Tombland

Isabella frowned. ‘Do you think I don’t know that? When John was first arrested and I went to see him in prison, I offered to say I had gone to his study during those hours and spoken to him. But he would not let me, he said it would be perjury and if I were discovered, I would be in trouble. You see, Master Shardlake, what a devoted husband John is.’

‘And what a devoted wife you are.’ I said softly. ‘Nicholas, make no record of what Mistress Boleyn just said about perjury.’

‘I heard her say nothing about that.’ He smiled, and Isabella smiled faintly in return.

‘Where do you think he was those two hours?’ I asked.

Isabella looked at me hard. ‘In his study.’

I asked, ‘Will you alone be giving evidence in your husband’s favour at the trial?’

Isabella set her mouth firmly. ‘Yes. I shall say he was the best of husbands, and that I cannot believe he murdered Edith.’

‘One final question. Have you any idea who could have killed her?’

She shook her head. ‘Believe me, I have thought and thought on it but I can find no answer. Leonard Witherington wants part of our land, but surely not enough to put himself under suspicion of murder.’

‘And the twins?’

She shook her head. ‘No. Bad as they are, I believe that those boys loved their mother.’

‘They seem to show no sorrow at her death.’

‘That is their way. They would think it weak.’

‘I see.’ I smiled at her. ‘Finally, let me give you a little advice. I admire the forthright way in which you have answered me. But in court you should be – perhaps a little more humble in manner, a little more subdued. And do not be afraid to be tearful. A tearful woman can make a jury sympathetic.’

‘You think me too bold? Believe me, facing people down has been my lot these last nine years.’

‘I understand, Mistress Boleyn. But remember, the jury.’

‘I will. And when I come to think of what will happen to my husband if he is found guilty, the tears will come soon enough.’ She bowed her head, then looked up. ‘Find the murderer, please. For the sake of my husband, and that poor wretched Edith.’

Chapter Sixteen

I told Isabella that I was going next to visit the scene of the murder, and asked if Chawry might accompany us. She agreed readily, and went to find him. Nicholas and I returned to the hall, and brought Barak and Toby, who were chatting amiably, up to date.

‘She is a woman of courage and spirit,’ I said. ‘And obviously devoted to her husband.’

‘A little too bold for her own good,’ Toby said. ‘I’ve heard she can be as fierce as any fine lady in dealing with complaints from the tenants. The jury may think her a hussy.’

‘I have advised her to be humble. And I do not forget she had as good a motive as her husband to get rid of Edith, but not for displaying her body like that.’

Nicholas asked, ‘Did you notice the look Chawry gave her?’

‘I did. But she seemed not to.’

‘If Boleyn hangs, it would be an opening for him. Then he, too, may have a motive.’

I sighed. So far, my visit to Brikewell had produced only another suspect.

Chawry appeared, and said he would take us to the stream forming the boundary between the Boleyn and Witherington parishes, where Edith was murdered. He had brought three pairs of heavy working boots. ‘It’s very gulshy by the stream,’ he said.

‘Muddy,’ Toby explained.

I looked at the boots. They were all heavy, large in size. ‘They belong to the twins and Master Boleyn,’ Chawry explained. ‘The pair found in the stable were taken as evidence.’

We thanked him, put on the boots, and he led us out of the house.

* * *

WE WALKED DOWN the path through the middle of the Brikewell estate, ploughed fields on either side of us.

‘Your mistress is very loyal to her husband,’ I said to Chawry.

‘She is a fine woman,’ he answered stoutly, ‘and a good mistress.’

‘Do you believe Master Boleyn to be innocent?’

‘I do. I have worked for him these five years past. He gets frampled sometimes, I mean he is a worrier, but a good master. I think all he has ever wanted is a quiet life.’

‘Do you live at the manor house?’

‘No, I have my own cottage a little way off.’

‘Ah,’ I said with apparent lightness. ‘Enough space to bring up a family?’

‘No, I am not wed yet.’

‘Did you hear anything on the night of the murder?’

‘No.’ His mouth set. ‘I have no alibi, if that is what you mean.’

I saw that most fields were divided into strips, but in one place several acres had been consolidated into larger fields, and a modest stone house built next to the road. Chawry looked at it and grunted. ‘Yeoman Charlesworth’s land. He exchanged his strips with those of other tenants, bought some others. One of those new-risen peasants who pays to send his children to school.’

I said, ‘As my father did me. He was a yeoman, too, in the Midlands.’

Chawry looked embarrassed, and I saw Barak and Toby exchange a wink. I noticed that the people in the fields had stopped working, and, leaning on their implements, were staring at us.

‘We’ll be out of their sight soon,’ Chawry said. ‘Nosy knaves.’