Tombland

Josephine looked relieved. She sat on a chair and held Mousy on her knee. The child reached out a hand to me, and I smiled and waved at her. Josephine said, ‘At least there has been no firing of the city. I remember my village in France being set on fire when I was little –’ Tears rolled down her face, which she brushed away angrily. ‘I know this cause is just, but I so fear blood and fire.’ We were silent for a moment; I did not want to talk of the things we had seen, and after a few moments she held the baby out to me. ‘Take Mousy, she wants to see you.’ I took her, and she settled happily on my knee. Josephine said quietly, ‘I tell Edward, I fear what may happen to her.’

I was silent, for I had no answer.

There were footsteps outside, and Edward entered. In contrast to the downtrodden figure I had first visited in June he now had a firm footstep and his stringy frame an air of strength and authority. While recent events had tested Josephine, bringing back bitter memories, they had strengthened Edward. He smiled when he saw us. ‘Master Shardlake, Jack, you are down from the camp?’

I answered, ‘We came to visit the castle. Nicholas was put there and is maybe there still, and I want to see John Boleyn.’

Josephine cried out, ‘Master Nicholas? Why?’

‘Lies were told about him,’ I replied grimly. I explained what had happened. ‘I tried to speak to Captain Kett but – he had other things on his mind. Edward, might you be able to speak to him?’ Mousy was tugging at the buttons on my shirt. I made a mock frown, and she giggled at me. ‘Also, and I am sorry to ask this when you have just come home, but I wondered whether you could help me get into Norwich Castle.’

Edward nodded. ‘I can get you in. Captain Kett has given me a pass that will get me anywhere in the city. Our men are guarding the castle now, but Constable Fordhill has been cooperating with us, allowing us to use his cells and some of his men as guards. We shall keep him on for now. I think he fears the gentlemen prisoners may be murdered if one of us replaces him. But Nicholas’ – he looked me hard in the eye – ‘if he has done wrong, he should face trial at the Oak.’

‘He has not,’ I said firmly.

Edward sighed. ‘Well, I will see what I can do. And I will take you to the castle. Things are – unsettled – in the centre of the city. Gentlemen are fleeing with their families, and we’re letting them go provided we’ve nothing against them and they don’t take much with them.’ He laughed. ‘Some have fled in their undergarments so they are not recognizable as gentlemen by their rich clothes. Others – well, they need locking up, and we need supplies.’ He laughed. ‘I don’t think they realized how the poor of Norwich hate them. We townsmen played our part today, and will do so in future. Norwich is now an extension of the camp. The Norwich gentlemen will be tried at the Oak.’ He frowned. ‘After this betrayal by the Protector, feelings are running high.’

Josephine said, ‘Are you staying tonight, Husband?’

Edward went over to her, his face filled with genuine concern. ‘Yes. But I must return to Mousehold for a meeting tomorrow morning. My love, come up to the camp with me, they are good people, I would rather you were there.’

She looked at him. ‘Why? Do you feel the Protector will send an army against the city?’

He took a deep breath. ‘He may, though I think it as likely, now we have taken Norwich, that the Council will change tack and meet our demands, perhaps even send the commissioners at last.’

‘The commissioners!’ Josephine said in sudden anger. ‘They’ll never come.’

Edward replied, ‘Our strength – taking the second city in England so easily – means the Protector may now realize he must consider our demands. Perhaps the King will even intervene with the Protector now.’

‘Do not be a fool!’ Josephine said, angry again. ‘King Edward is eleven, how can he make decisions on anything?’

Edward shook his head despairingly, and Mousy, who was now playing with the white hairs of my beard, looked up at her parents and began to cry. Josephine took her and soothed her, Mousy’s cries turning to unhappy sobs. Josephine said quietly, reaching out an arm to her husband, ‘I am sorry, I know you are working for a great cause, but I cannot face going to an armed camp when I spent my early years in one.’

I said, ‘I think Edward is right, Josephine. At least until things settle down in Norwich. We have already made friends in the camp.’

‘We have,’ Barak agreed. ‘Good people.’

Josephine put her face in her hands. ‘I am sorry, Edward, but I cannot.’

He sighed, and turned to me. ‘Then let us go to the castle now.’ He added quietly, ‘Things may get rough in the city later, with the taverns full of our men celebrating. Perhaps you should go back to the camp when we return.’

‘I need to visit Boleyn’s wife first. Then we will go back.’

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