C. Sansom - Dark Fire

'And Elizabeth said nothing?'

'Just sat there with her head bowed, a dark look on her face.'

I went over to the well. Joseph hung back. A round wooden board was fixed over it, secured by padlocks to metal rings driven into the brickwork.

'This looks newly done.'

'Yes, sir. The master had the cap put on last week. Bit late really: it should have been done before.'

'I would like to see inside. Do you have keys to those locks?'

He looked at me evenly. 'Sir Edwin ordered them thrown away, sir. Nobody will be using that well again. The water's been poisoned for years. Not that there was any when I climbed down, we've had so little rain this spring.'

I bent down. There was a space of an inch or so between the wood and the rim on one side. I bent close and then pulled back at the smell that came from the gap; it was the stench of something dead, rotting. I remembered what Joseph had said about the smell on Ralph's body – like a cow's head left out in the Shambles a week. I looked across at him; he had taken a seat on the bench and was staring up at the window of the room we had left. His treatment from his family must have upset him greatly. I turned to Needler, who stood looking on impassively.

'There's a mighty stink coming from that well.'

'Like I said, the water's poisoned.'

'How did it smell when you went down there?'

'Bad enough.' He shrugged. 'But I wasn't worrying about smells, I was feeling for poor Master Ralph's body and hoping the rope ladder I'd let down wouldn't break. If that's all, I ought to be supervising the lunch.'

I stared at him a moment, then smiled. 'Yes, thank you, I have seen all I need.'

His eyes narrowed. 'Is there anything you'd like me to tell the master? Perhaps you won't be representing the girl now?'

'If I've anything to tell him I'll contact him myself, Needler. Now, Joseph, we should go.'

He rose wearily and followed me back to the hall. Needler opened the front door and we went out to the street. Needler said he would have my horse brought round, then closed the door with a snap. As we stood waiting on the step, Joseph gave me a direct look.

'Do you believe Elizabeth is guilty now, as my mother said?'

'No, Joseph, I think more and more that she is innocent.' I frowned. 'There is something wrong in that house.'

'My mother is an uncommon woman. Stronger than most men. She was beautiful when she was young, though you wouldn't think it now. She always loved Edwin most, thought me a poor creature to be content with the farm.'

I touched his arm. 'It was a brave thing you did, subjecting yourself to that for Elizabeth's sake.'

'It was hard for me.'

'I saw. Tell me, when she was younger, did Elizabeth ever show any signs of trouble in her mind?'

'None, sir. Never. She was merry before she came to this house.'

'It is interesting she only seems to have become hostile if a family member approached her. Otherwise she wished only to be left alone.' I hesitated, then said, 'Joseph, I think there is something down that well.'

'What? What do you mean?'

'I don't know yet. But I remembered what you said about how Ralph's body smelt. I smelt something similar, coming from down the well. A sewage smell you might expect if there was bad water at the bottom, but Needler said there was no water at all when he went down.' I hesitated. 'I think there is something else down there. Something dead.'

His eyes were wide. 'What? What could it be?'

'I don't know, Joseph. I don't know. I'll have to think.' I put a hand on his arm.

'Oh, dear God, what has happened to us?'

I saw from a church clock it was well past twelve and touched his arm again. 'Once again I fear I must leave you, my friend. Another appointment I cannot miss. I will think what to do next. Can I reach you at your lodging house?'

'Ay, I'll be there until this matter is resolved,' he said firmly.

'What about your farm?'

'I have an arrangement with my neighbour. Things are in a poor way, there has been so little rain, but I cannot make it rain in Essex by being there, can I?'

The boy appeared round the side of the house, leading Chancery. He looked at us nosily as I gave him a farthing. I straightened my satchel and mounted.

'I will be in touch, Joseph, very soon.'

Joseph shook my hand. I looked after him as he walked away down Walbrook Road, something oddly indomitable in his big, heavy figure. Well, I must be indomitable too. I mounted Chancery for the short ride to Guy's. As I did so my heart jumped for a moment at the sight of a tall, pale figure among the people passing, but it was only an old man. He entered a shop. I shuddered slightly, then turned the horse south.

WHEN I ARRIVED AT Guy's shop there was no sign of Barak's horse outside. Wondering whether he was still with Cromwell, I tied Chancery to the rail and went in.

Guy was at his table, grinding herbs in a pestle, and looked up in surprise. 'Ho, Matthew. I did not expect to see you today.'

'Guy, I have a favour to ask, some information. By the way, I am due to meet someone here. A young fellow with brown hair and an insolent grin. I don't suppose you've seen him?'

He shook his head. 'I have seen no one. It is my morning for preparing my herbs. Is this to do with the Wentworth case? How goes it?'

'We have a stay of execution. I have just come from the family's house, in fact. But it is something else I wanted to ask you about. I am sorry I have not asked you to dinner as I promised, but another matter has stolen up on me; between that and the Wentworth case I have scarce had time to breathe.'

'It does not matter.' He smiled, though I knew he was lonely and looked forward to coming to my house; with his dark skin he got few invitations to company. I slipped the satchel from my back, wincing a little at a stab of pain.

'Have you been doing your exercises?' he asked.

'These past few days, no. As I said, I've scarce had time to turn around.'

'You seem strung tight as a bowstring, Matthew.'

I sat down, rubbing sweat from my brow. 'Not surprising, as someone has just tried to kill me.'

'What?'

'You'd get it out of me in the end. I can't tell you all, but Lord Cromwell has spared Elizabeth Wentworth from the press for two weeks provided I undertake a mission for him. Nothing to do with the monasteries this time, but murder again and roguery-' I broke off, looking through the window. 'Young Barak, who I see tying his horse up outside, has been deputed by Cromwell to assist me.'

'Then the help you want is for Cromwell?' Guy looked at me seriously.

'To help to catch a brutal killer. I am not allowed to say more – I should not even have mentioned Cromwell's name. It is too dangerous.' I sighed. 'I will not press you if you feel you cannot in conscience help.'

The door opened and Barak came in. He looked uneasily at the bottles and jars lining the walls, then at Guy with his dark face and apothecary's robes. Guy bowed.

'Master Barak, I pray you are well.' He mispronounced the W in his lisping accent as he always did. I realized how strange and foreign he must seem to Barak.

'Thank you, master apothecary.' Barak stared around. I guessed he had never been in an apothecary's shop before; he looked like he had always known rude health.

'Would you like a little beer?' Guy asked him.

'Thank you,' Barak answered. 'It is a hot day.'

Guy went out to fetch it and Barak came over to me. 'The earl's worried. He's had Kytchyn taken to a place of safety till this is over.'

'Thank God for that.'

'He says you're being too slow. He's concerned you won't be seeing Lady Honor till tomorrow. There are only ten days till the demonstration, and the king's told him he's looking forward to it.'