S. Parris - Treachery

So that was where the button was torn off, I think.

‘But you had to make sure he didn’t repeat the accusations in public.’

‘Well, you see my predicament, surely,’ Savile says, as if his actions were perfectly sensible to any reasonable person. He stands, crosses to the hearth and turns to face me. ‘He agreed that I was probably right about the steward. He promised to say nothing until he had heard from Martha. But I was not convinced — he was not known as a discreet man and I knew he often confided in the Spaniard, Jonas. I didn’t want my name associated with rumours of that nature. Certainly not in the hearing of anyone in the fleet.’

‘Yes, that might have made the accident you were planning for him seem a little less convincing,’ I say. ‘Especially if you were hoping to marry his widow eventually.’

‘Obviously.’ He appears unabashed. I wonder why he is being so frank with us. Perhaps because he suspects we have guessed all this already.

‘So you decided this accident needed to be brought forward?’

‘Who is telling this story, Bruno — me or you?’ He smiles, flashing his teeth, but there is an edge to his voice. I make a gesture of concession — I want to hear his version to the end.

‘I thought I had contained the problem for the time being, but I knew he would not keep it to himself for long. I intended to follow him that evening. He often went to the House of Vesta, but lately he had been seen meeting strangers in less salubrious parts of town — connected with his gambling debts, I supposed. But that suited me well — a gentleman attacked in a back street would be thought the victim of robbers. If he was found dead like that, it would raise few questions — everyone knew Dunne had creditors after him.’ He shrugs. ‘I thought the nutmeg would make it easier to overpower him.’

‘But it took effect quicker than you expected.’ I indicate his lip.

‘Yes.’ He touches the cut, with feeling. ‘That was unforeseen. He went to the Star with the others for a drink first, so I had to go along too. He was already beginning to grow wild by then. He repeated his earlier words, more aggressively this time. I tried to draw him away from the group, afraid they would hear, but he resisted, and lashed out. Fortunately for me, the inn threw him out before he could start a brawl, or draw further attention to the cause of it.’ He spreads his hands wide, as if to say, what else could I do? ‘I followed him to the House of Vesta, thinking I would contrive to meet him on the way out and lead him somewhere more remote. But I never got the chance. When he left, he was accompanied by Padre Pettifer.’

‘The chaplain?’ I stare at him, amazed — the pious padre at a notorious whorehouse? ‘What was he doing there?’

Savile gives me a look that suggests this is a stupid question, but it is Drake who answers.

‘Praying for their souls, I should think.’

Savile laughs. I turn to Drake to see if he is joking, but his expression is perfectly serious.

‘I believe it is part of his charitable work in the town,’ he says. ‘Some of the priests take very seriously the example of Our Lord in spreading the word of God among prostitutes and publicans.’

Savile snorts again. ‘I doubt that’s the only thing he was-’ He breaks off at a look from Drake and turns back to me. ‘So now, Bruno, you know as much as Sir Francis, and as much as I am able to tell. Because whatever happened to Robert Dunne after he returned to the Elizabeth , it was none of my doing.’ He ends with a shrug, as if challenging me to contradict him.

‘How does that follow?’ I say, angered by his confidence. ‘You have just admitted that you intended to kill Dunne that night.’

He shakes his head. ‘You have sufficient proof to know that I had reason to want him dead. After Sidney burst into Martha’s chamber all puffed up with his own cleverness, I could hardly deny that part of it. So I am cooperating, by telling you the truth.’

‘That is very sharp of you,’ I say. ‘You confess to every accusation but the most significant, then you try to negotiate.’

He clicks his tongue, impatient. ‘I do not deny I would have gained from Dunne’s death. But not if it were taken for suicide — and there is my whole defence. That was self-evidently not in Martha’s interest — she stands to lose everything. So the fact that whoever killed him tried their best to make it look like self-slaughter should be proof enough that it was not me.’

‘But you needed to silence Dunne quickly, before he could tell anyone else about the steward’s letter. Besides, Mistress Dunne stood to gain a great deal once her father died. Perhaps you decided it was expedient to change your plan once more.’

‘You are wandering into the realm of speculation now, Bruno. I do not expect a man like you to understand the concept of honour,’ he adds, curling his lip, ‘but Martha would lose more than her property if the coroner gave a verdict of felo de se . The stain of suicide on her family’s reputation would last a lifetime. I would never have put her in that position. A gentleman would know such things instinctively.’

‘You get a child on another man’s wife and scheme with her to murder him, and you dare talk to me of honour?’ I step forward, jabbing a finger in his face.

‘Keep your voice down, Bruno, there’s a good chap,’ he says, arching an eyebrow.

I catch Drake’s warning glance and bite down my next retort.

‘Well, Sir Francis,’ Savile says, folding his arms, ‘for myself, I am not sure what this has achieved, other than allowing this Catholic to imagine he can take the moral high ground, but I have nothing more to add. Except that I would like you to take your guard away from my chamber. In England a man is innocent until his guilt is proved, as I recall. And since I am not going to be tried for this, my innocence endures indefinitely.’

Drake rises to face Savile, though he does not reply immediately. His quick eyes flicker over Savile’s face as he calculates.

‘God’s blood, man, I have already assured you I will not take flight,’ Savile snaps.

‘It would look like an admission of guilt if you did,’ Drake says mildly. He presses his fingertips together and steeples his hands under his chin. ‘I think the matter might be resolved if you were to return to your cabin aboard the Elizabeth , Sir William,’ he says eventually, with impeccable courtesy. ‘If you are still intending to travel with us, that is. I have hopes of a fair wind soon enough.’

Savile gives him a long look, his eyes suspicious, as if he fears he might be tricked. ‘That is another way of keeping me informally under guard, I suppose.’

‘Not at all. It is a way of demonstrating that I agree with the principle of your presumed innocence.’

‘I would be free to come ashore when I choose?’

‘Of course. Though it would be in your interests to keep a discreet distance from Mistress Dunne until the inquest is concluded.’

Savile falls silent, considering, then nods. ‘And I have your word of honour that neither of you will mention any of this to the coroner or the town authorities?’ There is a note of warning in his voice. He is hinting at the agreement he mentioned earlier; the price of his continued involvement with the fleet is Drake’s silence.

Drake inclines his head, and stands to take his leave. It appears that he considers this price reasonable. I watch Savile, trying not to react to the self-congratulating smile that creeps slowly over his face as he looks at me. There is something in his manner that makes me inclined to believe his account, but this bargain infuriates me nonetheless; Savile wears the complacent expression of a rich man confident that he can buy his way out of any trouble. I clench and unclench my fists, and say nothing. He is right that I have no authority, and Drake appears to consider the matter settled.