and gave us a haughty stare. I leaned forward.

  ‘In the boat going to Southwark, Serjeant, we spoke of a certain pressure his grace the Duke of Norfolk was putting on you, to obtain something from Lady Honor. You confirmed he wanted to obtain some of the Vaughan lands in return for furthering young Henry Vaughan to a place at the king’s court.’

  Marchamount sat very still. I knew at once I had struck a nerve.

  ‘I thought you seemed evasive in the boat, so I asked Lady Honor about the matter on our walk—’

  ‘Sir, you had no right. For a gentleman to ask—’

  ‘Lady Honor told me the matter began with pressure from the duke over the land, but then it developed into something else. She refused to say more, but I need to know what it was.’

  He smiled shrewdly. ‘So you come to me, as an alternative to Cromwell putting pressure on her?’

  ‘Never mind why. I want the whole story, Marchamount. No bluster, no evasions, just the story.’

  He sat back in his chair. ‘It is nothing to do with Greek Fire.’

  ‘Then why it is so secret?’

  ‘Because it is shameful.’ He frowned, reddening. ‘I had an interest in Lady Honor, a romantic interest. You know that.’ He took a deep breath. ‘She would not have me and I would not press a lady who rejected me.’ He fingered his emerald ring, then looked me in the eye. ‘But the duke would.’

  ‘The duke?’

  He frowned. ‘He does not just want her family lands in return for helping that boy. He wants Lady Honor as his mistress.’

  ‘But, dear God, he’s in his sixties.’

  Marchamount shrugged. ‘In some men the sap still runs into old age. The duke is one, though you would not think it to look at him. He would not approach her directly’ - he laughed bitterly - ’he’s too proud for that. He made me act as intermediary.’

  ‘Poor Lady Honor.’

  Marchamount shifted uncomfortably. ‘It was a job I disliked, sir, but I could not gainsay the Duke of Norfolk. He said the Vaughan boy’s a fool and a weakling, which is true enough, and he’d have to exert a mighty effort to get him accepted at court. He wanted a high price in return. Lady Honor knows his reputation for cruel ways with women; she’s refused him time and again. But he’s one of those that is only excited further by refusal.’ He shifted uneasily again. ‘I have had to try and persuade her. I told you, the duke is not one to be gainsaid.’

  ‘What has Norfolk promised you in return? Help towards a knighthood perhaps?’

  Marchamount set his lips. ‘I want something for my family’s future too. To advance one’s family, that is no dishonourable thing.’

  ‘Thirty pieces of silver would be the right reward for what you have done,’ I said. Barak laughed harshly and Marchamount gave him a furious look. He glared at me, his face reddening further.

  ‘How dare you talk to me like that! And you - you are no impartial witness. You lust after her yourself.’

  ‘Come, Serjeant, you are losing control of yourself. So that is the whole story, is it?’ I asked. ‘No connection at all to Greek Fire? That is what I need to know, Marchamount.’

  ‘I have told you before, I know nothing of that. Nothing.’

  ‘Are you quite sure?’

  The merest hesitation. ‘Of course.’ He ran a hand through his red hair, then began to bluster. ‘You have troubled me enough with this. No gentleman—’

  I stood. ‘Come, Barak. I think I have an apology to make to Lady Honor.’ Barak got up and made another bow to Marchamount, a mocking, exaggerated one.

  The serjeant glared at me. ‘You have embarrassed me, Shardlake, in front of this churl,’ he said. ‘I will not forget it.’

  OUTSIDE IN THE courtyard, I turned to Barak. ‘He’s still keeping something back - I’d swear he is. But what? I’ll have to talk to Lady Honor.’

  ‘She won’t be pleased you know this story. Nor at being questioned further.’

  ‘There’s no help for it. She knows my position. I’ll go there now.’

  ‘I suppose there’s nothing else we can we do today. But—’


  ‘What?’ I asked impatiently.

  ‘You should have squeezed what else he’s hiding out of him. You shy at every fence,’ he said in sudden irritation.

  I glared at him. ‘I do not shy. If I feel someone will say no more, and I’ve no evidence to use as a lever, I go and find the evidence. That’s what I’ve always done and it’s what I’m going to do now with Lady Honor.’

  He grunted.

  ‘What else could I do?’ I raised my voice in exasperation. ‘I pushed him as far as he’d go, how could I make him tell me more? How? Eh?’

  ‘Threaten him with the earl, as you did with Bealknap.’

