Tombland

BACK AT THE INN , I wrote to Parry and arranged for a post-rider to take the letter to Hatfield. Then I lay down, exhausted and sore, to get some sleep. Some hours later, Nicholas knocked on the door. He looked serious.

‘You should come downstairs, sir. Isabella Boleyn is there. With Daniel Chawry.’

I made my way down. Isabella was sitting in the parlour, head in her hands. Chawry sat uncomfortably beside her.

‘What is it?’ I asked, fearing something had happened to Boleyn.

Isabella raised a tear-stained face. She looked at the end of her tether. ‘I was thrown out of my house this morning, sir, and Daniel is dismissed. They took my money too, all the money John left for me.’

‘Who did?’

‘Serjeant Flowerdew’s men.’

‘What? They can’t do that!’

‘They said I’d no right to be there, as I am not John’s wife. They came on behalf of the twins’ grandfather; he has been sold their wardship. The twins came too, they laughed as we were put out. They have taken over the house. Thank God a carter gave us a ride to Norwich. I am penniless, I have nowhere left to go. Please, sir, help me.’

Chapter Thirty-five

I asked Nicholas to fetch quill and paper, then sat down and asked Isabella exactly what had happened. Strong woman though she was, she was utterly exhausted, and as Nicholas returned she said, ‘You tell him, Daniel.’

‘They came early in the morning, as people do when there’s an eviction,’ Chawry began. ‘We were breakfasting in the kitchen – Mistress Boleyn and I. The bag of money the mistress told me the master had left for her was on the table, she was counting out wages for our two labourers. Then came a tremendous battering on the door. When I answered I was shoved in the chest by Gerald Boleyn. He caught me off balance, the devil, and I landed on the floor. Then he and Barnabas pushed their way in, followed by three young thugs, friends of theirs, I think. One was that mole-faced John Atkinson who was at court.’

‘Southwell’s man,’ I said.

‘Yes. And John Flowerdew brought up the rear, frowning fiercely. He said that as the King’s feodary Southwell had sold the twins’ wardship to their grandfather, and that as local agent for the escheator he had agreed with Master Reynolds’s instructions to clear out the mistress. Since she is not legally married, she has no right to be there, and the twins had right of occupation. Then he thrust a document in front of the mistress, snatching up her money at the same time, saying that for now, as the escheator’s agent, he should have care of it.’

‘What did this paper say?’ I asked.

Isabella looked up bleakly. ‘I can barely read, sir.’ She added bitterly, ‘As people like to remind me, I was raised a servant.’

Chawry said, ‘I tried to pick the paper up, but Flowerdew snatched it back. Then we were both told to leave immediately. The twins were taking up occupation then and there. It looked like their friends were staying too; through the window I could see loaded packhorses.’

‘They’ll wreck the place,’ Isabella said, tears pricking her eyes.

Chawry looked suddenly agitated. ‘There were half a dozen of them, sir. I knew the twins wouldn’t hesitate to use more violence. I told the mistress we must seek advice from you.’

I wondered whether he feared I might think him a coward, and said, ‘You did the right thing. Until the matter of the pardon is decided, John Boleyn’s property is frozen – everything should be left as it is. While that situation lasts, Southwell has no right to do anything with the twins’ wardship; they have not been made wards of court. Nor can Flowerdew do anything with his property. I would like to see that document of his.’ I realized that Southwell, and perhaps Mary, too, would have known this was coming when we spoke yesterday. I wondered if Mary was behind it all, yet doubted it – such a petty move would not make her popular. Could Southwell and Flowerdew have acted together, or was Flowerdew acting on his own?’

‘You have no money?’ I asked Isabella.

‘A few shillings.’

Chawry looked awkward. ‘There are my parents, Mistress, we could go to them. I have a little money.’ He reached out a hand to her, then withdrew it. Isabella shook her head.

‘No, Dan, there is already scandalous talk about us.’

I looked at Nicholas, and said grimly, ‘I think we should visit Master Flowerdew. I want to see that paper. I believe he has behaved unlawfully.’

‘The Wymondham innkeeper said he was at home, at a place called Hethersett.’

Chawry said, ‘It’s about five miles from Norwich, off the Wymondham Road.’

I took a deep breath. ‘Then we go there first thing tomorrow.’ I did not welcome the thought of another ride of several miles, but saw no alternative. ‘We’ll take Barak as well. The more people the better. Nicholas, spend tonight in my room, Mistress Boleyn can have yours. Could you find an inn, Daniel?’

‘I’ll find somewhere.’

Nicholas said, ‘Perhaps tomorrow we can give Flowerdew a taste of his own medicine.’ He smiled reassuringly at Isabella. She gave him a tearful smile in return.

* * *