Michael JECKS - The Traitor of St Giles

‘Perhaps because Aylmer hasn’t a good nose? He hunts by sight.’

Baldwin glanced at Aylmer, who lay with his head on his forepaws watching them. ‘Why take a dog hunting when the animal doesn’t know which scent to follow? To hunt the two from the road?’ He shrugged. ‘Continue.’

‘That was all. He disappeared among the trees, but never returned. When daylight came, I went to the road but I couldn’t see anything, so I came back and released Aylmer. I was sure something had gone wrong. That carter appeared then and I asked him to stop and help me. It wasn’t long before we came across Sir Gilbert’s body, the dog a few yards away as you saw them.’

‘I see.’ Baldwin walked to Aylmer and untied him. The dog was reticent and growled, unhappy to be led away by someone other than his master, but Baldwin cuffed his backside and growled back, ‘Learn obedience, you bastard!’ The dog showed his teeth but walked with him.

Simon said, ‘You say he left the dog at the camp to protect you? Was the knight carrying anything valuable with him that needed protecting?’

‘No, sir. Nothing,’ said William innocently.

When Father Abraham got back to the church, the baby, wrapped to make a neat bundle, had been set in the arms of its dead mother. The midwife – superstitious old soul – had insisted and Father Abraham considered it preferable to leave the matter to her rather than continue arguing. The daft besom was determined to have her way, even though it was practically heretical. After all, the mother, whoring bitch that she was as far as Father Abraham was concerned, had at least been baptised, and the child would have to be buried far from her. No unbaptised child could be placed for eternal rest in his churchyard.

He was content that he had done his duty, though. He had given the woman the seven interrogations, which she had been able to answer satisfactorily, and she had received Extreme Unction and the viaticum . Even through her pain, Father Abraham had been pleased to see how her face eased as he murmured his way through the words and anointed her forehead.

Back at his churchyard he walked past the church to his own little house. This, a two-roomed building set into the church’s wall, was already warmed from the fire his sexton had lit for him that morning. The cosy glow gave him a sense of comfort and ease which he had not known for some hours; especially after the ride yesterday. That reminded him: he went to the door and called for the sexton, ordering him to fetch Father Benedict’s body.

He returned to his room and sat on his chair by the fire. There was much to consider, especially now that all these lords and ladies were arriving. Father Abraham knew that he must make notes about each together with their political leanings for his lord, Bishop Stapledon of Exeter. The Bishop had been one of the key political leaders in the country, becoming the Treasurer of the Exchequer. He would want to hear how Lord Hugh was being advised.

Father Abraham shuddered as he recalled the gloomy clearing with the dead bodies of the knight and his dog. Stapledon would want to know of Sir Gilbert’s mission.

The warmth made his eyelids droop and he found himself nodding. The late night yesterday, he told himself. He let his chin fall forward onto his breast, and before long he was asleep.

At the castle’s gate Baldwin called to a man-at-arms and nodded towards William. ‘This man is a witness to the murder of Sir Gilbert and the felon on the Exeter road. You should keep him until the Coroner has decided what to do with him.’

William apparently saw no reason to protest and trailed along after the man without demur, the dog at his heels. Baldwin watched him for a moment, then shook his head and sprang down from his horse, giving the reins to a passing hostler. ‘Take them to the hackney man,’ he said, grateful that he would never again have to ride the nag.

Simon and he strode up to the hall and entered, keen to rejoin the throng.

In their absence food had been served on trestle-tables; the guests had watched it arrive, had sat and eaten, entertained by jugglers and musicians, and had risen again to drink large pots of wine or strong ale while servants came in to eat at the same tables before clearing away the debris and removing the tables again. By the time Baldwin entered glancing about for his wife, Simon casting about just as eagerly for food, all remnants of the midday meal had been disposed of: almost half had gone into the bellies of the guests, another two-fifths into those of the servants, and the remainder into the platters and bowls of the poor waiting hopefully at the door.

Already disappointed by the lack of food, it was with a feeling of the inevitability of his destiny that Baldwin saw his wife talking to Sir Peregrine of Barnstaple.

‘Oh my God!’ he groaned.

Simon looked at his friend. ‘What is it? Upset about missing the feast, old fellow?’

‘That man! Sir Peregrine!’

Baldwin spoke in an undertone, and Simon eyed the tall knight is conversation with Lady Jeanne without any idea what his friend meant. Simon himself had never heard of Sir Peregrine. Barnstaple was many miles from Lydford, and all he knew of the man was that he had instantly gone to Baldwin’s side when the Coroner and Sherman had begun their row earlier.

‘Sir Baldwin… I hope you managed to keep our good Coroner in check?’ The stranger said lightly, and Baldwin nodded as politely as he could.

His manner intrigued Simon, who was already sure that the man before him was not viewed by Baldwin as a courteous philanderer, nor as a serious physical danger. The fact that Edgar stood nearby without apparent concern also indicated that Sir Peregrine was not a dangerous lunatic who might threaten Baldwin’s life.

Sir Peregrine was as tall as Simon, with a high forehead and intelligent green eyes in a long, narrow face. His brow rose up to a shining dome as clear of hair as a cleric’s, and all about it was a thick fringe of golden curls, looking strangely out of place, like a child’s fluff on a middle-aged man’s head. His mouth smiled easily, and Simon could believe that Sir Peregrine would be popular with women, but he showed no sign of embarrassment, which he surely would have, had he been trying to cuckold Baldwin. Instead he studied Baldwin and appeared to like what he saw, his mouth widening into a calm and appreciative grin.

When Simon was introduced, Sir Peregrine cast a glance all over him, from boots to head and down again. ‘The Bailiff of Lydford under the Warden of the Stannaries, Abbot Champeaux of Tavistock? My friend, I have heard much about you. You are growing famous.’

‘I thank you, Sir Peregrine,’ Simon said, feeling foolishly flattered.

‘Oh no, I assure you, your name has been brought to my attention on several occasions, particularly by my very good friend Bishop Stapledon of Exeter. Do you tend towards his views on politics?’

Baldwin intervened smoothly. ‘My friend and I serve our masters as best we may.’

‘Of course, Sir Baldwin,’ Sir Peregrine said agreeably, his eyes creasing in merriment.

Simon was struck by a sudden certainty that there was some kind of verbal jousting going on and although he had little idea what the matter was that the two men were warily skirting, he was happy to leave Baldwin in control of the conversation.

‘And I am sure you would agree that Simon’s master, his lord, Abbot Champeaux, is the only man with whom he could truly discuss allegiances? Any political decisions must be made by the good Abbot. It is Simon’s duty to obey,’ Baldwin continued.

‘Absolutely. Although he could, if he so wished, advise.’

‘Not if he wished: if he was asked ,’ Baldwin said shortly.