Tombland

To my great relief, we found Isabella and Chawry were at an inn called the Black Prince. Isabella looked pretty as ever, but tired. Both she and Chawry seemed to have lost weight. Chawry brought a chair for Isabella and stood beside her when she was seated. His manner, as always, was deferential, but the way he looked at her removed any doubt in my mind that he desired her. Isabella would have been a fool not to see it, and she was no fool. But her manner to him throughout our talk remained that of a mistress to a valued servant. Nothing more.

Isabella turned to Nicholas, looking concerned. ‘Master Overton, what has happened? Are those not old bruises on your face?’

I said, ‘Nicholas has been getting himself into trouble, Mistress Boleyn. But it is a private matter, do not trouble yourself.’

‘Master Chawry and I have wondered what had happened to you. We were worried.’

‘With this rebellion all around,’ Chawry added. ‘These filthy dogs in their Mousehold kennel.’

I explained that we had been taken to the Mousehold camp, but allowed freedom under parole. ‘We were captured outside Flowerdew’s house when I went to get the money he’d taken from you. I got it back.’ I felt genuine pleasure at her look of relief as I handed over the bag of coins.

‘The rebels did not take it?’ Chawry asked in surprise.

‘Not when I told Kett it was all that stood between a good woman and poverty.’

Isabella looked at me, blushing slightly. ‘I thank you, Master Shardlake, with all my heart. Our money was running out. We have barely enough left to get food to take to John in the castle, and pay for our rooms here. We have not been eating as we should.’ She sighed and shook her head. ‘I am sorry your quest to help me ended with you all being taken prisoner.’

I smiled. ‘We are well. You would be surprised how peaceable a place the camp is.’

‘Is it, sir?’ Chawry looked again at Nicholas’s face.

‘Not if you are a gentleman,’ Nicholas answered.

I said crossly, ‘One who cannot keep his mouth shut, but rants like a muck-spout.’

Chawry looked at me through narrowed eyes. ‘You are learning rude Norfolk speech, Serjeant Shardlake.’ Clearly he suspected I had at least some sympathy with the rebels. Then he shook his head, remembering his place. ‘But I, too, thank you for what you have done.’ He spoke a little too smoothly, I thought.

‘Can you not escape Norwich now?’ Isabella asked.

‘No. We have been allowed here today, but must return to the camp tonight. I gave my oath. But I thought I might visit your husband.’

Impulsively, she reached out and took my hand. ‘John and I will never forget what you have done.’ I noticed that Chawry looked away, his lips set. I thought, If he were seriously in love with Isabella, he had a motive to see John Boleyn hanged. But Chawry could have no connection with Edith – she had been gone for years before he had even taken up his post.

‘How is John?’ Nicholas asked Isabella.

‘Cheerful enough, though still recovering.’ She held the bag of money a moment, then passed it over to Chawry. ‘Daniel, take charge of this.’

‘There may be no progress on the pardon until these troubles are settled,’ I said gently. ‘The Protector must be much preoccupied. What of you, have you considered returning to Brikewell? I know the twins are gone.’

‘I went back three days ago,’ Chawry replied. ‘The place had been ransacked.’

‘That was the twins’ doing. They are in Kett’s custody now.’

‘Thank God,’ said Isabella in relief. ‘I feared they might come to Norwich.’

‘I think the rebels took things as well,’ Chawry said bitterly. ‘Valuable things.’

‘I know, I was on their march from Wymondham.’

‘They control nearly all the countryside nearby, I believe. They have patrols on the road, and I had insults on my way to Brikewell. They are raiding the manor houses, and may come to Brikewell again. I think it safer for us both to stay here, now we have the money to do so.’

‘So long as Norwich remains peaceful, perhaps that is best.’

‘And I will not leave John,’ Isabella said.

We talked further, and I surprised them when I told them more about the camp, which they had believed a chaotic den of villains.

‘You make them sound like angels,’ Chawry said stiffly.

Barak said, ‘Of course they’re not. There are no angels outside heaven.’

Isabella looked at Nicholas and smiled. ‘You must steer clear of trouble, Master Nicholas. I would not see your pretty white skin disfigured again.’ I thought, She likes a little flirting; she knows how to use men. Then I reminded myself that she had worked for years in a tavern, where flirting with customers was part of the job.

* * *

STANDING ON THE STEPS of the inn I took a deep breath, then said to Nicholas, ‘As I said, I fear you may be in for more trouble. If you want, take the Maid’s Head proprietor’s advice and leave, try to make your way back to London.’

He looked at me seriously. ‘I thank you, sir, sincerely, but I gave you my oath to stay, and I will not break it. I apologize for what I did earlier. If word gets back, I will face the consequences.’