Heartstone

The clerk nodded, took a blank piece of paper and began to write. He had not so much as glanced at any of us. I wondered whether he could have given information to Dyrick about my involvement, whether it could have been Dyrick that set the corner boys on me. My opponent was putting his papers in order with rapid, angry movements. Paulet said, 'Master Dyrick, I would like a brief word.' He stood, and everyone in the court rose hastily. Paulet bowed, dismissing us. Dyrick gave me a nasty look, then went out after the judge.

* * *

WE RETURNED to the vestibule. As soon as the door was closed Broughton seized my hand. 'The light of the Lord's grace shone in that court,' he said. 'With that hard judge I thought we must lose, but we won.'

'We have won only the right to investigate,' I cautioned.

'But you will find the truth, I know. These people who gather wardships. Men without conscience who flatter themselves with heaping riches upon riches, honours upon honours, forgetting God—'

'Indeed.' I looked at the court door, wondering why Paulet had called Dyrick back. Bess came up to me. She was pale. 'May I sit down?' she asked.

'Of course. Come.'

I sat her down on the bench. 'So Michael has obtained his wish,' she said quietly. 'An enquiry.'

'Be sure I shall question everyone in Hampshire closely.' I glanced at Barak, who was leaning against the wall, looking thoughtful. Next to him Feaveryear swept his lock of lank hair from his forehead. He still looked pleased at the prospect of the journey.

Bess sighed heavily. 'Thank you for all you have done, sir.' She looked at me. Then she reached round to the back of her neck and unclipped something. She opened her hand and showed me a small, beautifully worked gold crucifix. She laid it on the bench between us. I looked at the delicately crafted figure. There was even a tiny crown of thorns.

Bess spoke quietly. 'This was found with Michael when he died. It was Emma's, given her by her grandmother. The child wore it in the old woman's memory. After Emma died and Michael was dismissed he asked Mistress Hobbey if he could have some remembrance of Emma. She gave him that, with an impatient gesture, Michael said. He kept it with him always. Would you take it, and give it to the boy Hugh? I am sure Michael would wish him to have it now.'

'I will, of course,' I said. I picked it up.

'I pray you get the poor boy out of the hands of that wicked family.' Bess sighed. 'You know, in the weeks before he died my son had taken up his archery again. I think if he had lived he would have gone to the militia.'

'Did he fear being called up?'

She frowned. 'No, sir, he wanted to play his part in repelling the French. He was a good and honourable man.'

Reverend Broughton touched her arm. 'Come, good madam, I would be out of this place. May I accompany you home?' Bess allowed Broughton to lead her away. In the doorway she turned briefly, smiled at Barak and me and was gone.

* * *

THE COURT DOOR opened, and Dyrick strode towards me. He looked in a cold fume.

'Well, Master Shardlake, it seems we must go to Hampshire.'

'It does.'

'Are you up to such a journey?' he asked with a hint of a sneer.

'Once I rode to York on a case.'

'I was hoping to spend these next weeks with my wife and children. I have two girls and a boy; during the law term I do not see nearly enough of them. Now I must tell them I have to disappear to Hampshire.'

'We will not be long away. Three or four days there and three or four back if we make haste, a few days in between.'

'You have no family, I think, sir? It is easier for you.' Dyrick leaned close to me and spoke quietly, fierce eyes on mine. 'I know why Sir William has done this. Normally he would throw such a tissue of unsubstantiated allegations out at once.'

'Perhaps he wished to do justice.'

'Just now he told me that Mistress Calfhill was for many years the servant of Lady Latimer, as she then was.'

'Even the servant of a Queen may seek justice, I think.'

'This is not justice. It is pestering, persecution.'

'Everyone in Hampshire will get a fair hearing.'

'Sir William told me that while the Queen may press for an investigation she cannot determine the outcome. The help she can give you stops here.' His voice rasped like a file.

I met his angry stare. 'We should consider the practicalities of our journey,' I said.

'I want to leave as soon as we can. The sooner we start, the sooner we return. And it will take more than three or four days to get there. The roads will be muddy after the storms, and there will be soldiers and supply carts on the roads south.'

I caught Barak's eye. 'I agree. What about the day after tomorrow?'

Dyrick looked surprised by my ready agreement. I continued, 'I suggest we take a boat as far as Kingston, that would be the quickest way, then hire strong riding horses so we can make the journey as fast as possible.'

'Very well. I will send Feaveryear down today to hire the horses.' He turned to the clerk. 'Can you do that?'

'Yes, sir.'