Tombland

Barak looked at me seriously. ‘A good lawyer’s argument. But imagine what Lord Chancellor Rich may make of it. And do you think the Lady Elizabeth would protect you then? You have heard nothing more from her or Master Parry, though if any letters got through, it would be from them. They will be keeping quiet.’

‘You may be right. But I have made my stand. I shall not move.’

‘Then you are even more stubborn than I.’

‘Perhaps. But consider Tamasin’s letter. She talks of leaders of the Kent and Essex Rebellion being executed –’

‘Which means the camps there have been put down –’

‘It shows the Protector’s strategy is what one would expect with a rebellion – execute the leaders but give the small fry pardons. There are hundreds of small fry. Mayor Codd is small fry. So am I. So are you.’

He looked at me seriously. ‘That may be the strategy elsewhere, but it could be a lot rougher here. Remember the Herald’s message and promise of vengeance. Think what has been done to the rulers of the countryside and of Norwich these last two weeks. Imagine what they will do to everyone here if they find themselves in charge once again.’

‘And if I leave, what becomes of Nicholas, and John Boleyn?’

‘I’m tired of hearing about Boleyn – but Nick, yes, you must see him safe.’ Barak rubbed his hand across his forehead. ‘I’m sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking. That arsehole Toby Lockswood – how about I have a private ten minutes with him?’

I smiled. ‘Better not.’

We sat in silence for a while. Then I said, ‘What happened at the Sotherton house yesterday while you were outside has set me wondering again about who murdered Edith Boleyn, and the locksmith and his apprentice.’

He grunted. ‘My money is still on the twins. They’re insane. And that John Atkinson, who Natty’s friend recognized at the beach, he’s a friend of theirs.’

I shook my head. ‘I haven’t forgotten the expression on their faces when we had that fight in Norwich. Their absolute denial that they would kill their mother. I believed them. And when I accused them again yesterday they honestly seemed not to know what I was talking about. And they are not born actors. I think their hatred for their father stems partly from their belief that he killed their mother. And Atkinson – he and his friends are just swords for hire.’

‘Do you think Boleyn’s neighbour old Witherington is off the list?’

‘Yes. I saw him in the prison. Someone who fell apart as easily as he has would not have the strength of body or mind to organize three murders. I always thought so. But then there are Sir Richard Southwell and John Flowerdew, who both seem to have a strange interest in Boleyn’s land. But they are far away.’

‘And Boleyn’s estate – it’s not that big – the stakes have always seemed too low to commit such a very public murder. Then follow it with others.’

‘Yes. One with all the marks of a passionate hatred.’

‘What about old Gawen Reynolds?’ Barak asked. ‘He seems to encourage the twins in their outrages. He could have paid someone to kill his daughter.’

‘But why?’

‘Hatred? He’s full of it.’

I shook my head. ‘He couldn’t have involved Southwell’s young thugs. According to Michael Vowell, Reynolds and Southwell had a quarrel years ago and hate each other. Reynolds also tried to stop the twins mixing with Sotherton’s people, but he couldn’t control them. And he himself is old, and frail, and with Vowell gone there are only women left in the household.’ I frowned. ‘And Jane Reynolds, poor creature, had nothing new to tell me yesterday. Though I still think Peter Bone knows something, perhaps something his late sister told him – but he won’t tell.’

Barak said, ‘There are still Isabella and Daniel Chawry to consider. If they are lovers they have a motive for trying to kill Boleyn – and the opportunity. Or if Chawry is in love with her and she still loves her husband, which seems more likely, he has a motive to get Boleyn executed for murder. And as that didn’t work, to murder him instead.’

‘I don’t see him having the money to pay for help in organizing four killings. And whoever did it certainly had help.’

‘He had the money to pay for someone to provide the poison, given the money Isabella got from Boleyn. Maybe we’re looking at two separate crimes.’

‘Chawry has denied any designs on Isabella.’

Barak laughed scoffingly. ‘For what that’s worth. And even without Chawry, Isabella had one powerful motive to kill Edith if she came back – with Edith alive her marriage was invalid.’ He looked at me steadily. ‘And she has a strong spirit.’

I shook my head. ‘I cannot believe it of her. But, you’re right, she has to be a suspect.’ Barak’s eyes had sparked with interest again; I had managed to distract him. ‘Well,’ I said, ‘the twins are gone now, as are Southwell and Flowerdew. But we can keep an eye on the Reynolds household, Chawry and Isabella, too. And it will be interesting to see how Nicholas gets on with John Boleyn.’