Susanna GREGORY: A Poisonous Plot

‘But not before Kellawe had run amok in the dyeworks,’ said William disapprovingly. ‘Twice. He should never have been allowed to wear a Franciscan habit – he should have been an Austin instead.’

‘I am going to resign my Michaelhouse Fellowship,’ said Wauter. He raised a hand when a startled William began to blurt an apology. ‘Not because you just insulted my Order, Father, but because my colleagues have asked me to be their Prior. I think I must accept.’

‘Why?’ demanded William, speaking belligerently to mask his dismay. The weeks since the crisis at the Trumpington Gate had allowed Wauter to become a popular and trusted colleague, and the Franciscan did not want to lose him. ‘If you go anywhere, it should be to the Fens – you did say that you thought the University should decant there.’

‘I was mistaken,’ said Wauter quietly. ‘Our future is here. The townsfolk do not want us, so it is our duty to change their minds – which I can do better in a convent that dispenses alms than in a college that can barely afford to feed itself.’

‘You will be an excellent Head of House,’ said Michael warmly. ‘And as Joliet and Robert are no longer available to teach our students, you can do it instead. We will not let you escape from us that easily!’

Wauter laughed. ‘You have no money to pay me, and I should concentrate on my Martilogium anyway. Prior Joliet was right about that, at least – it is an important work.’

He stood to leave, and his place at the table was taken by Clippesby, who had the College cat in his arms. The Dominican was sorry when he heard the news about Wauter.

‘Please do not invite Thelnetham to take his place,’ he begged. ‘He was such a divisive force, and the College is much nicer without him. But what a pity about Wauter! He is a good man.’

‘He is,’ agreed Michael. ‘Although there was a time when I thought he might be the strategist. For example, when he left us to do all the work in the church on All Souls’ Day, then returned to make that enigmatic remark about Michaelhouse’s stained soul, I thought he had been up to no good. But do you know where he went?’

‘Yes – to move the remains of the shed that was set alight behind the church,’ replied Clippesby. ‘He thought it was unsightly and might count against us as we tried to attract benefactors. The pigeons that live in the graveyard told me.’

Michael sighed irritably. ‘You knew? You might have told me!’

‘You did not ask,’ replied the Dominican serenely.

‘Still, at least some good came out of this miserable affair,’ Michael went on. ‘Matt is hailed as the man who discovered a cure for the debilitas .’

‘Royal Broth is not a cure,’ said Bartholomew. ‘It is an easily digestible–’

‘It is a cure,’ said Michael firmly. ‘Our reputation is shaky at the moment, and we need all the goodwill we can muster. Having the physician responsible for eliminating the debilitas helps.’

‘But I did not eliminate it,’ objected Bartholomew. ‘The removal of lead salts from the town’s diet means there have been no further cases, but the victims still–’

‘Royal Broth is selling as fast as Agatha can make it,’ grinned William. ‘The money is just pouring in.’

‘She charges for it?’ asked Bartholomew in dismay.

‘Yes,’ said William. ‘But do not look so horrified. Only rich folk were able to buy sucura and apple wine, so they are the ones who need the remedy. They can afford to pay her inflated prices. Of course, I am not sure we shall ever rid the College of the stench of onion and garlic …’

‘Not everyone has recovered, though,’ said Clippesby sadly. ‘Cew remains mad.’

‘I do not think his affliction was caused by lead salts,’ said Bartholomew. ‘Although I am at a loss as to what else it could have been. Ailments of the mind are a mystery to me.’

‘No they are not – they are just so complex that you cannot explain them to laymen.’ William shrugged when Bartholomew shot him an uncomprehending glance. ‘People will think less of you if you confess that you are as perplexed by his condition as everyone else.’

‘But I am perplexed.’

‘Then ask King’s Hall for Cew’s head when he dies,’ suggested William. ‘You can anatomise it and find the answers you need. But until then – bluster. For the good of the College.’

‘Now that Warden Shropham is back, and Wayt no longer runs King’s Hall, Dodenho has admitted that Cew lost his reason several weeks before Frenge frightened him,’ said Bartholomew. ‘Wayt lied purely to win easy money from the brewery.’

‘Wayt was not the only one to spout untruths,’ said Michael. ‘So did Hakeney.’

‘You mean his claim that Frenge knew Wauter?’ asked William. ‘Yes – it was pure malice on his part. I challenged him about it and he made a full confession.’

‘And speaking of Frenge, we were suspicious that he and Letia died within hours of each other,’ said Michael. ‘But it was coincidence. Of course, Frenge was no innocent victim. On the day he was killed, he made two separate attempts at blackmail – King’s Hall over the sucura he himself had sold them, and then Robert and Morys over a conversation he overheard.’

The door opened at that point, and Langelee entered, his face grey with worry and fatigue. He looked so unwell that William, not usually a man to concern himself with the needs of others, scrambled to his feet so the Master could sit.

‘We failed,’ said Langelee hoarsely. ‘We gambled everything we had – and more – to win a benefactor, but the bad feeling Joliet generated in the town means that donors are withdrawing offers, not making them. Michaelhouse will be dissolved before the end of term.’

‘Perhaps not,’ said Bartholomew, speaking over the immediate chorus of dismay. ‘Lady Joan was impressed by Edith’s efforts to reform the Frail Sisters, but thinks that dyeing is too arduous a trade for ladies. She told Tynkell to award my sister the contract for sewing the University’s robes instead.’

‘And Tynkell did it?’ cried William. ‘Our colleagues will wear garments made by whores? What will Oxford think?’

‘ Ex -whores,’ corrected Bartholomew. ‘Well, mostly. Edith is relieved – she has accepted that the dyeworks are problematic, and is delighted to be able to provide her staff with safer work.’

‘I am glad the dyeworks will close,’ sighed Langelee. ‘They stink to high heaven. But what does this have to do with Michaelhouse? Or will your sister employ us as seamstresses? I might accept – I shall need to earn a crust somehow once the College folds.’

‘She has given the dyeworks to us,’ explained Bartholomew. He held out a piece of parchment. ‘I have the deed here. It includes not just the building, but a sizeable tract of land and that nice new pier.’

Langelee snatched it from him and the colour slowly seeped back into his cheeks. When he looked up, his eyes were bright with tears. ‘We are saved! God bless her.’

‘The revenue from the dock alone will keep us in victuals and fuel,’ said Clippesby, beaming happily. ‘And we can sell the building to–’

‘Sell?’ interrupted Langelee. ‘We most certainly shall not! Dyeing is a lucrative business. We shall take over the running of it, and it will earn us a fortune.’

‘But you have just explained why we cannot do that,’ said Bartholomew irritably. ‘The stench–’

‘What stench?’ interrupted William. ‘I cannot say I find it particularly noxious.’

‘On reflection, neither do I,’ said Langelee breezily. ‘In fact, it is extremely pleasant.’

For the rest of that term, Lady Joan became a familiar sight on the streets of Cambridge as Chancellor Tynkell showed her around his domain. She insisted on visiting every College, convent and hostel in the University, often multiple times, and it quickly became a point of honour for each to impress her more than their rivals. The frantic primping that took place, along with the numerous disputations arranged by Michael, served to keep the scholars far too busy to contemplate squabbling with each other.