Tombland

I was interrupted. A young man in a breastplate came into the chapel, hastily doffing his cap. ‘I am sorry, Captain Kett, but there is news you must hear. Two prisoners escaped from Surrey Place last night. They were locked firmly in a cell, with a guard on the door, as they had been much trouble, but someone got in, clouted the guard unconscious, and released them.’

‘Which prisoners?’ Kett snapped.

‘Those devilish twins, Gerald and Barnabas Boleyn, who were to be indicted for attempted murder.’ He looked at me. I thought, That was why they were so casual at the trial; their escape had already been planned.

‘God’s bones,’ Kett said. ‘If prisoners can escape, people will ask what good the trials are.’

‘They’ve probably slipped down through Thorpe Wood, then across the river,’ the young man said. ‘It was well planned; nobody knew anything until the guard came to and raised the alarm.’

Kett said, ‘Whoever did this knew the layout of Surrey Place. Tell the lookouts in the county to keep watch for them.’ He turned to me. ‘As I said, Master Shardlake, there are spies and enemies here. That is why important matters must be kept secret.’

* * *

BACK IN THE HUT with Barak and Nicholas, we were in sombre mood.

‘Those rats,’ Barak said. ‘They are probably fled to London.’

‘They might seek refuge with friends in Norwich,’ I said. ‘They could find it difficult to cross Norfolk. Their looks are distinctive, to say the least.’

Barak looked out at the camp. ‘The main work of building is done; fewer are coming in now. There’s still much to do, of course, and I’ve heard more military training is planned, but the men are going to have more time to think, unless these enclosure commissioners turn up. And some may identify the twins with us, as you act for their father, for all we hate them as much as anyone.’

‘I fear you could be right,’ I said. ‘Nicholas, you must be more careful than ever, especially with Lockswood in his spiteful mood. You should not provoke him.’

‘I am sorry. I will be.’

Barak fingered the hook on the underside of his artificial hand. ‘I wonder who let them out.’

‘Someone in their pay, or Southwell’s.’

He shook his head. ‘Those boys – I know we have a wide field of suspects but we’ve seen them hunt down a child for sport, and we know they smashed in the head of that boy we saw at the Oak. Why not kill their own mother too?’

I said, ‘I still don’t think they did that. But I will speak to Michael Vowell about any connections between Gawen Reynolds’s household and Southwell’s; he will know the relationship between them, if anyone does.’ My hand went my pocket. ‘Jesu, I forgot, we have letters.’

The leaden sky outside made it hard for us to read in the hut. Guy’s letter to me was again written in an old man’s scrawl. It was dated a week before and had obviously crossed with the one I had just sent.

Matthew,

I have not heard further from you, and presume you are still in Norfolk. Every night I pray you are recovered from your injuries, and safe from those rebels. Forgive an old man’s worry, but it has been near a month since I was in touch with Dr Belys, and if you are able, a line would reassure me. Tamasin, too, is worried about Jack, and I fear how Nicholas might fare amongst those rebels. There is much worry about the commotions in London, and talk of taking down the bridge at Richmond lest the Kent and Surrey rebels get across.

As for me, I fear I slowly grow weaker. If my pilgrimage on earth is coming to its close, I am ready, though I mourn what has become of England, and its terrible troubles. I am grateful to have such good friends here as Tamasin and Francis, but yearn to know that you and Jack and Nicholas are safe.

Your loving friend,

Guy

I hoped my last letter would get through soon. I began to fear that by the time I got home, if ever I did, Guy might have passed away. I turned to Barak. ‘How’s Tamasin?’