  ‘And look where that led. No, I will leave him to stew in his own juice, see if Lady Honor can tell me more, then come back later. Unless you’ve a better idea.’

  He shrugged. ‘No. I haven’t.’

  ‘I’m going into chambers for a minute.’

  I entered the office to find Skelly working by the light of a candle he hardly needed in the full daylight. ‘Here again on Sunday, John?’ I asked, hiding my irritation.

  He gave me a shifty look. ‘I’m behind, sir.’

  I could not face looking over his scribbles. I turned to Godfrey’s door. ‘Master Wheelwright in?’

  ‘Yes, sir.’

  Godfrey was working quietly at his desk. ‘Here on the Sabbath?’ I asked. He looked at me seriously.

  ‘God will forgive me. I want to get my cases in order. Word is I am to be disbarred if I don’t apologize to the duke.’ He smiled wryly. ‘That will create a mighty furore. Perhaps it will make our brothers consider who it is we lawyers serve, God and the commonwealth or the Duke of Norfolk.’

  ‘Many will ease their consciences by saying it was a matter of discourtesy, Godfrey, not religion.’

  ‘Then they deceive themselves.’

  ‘What will you do if you leave chambers?’

  ‘Become a preacher.’ He smiled. ‘I believe that is what God is calling me to do.’

  ‘Dangerous times may be coming.’ If Cromwell falls, I thought. If I fail. If he doesn’t get Greek Fire. The hideous tangle of loyalties I was caught in made me feel faint for a moment and I clutched at the edge of a chair.

  ‘Are you all right, Matthew?’

  I nodded. ‘I have been working hard.’

  ‘At least no more of your cases have gone,’ he said.

  ‘Good.’ I decided to make one last attempt to make him see reason. ‘Godfrey, would it not be a dreadful thing to throw over your position, the talent you have used these many years?’ And yet, I thought even as I spoke the words, was that not what I too had been thinking of doing?

  ‘Sometimes God calls us to a new life.’

  ‘And to great tribulations.’ I gave up. ‘I may not be in for a few days now.’

  I stepped back into the office, where Barak was talking to Skelly in a low voice. Getting gossip about me, I supposed. ‘I’m going to Lady Honor’s,’ I said.

  ‘I’ll ride with you,’ he said. ‘Then I can call in at the Old Barge.’

  We walked back down Chancery Lane in silence. I cursed inwardly. I had hoped Barak would leave me to go to Lady Honor’s alone, for afterwards I planned to go to Guy’s. But he seemed to be sticking to me today.

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  WE FETCHED THE HORSES and rode down to the City. Barak was still morose, saying little. As we rode under the Ludgate I noticed a patch of lighter colour in the wall where the repairs had been completed.

  ‘The stones from the old synagogue came from there,’ I said to make conversation.

  Barak grunted. ‘I bet the watchman had some ripe comments about Christ killers ready when you said they came from a synagogue.’

  ‘I don’t remember,’ I said, though I well recalled that he had.

  We rode on past St Paul‘s, the huge spire casting a welcome patch of shade. As we came into the sun again, Barak pulled his horse in close. ‘Look round slowly,’ he said. ’Don’t stop the horse. By the bookstalls near St Paul’s Cross.’

  I turned and saw Toky leaning against a rail, ignoring the crowds and scanning the passers-by with that pale ravaged face of his.

  ‘I thought he’d disappeared,’ I said. ‘Could we not try to apprehend him? Or call the constable?’

  ‘If Toky’s there, Wright’s nearby and they’ll be armed. I don’t fancy a tussle with the two of them, and some old constable wouldn’t last long.’

  ‘They know a great deal. Their capture could solve many of our problems.’

  ‘That’s why Lord Cromwell’s men are looking for them all over town. The yard’s a good place to see who’s coming in and out of the City. I wonder who he’s looking out for.’

  ‘Us probably.’

  ‘Well, he missed us. I know who’s dealing with it for the earl - I’ ll send word to them.’ He shook his head, half-admiringly. ‘They’re as smart a pair of rogues as I’ve ever seen, the way they dodge about the City.’

  ‘They swim in its filthy waters, hidden by its blackness.’

  ‘You sounded like your evangelist friend Godfrey, then.’ He rode on into the crowds of Cheapside and I followed, keeping a wary eye out even though Toky was far behind us.

