Iris Collier - Day of Wrath

‘Now don’t start on about your rights,’ said Sheriff Landstock impatiently. ‘You didn’t do your duty last night did you? You refused to help put out the fire and I’m going to take you into Marchester for further questioning. If you can tell us who started the fire, you’ll be released and back in your taverns again by nightfall.’

The two men looked indignantly at the Sheriff. ‘We don’t know nothing. You can’t take us in for not knowing nothing.’

‘Yes, I can. Nothing easier. Now don’t give us any trouble and you’ll soon be off the hook.’

They left the two men protesting vociferously and went back up the stairs into the daylight. Nicholas put the torch back in its bracket.

‘Think they’re going to be any use?’ he said to Landstock.

‘Miserable-looking bastards. No, I can’t see that they’re going to be much help. But there is that burnt patch on that fellow’s sleeve. He didn’t give us a convincing explanation as to how he got it.’

‘This all seems a far cry from our main task, to catch Ultor before the King gets here,’ said Nicholas leading the way back towards the main house.

‘If Agnes Myles talks or these two men give us the name of the person who started the fire, we could be home and dry sooner than you think.’

‘I’d like to be able to share your optimism. But what bothers me is, is there any connection between Ultor, someone who’s literate and writes letters to Reginald Pole, and two women living in a small Sussex village? Wait a minute…’ Nicholas stopped.

‘Well, what is it?’

‘Let’s try this for an idea. Just suppose that Ultor is Gilbert Fitzroy. No, don’t look so surprised; it’s not as way out as it sounds. We know he went to see Mortimer. They discussed various treasonable activities. Then we know Fitzroy shopped Mortimer; the King himself told me that. Maybe he shopped Mortimer, whom he could see was doomed, in order to ingratiate himself with the King. Now we know Matthew and Bess Knowles overheard one of their conversations. That’s why Matthew was murdered. Let’s suppose that after Mortimer was arrested, Fitzroy, having made it quite clear that his sympathies were with the King, took over the leadership of the conspiracy. He called himself Ultor – the Avenger. Maybe he planned it all from the start. Maybe Mortimer was just his side-kick. Maybe he wanted Mortimer out of the way so that he could get his hands on his estate, and also be the power behind the throne if a Yorkist became King. He told the King he had nothing to do with Mortimer’s scheming and it suited the King to believe him because Fitzroy, as Lord Lieutenant of the county, is important to him. Now, after Mortimer’s arrest, Fitzroy would want Bess Knowles finished off. Perhaps he sent someone down to Agnes Myles to get a deadly potion to put in Bess’s drink. He wouldn’t go there in person, of course, but he could have sent one of his servants. And now he’s got to get rid of Agnes before she remembers that servant coming to see her. She’d certainly remember one of Fitzroys’ servants; and he’d have to tell her who he was because she wouldn’t give her lethal potions to just anybody. Agnes has got to talk to us.’

‘It’s a good theory, my Lord, but too many “maybe’s”. You can’t invent a plot and then arrange the facts to suit it. We know Fitzroy shopped Mortimer but the rest’s just guesswork. Also, I just can’t see Fitzroy getting involved with the Pole family. He’s got everything to gain by remaining loyal to Harry Tudor. He’s not a fanatic. He couldn’t care less whether the monks go or stay, or if the King makes himself head of the Church. He’s only interested in Fitzroy. I agree he might have wanted Mortimer out of the way so that he could buy his manor, but I can’t see him as Ultor. He’s not devious enough. And he hasn’t one jot of imagination. And what makes you think Fitzroy’s capable of carrying on a correspondence with Reginald Pole? I had to read a letter to him the other day and he had a job writing his signature.’

‘Fitzroy must have his own clerks. He keeps a big household,’ said Nicholas.

‘Even so, Fitzroy’s more interested in his hunting dogs than writing letters. But we ought to play safe. We’ll keep him out of the King’s way when he comes. He didn’t say whether he intends to pay Fitzroy a visit on his way back to Hampton Court, did he?’

‘No, he intends to go straight back to London. The Queen’s expecting a child any time now. And he’s quite sure this time it will be a boy and nothing must go wrong.’

‘Good. As a matter of fact, I can’t see the King wanting to pay Fitzroy a visit. I can’t see him trusting him.’

‘He doesn’t trust anyone, Sheriff.’

‘Oh yes he does. He trusts you, my Lord. He knows you’d never make a traitor. You haven’t got the stomach for it.’

‘Thanks for the compliment, Sheriff. You certainly know how to put a man down. However, you’re right about me not being a traitor; but not because I’m a coward. With all his faults, King Henry will keep the country together. God knows what would happen if the Yorkists came back in power. We’d slip back into anarchy. Also, it’s a relief to have an easy conscience. At least I can sleep soundly at night.’

* * *

Sheriff Landstock left after a hearty midday meal. His two assistants carted Perkins and Bovet away to Marchester. Geoffrey grumbled about how much they’d depleted his stocks of food which he was building up for the King’s visit; and Nicholas thought about Jane’s visit that afternoon.

* * *

They both arrived together at the gate leading into the gardens. Nicholas took her hand and led her into the inner garden where the fruit trees were in full blossom and the spring flowers made bright punctuation marks in the lush green meadow grass. Nicholas took her over to a stone seat under the fruit trees and they sat down. Yesterday’s storm had passed away and the air was fresh and full of the scents of the newly washed plants. He looked at his beautiful assistant and once again felt that painful rush of fear at the thought that anything unpleasant could happen to her.

‘Jane, I think you should let this case drop now. You’ve been very useful to me, but now I think things are getting dangerous. Let the Sheriff and me find out who this Ultor is.’

She stared at him in blank astonishment and her face flushed scarlet. ‘I can’t back out now, Nicholas. I’m just as much involved in this as you are. You’ve lost a steward. I’ve lost a friend and could lose another if we’re not careful. Agnes is safe for the moment, but she can’t stay there for ever.’

‘She must stay there until we find Ultor. Have you been to see Agnes today?’

‘Of course. What kind of person do you think I am? Do you think I would let an old woman go without food and bedding? The monks won’t go near her, that’s for sure, and the villagers think she should be dragged out and hanged. The rumours haven’t stopped because the fire was put out. In fact they’ve got worse. People are now saying she started the fire herself to burn the evidence of her wicked spells. They think she’s in league with the devil, and they blame the Prior for sheltering her.’

‘Time’s running out. There’ll be no rest until we find Ultor. One thing’s clear, that’s for sure, he wants Agnes Myles silenced. And he’s setting about it in a devious way. He wants other people to do his work for him. He could’ve burned down her house with her in it, but no, he sets her shed on fire. Now why? Did he know she kept something in there which could incriminate him? I wonder … is the shed completely destroyed?’

‘I could check on my way home.’

‘I’ll come with you, Jane. Has Agnes said anything to you, yet?’