C.J. Sansom - Heartstone

'Anyone else, Master Shardlake?'

'I would submit that a statement should be taken from the local feodary, and that he should make his accounts regarding Hugh Curteys' estate available.'

Paulet considered. 'Sir Quintin Priddis is feodary of Hampshire.'

I ventured some flattery. 'Your wide knowledge does you credit, Master.'

Paulet smiled thinly again. 'Not really. I am from Hampshire too. I am going down to Portsmouth in a few days, as governor, to bring some order to all the soldiers and sailors.' He reflected. 'A deposition from Sir Quintin: yes, I agree to that. But as for viewing the accounts—I think not. That could be considered a slur on Sir Quintin's honesty.' He stared at me with those large empty eyes, quite straight-faced, and I realized I had not won as much as I thought. If profits were being creamed off Hugh's estate, and the fact that Hobbey was cutting down woodland strengthened the notion, the local feodary was probably involved. Without accounts he could say anything and there was no way to test the truth of it.

'Now,' the Master continued urbanely, 'there is the question of who should take these depositions.' He looked at Dyrick, whose face was now almost as red as his hair. 'What about Serjeant Shardlake?'

'With due respect,' Dyrick answered, 'an impartial person is needed—'

Paulet leaned back in his high chair. 'I have a better idea. You and Serjeant Shardlake can both go.'

I saw what Paulet was doing. He was going to let the investigation go ahead, but handicap my enquiries by setting Dyrick to breathe down my neck as well as refusing to order disclosure of the accounts. Dyrick must have realized that, but he looked no happier. 'Master,' he said, 'that would give me difficulties. Family commitments—'

'It is your commitment to the court that matters, Brother. Master Shardlake, have you any objections to my suggestion?'

And then I had an idea. I stared at Barak, who looked back enquiringly. 'Sir William,' I said, 'if Brother Dyrick and I are both to go, then might I ask that we take our clerks to assist us?'

Paulet inclined his head. 'That seems reasonable.'

'Perhaps they could be named in the order to attend us. Merely to ensure fairness, equality of legal resources, in the investigation.'

Paulet turned to Dyrick. 'Any objection to that?'

Dyrick hesitated. Paulet drummed his fingers on the desk. Dyrick said, 'I have no objection, if Serjeant Shardlake wishes it.' I looked down at Barak and ventured a wink. If he was ordered by a court to travel to Hampshire the army could not touch him.

'What are the names?'

'Barak and Feaveryear, Master.'

'Note the names, Mylling.'

I saw to my surprise that Feaveryear was smiling.

Paulet leaned back. 'Now, I shall set a further hearing, let us say four weeks from today, to get this matter over and dealt with. I may be back myself, we should be able to see off the French by then, eh?' Mylling laughed at the joke, his head shaking with amusement over his quill. Paulet gave a wintry smile. 'If not, my deputy will take the hearing.'

Dyrick rose again. 'Master, if Serjeant Shardlake and I are both to go, the cost will be high. I must ask that Master Hobbey's costs be met in full, if, or rather when, these allegations are shown to be groundless.'

'If they prove groundless they will be, Master Dyrick, I shall see to that.' He turned to Bess. 'Do you have the means, Madam, to meet what may be very considerable costs?'

Bess rose. 'I can meet the costs, sir.'

Paulet gave her a long, hard look. He would guess the money would come from the Queen. I hoped Warner would be able to cobble together a plausible payment from the Queen's treasury. The Master turned and held my eyes for a long moment. 'This had best not be a mare's nest, Serjeant Shardlake,' he said very quietly, 'or you will be in bad odour with this court.' He turned to Mylling again. 'Draw the order.'

The clerk nodded, took a blank piece of paper and began to write. He had not so much as glanced at any of us. I wondered whether he could have given information to Dyrick about my involvement, whether it could have been Dyrick that set the corner boys on me. My opponent was putting his papers in order with rapid, angry movements. Paulet said, 'Master Dyrick, I would like a brief word.' He stood, and everyone in the court rose hastily. Paulet bowed, dismissing us. Dyrick gave me a nasty look, then went out after the judge.

WE RETURNED to the vestibule. As soon as the door was closed Broughton seized my hand. 'The light of the Lord's grace shone in that court,' he said. 'With that hard judge I thought we must lose, but we won.'

'We have won only the right to investigate,' I cautioned.

'But you will find the truth, I know. These people who gather wardships. Men without conscience who flatter themselves with heaping riches upon riches, honours upon honours, forgetting God—'

'Indeed.' I looked at the court door, wondering why Paulet had called Dyrick back. Bess came up to me. She was pale. 'May I sit down?' she asked.

'Of course. Come.'

I sat her down on the bench. 'So Michael has obtained his wish,' she said quietly. 'An enquiry.'

'Be sure I shall question everyone in Hampshire closely.' I glanced at Barak, who was leaning against the wall, looking thoughtful. Next to him Feaveryear swept his lock of lank hair from his forehead. He still looked pleased at the prospect of the journey.

Bess sighed heavily. 'Thank you for all you have done, sir.' She looked at me. Then she reached round to the back of her neck and unclipped something. She opened her hand and showed me a small, beautifully worked gold crucifix. She laid it on the bench between us. I looked at the delicately crafted figure. There was even a tiny crown of thorns.

Bess spoke quietly. 'This was found with Michael when he died. It was Emma's, given her by her grandmother. The child wore it in the old woman's memory. After Emma died and Michael was dismissed he asked Mistress Hobbey if he could have some remembrance of Emma. She gave him that, with an impatient gesture, Michael said. He kept it with him always. Would you take it, and give it to the boy Hugh? I am sure Michael would wish him to have it now.'

'I will, of course,' I said. I picked it up.

'I pray you get the poor boy out of the hands of that wicked family.' Bess sighed. 'You know, in the weeks before he died my son had taken up his archery again. I think if he had lived he would have gone to the militia.'

'Did he fear being called up?'

She frowned. 'No, sir, he wanted to play his part in repelling the French. He was a good and honourable man.'

Reverend Broughton touched her arm. 'Come, good madam, I would be out of this place. May I accompany you home?' Bess allowed Broughton to lead her away. In the doorway she turned briefly, smiled at Barak and me and was gone.

THE COURT DOOR opened, and Dyrick strode towards me. He looked in a cold fume.

'Well, Master Shardlake, it seems we must go to Hampshire.'

'It does.'

'Are you up to such a journey?' he asked with a hint of a sneer.

'Once I rode to York on a case.'

'I was hoping to spend these next weeks with my wife and children. I have two girls and a boy; during the law term I do not see nearly enough of them. Now I must tell them I have to disappear to Hampshire.'

'We will not be long away. Three or four days there and three or four back if we make haste, a few days in between.'

'You have no family, I think, sir? It is easier for you.' Dyrick leaned close to me and spoke quietly, fierce eyes on mine. 'I know why Sir William has done this. Normally he would throw such a tissue of unsubstantiated allegations out at once.'

'Perhaps he wished to do justice.'