  WE PARTED COMPANY at the Walbrook. Barak went off to send a message to Cromwell, saying to my dismay that he would call to collect me in an hour at Lady Honor’s. We should stay together, he said, if Toky was about. I could think of no objection, though that meant I could not go to Guy’s. Barak rode off and I went on to Blue Lion Street.

  At the House of Glass a couple of servants were washing the windows with vinegar. Informed that Lady Honor was at home, I passed Genesis to a stable boy and was ushered through the house to the inner courtyard. A servant was watering the plants set in pots round the walls. Lady Honor sat on a bench watching him. She wore a blue dress and her blonde hair was uncovered today, tied in a bun with a silk ribbon. She smiled in welcome.

  ‘Matthew. This is an unexpected visit.’

  I bowed. ‘I apologize for coming unannounced. But—’

  ‘Official business?’

  ‘I fear so.’

  She took a deep breath. ‘Come then, sit with me. Edward, that will do for now. Finish the watering this evening.’ The man bowed and left us. Lady Honor looked over her courtyard. ‘I fear my little bushes are dying in the heat. See there, I have been trying to grow pomegranates, but my foolish servants know nothing about the care of plants, they water them at the wrong times, too much or too little.’

  ‘Everything is dying in this fierce weather. The crops will be bad.’

  ‘Will they?’ she asked indifferently. ‘But you have not come to talk of planting, I think.’

  ‘No. Lady Honor, I have a confession.’ I cursed my awkwardness. I should not be apologizing for questioning her, it was my duty. ‘I know about the Duke of Norfolk’s pursuit of you,’ I said bluntly. ‘I needed to follow up the question you left me with on the river bank. I spoke to Marchamount.’

  I half-expected anger but she only turned away and stared ahead for a moment. When she turned back to me her face wore a tired smile. ‘After we spoke on the river I feared you would report me to Cromwell and I should be in trouble. Did you ask Marchamount first to save me from the earl’s rough ways?’

  ‘Perhaps.’

  ‘You are gentle with me, more than I deserve. I felt that if the duke’s insulting demands were forced out of me by Cromwell, my honour would be less besmirched. A foolish notion, perhaps.’

  ‘I am sorry I could not save you from my knowing.’

  ‘At least you will not gossip like most would.’ She looked at me seriously. ‘Will you? It is a tasty morsel, I realize.’

  ‘You know I think too much of you for that, Lady Honor.’

  She laid a hand on mine for a second, then lifted it, although I had the odd sensation it was still there. ‘You are a natural gentleman.’ She sighed. ‘I have sent Henry back to the country. He could never make his way at court. So I have be
en able to reject the crude advances of that old brute with a clear conscience.’

  ‘I did not realize you disliked the duke so.’

  ‘He is unfit for the position he occupies. He may be the senior peer of the realm, but his lineage is not old, you know.’ She smiled. ‘Unlike the Vaughans.’

  I took a deep breath. ‘Lady Honor, I must ask - for the last time, I promise - is there anything you have not told me that could be of any possible relevance, however remote, to my search for the Gristwoods’ murderers?’

  She looked at me impatiently. ‘Matthew, I swore that already on the Bible. If you recall, I made oath the duke had put no pressure on me about Greek Fire. And I swore true. He has never mentioned it to me and Marchamount did so only to warn me against you. As I have said, I wish my foolish curiosity had never led me to look at those papers.’

  I looked into her eyes. ‘I felt when Marchamount spoke about the duke and you this morning he was still keeping something back.’

  She smiled again. ‘If he did, it is nothing to do with me, I swear. Shall I fetch the Bible again?’

  I shook my head. ‘No. That is not necessary. Forgive me.’

  She looked at me indulgently. ‘By Our Lady, you are a courteous inquisitor.’

  ‘Marchamount would not agree.’

  ‘That puffed-up creature.’ She looked over her wilting plants again. ‘He is a rogue despite his smoothness and he would do anything to advance himself.’ She gave a shudder. ‘I told you I am thinking of escaping to the country, to my Lincolnshire estates. I have had enough of the City, of Marchamount and the duke and everyone.’ She smiled quickly. ‘Almost everyone.’

  ‘I would miss you. Though I have also been thinking of taking a quiet house in the country.’

  She looked at me in surprise. ‘Would not the country bore you?’ ‘I come from Lichfield - my father has the freehold of a farm there. Though he is old now, even his steward is not getting any younger. The farm is hard for them to manage.’ I smiled sadly. ‘But I have never been fitted to be a farmer, nor wanted to be one.’